A National Birth Match Program: Its Relevance and Benefits to Crimes Against Children Investigations (On Demand)

In February 2022, the FBI arrested a subject who abused her infant child and who previously had her parental rights terminated for two older children in two separate states. During the investigation the FBI learned about the Birth Match Program, which had been enacted in five states. It was created to trigger CPS involvement with families when parents give birth to a child but have previously had their parental rights terminated. Unfortunately, the program has many gaps which allow children to fall through the cracks and continue to be abused. The FBI is now working to make this program standardized through federal legislation to prevent the future abuse of children by their parents. This presentation will focus on the Birth Match Program (BMP), to include both positives and negatives aspects, current inconsistencies and effectiveness with states' policies and procedures, and the status of potential Federal legislation to make the BMP nationalized. It will also examine other relevant aspects of the BMP regarding crimes against children investigations, and how it could be used to further protect child victims from parental abusers.