The Colorado Sun: Teens, children and staff at youth treatment centers in Colorado called the state child abuse hotline 1,154 times in the past five years to report injuries, sexual allegations, children running away and other problems. 

Most of those — about 92% — were “screened out” by county child welfare officials, who decided to investigate 89 of the abuse and neglect reports from 11 youth treatment centers. That’s about 17 reports per year and an 8% “screen in” rate, which is far lower than the 26% rate for overall calls to the child abuse hotline or the 15% “screen in” rate for calls from youth institutions.

Youth treatment centers, which have residential and day treatment programs for children in foster care or with such extreme behavioral issues that they do not live with their parents, have been under scrutiny in recent years by Colorado media, the Child Protection Ombudsman’s Office and state lawmakers. 

Visit The Colorado Sun for more.