A former case manager in Bartholomew County for the Indiana Department of Child Services, allegedly falsified multiple "311" reports -- the initial assessment made for allegations of child abuse or neglect.

The father of a 2-year-old girl whose body was found in a debris field in the East Fork of the White River was charged Wednesday with felony neglect of a dependent resulting in death.

The Department of Child Services reviews all child deaths where abuse or neglect was suspected.

Of the 59 deaths, 24 were from abuse and 35 were neglect. Vehicles were involved in most of the deaths attributed to neglect. The most common cause of death from abuse was head trauma.

Emily Perry, executive director of Susie's Place, has been named Youth Worker of the Year by the Indiana Youth Institute.

The number of Hoosier children who end up in the state's court system because of abuse and neglect jumped from 14,000 in 2014 to 20,000 last year. Officials say opioid abuse is often to blame.

Childhood neglect cases are increasing in Indiana and many state agencies point to the rise in opioid addiction.

Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush says she believes the hike in cases is directly related to the increase in opioid addictions in the state.

A recently released report by Indiana's Department of Child Services says 66 children in the state lost their lives because of abuse or neglect during fiscal year 2014.