Sen. Merv Riepe, chairman of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, gave approval for Rogers to release the report to the public. Riepe said it was "extremely important" that it be made public, because the only way to solve a problem is to talk about it.

"It will be a top priority for all of us," he said.

The state must have zero-tolerance on the issue of sexual assault, he said.

At the same time, he acknowledged that 99 percent of children in the state's custody get good and safe care. But even one case is not acceptable.

The department has been receptive to the recommendations made by the inspector general, he said. What needs to be done is being done.

During those three years covered by the investigation, there were 1,284 substantiated victims of child sexual abuse statewide, according to DHHS. The agency does not track how many of those children were involved in the child welfare system, Rogers said, but research shows youth in the system are at higher risk than the population at large.