“We analyzed data on missing children and missing from care episodes recorded by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for fiscal years 2021 through 2023. We found:

• Over 600 children under the age of 18 accounted for 3,736 missing from care episodes. The number of missing from care episodes per year increased over the period while the average days that children were missing decreased by half

• Most missing from care episodes lasted one day or less, with a median duration of one day

• Most missing children were teenagers (97%), with slightly more females (53%) than males. Black (32%) and Hispanic (37%) children were more likely to go missing from care

• Congregate care settings accounted for most missing from care episodes

• Some children went missing from care multiple times and accounted for a disproportionate percentage of all episodes, with one child accounting for 100 episodes

Why this Audit is Important

Running away from foster care placements exposes children to risks such as human trafficking, health issues, substance use, academic struggles, and involvement with the criminal justice system. According to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), children in foster care are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, with 17% of all children and 27% of female children missing from care suspected of being trafficking victims.

The purpose of this audit was to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of Children and Families’ policies and procedures for reporting, locating, and monitoring children missing from care.

The audit also examined DCF’s collaboration efforts with law enforcement to locate missing children”

- SOURCE: PERFORMANCE AUDIT, Department of Children and Families’ Response to Children Missing from Care, State of Connecticut Auditors of Public Accounts

Published June 25th, 2025 A.D.