About 80 selected agencies to manage child abuse from May 1, after Megan Khung case review

“Further, when there are differences in triage, the newly established Triage Assessment Panel will allow more effective and decisive intervention in child abuse cases.

“It gives greater confidence in how the system will provide support to families and children.”

Child abuse cases have risen in Singapore, with new high-risk cases increasing 14.5 per cent from 2,011 in 2023 to 2,303 in 2024. New lower-risk cases also climbed by 18 per cent.

MSF has yet to release figures for 2025, but noted an uptick in new high-risk abuse cases in the initial weeks following the release of the review panel report in late October.

Going forward, CPCM agencies will take the lead in child protection cases.

The 82 designated agencies include family service centres (FSCs), child protection specialist centres, children’s homes and fostering agencies.

Anyone who suspects abuse can call the 24-hour National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH).

If NAVH determines there are child protection concerns, including abuse, the case will be transferred to a CPCM agency, which will gather information to verify concerns, do risk assessments and develop safety plans.

Non-CPCM agencies such as pre-schools and youth service providers that report the abuse do not handle the abuse aspects of the case. Instead, they will continue to support the family in areas such as parenting skills and caregiving.

If there are no child protection concerns, the non-CPCM agency will continue working with the family and alert NAVH if new concerns arise.

Responsibilities and decision-making processes will be clearer with this move, said Mr Martin Chok, deputy director of family and community services at Care Corner Singapore. Care Corner runs FSCs and a protection specialist centre, which are CPCM agencies.

“Previously, multiple agencies might be involved with a family, but responsibilities could sometimes feel fragmented,” said Mr Chok.

For example, a pre-school may observe the child is happy in school, but the child may be experiencing difficulties at home that another agency working with the family hears about. Having a lead agency coordinate this information will paint a fuller picture of what is actually happening, he said.

Noting that CPCM agencies may face more cases, the review panel had previously recommended that MSF ensure they get the resources they need.

Mr Chok said support for case workers could include “smaller and more realistic” caseloads.

MSF told ST that caseloads are expected to remain “relatively stable” as the threshold for abuse remains unchanged.

Between 2022 and 2024, the average caseload hovered at between 18 and 21 cases per worker at CPCM agencies. The MSF spokeswoman said it is aware that the caseload is higher in certain centres and is working with them to address the issue.

“We will continue to monitor caseloads closely and review resourcing needs where necessary,” she said.

The panel’s report had also recommended an appeals mechanism to resolve differences between agencies and the MSF’s Protective Service (PSV) on handling child abuse cases.

The PSV, established in May 2025 by integrating CPS and other protective services, provides state intervention for high-risk abuse cases involving children and vulnerable adults.

An example of disagreement is when an FSC considers referring a case to PSV as it feels the child’s safety risks are serious enough for state intervention, while MSF may assess that the situation can still be managed with community support, said Montfort Care’s director of Integrated Family Service Kevin See.

He said: “In such situations, TAP can serve as a neutral platform to bring the different perspectives together, review the information collectively and assess whether a higher level of intervention is indeed necessary.”

Each TAP meeting will be co-chaired by a representative from MSF’s Professional Services Group and one independent professional, and will include two independent members. All members have experience working with families or have expertise in child protection.

MSF has implemented several recommendations from the review panel report, such as the Protection Practitioners’ Care Fund to better support professionals handling domestic violence cases.

Other plans, like a new social services coordination centre to better identify and coordinate child abuse cases, will be completed by end-2026.