In 2023, around 16,438 children in California who were the victims of child abuse were in foster care, the most out of any state. Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Illinois rounded out the five leading states for children in foster care in that year.

This statistic shows the percentage of children adopted from foster care in the United States in 2011, by parents' belief that abuse or neglect was likely prior to placement. As of 2011, 50 percent of adopted childrens' parents stated that it was very likely or likely that emotional abuse had taken place before the adopted child had been placed in their family.

Users can look at annual reports and data related to Adoption and Foster Care, Child Abuse and Neglect, and Child welfare. Background Annual reports and data are collected by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Data on Adoption and Foster Care is presented in two forms; the annual Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and State-by-state Adoption and foster care statistics. Child Abuse and Neglect research is presented in the form of annual Child Maltreatment reports covering a variety of topics. Child Welfare outc omes are presented in annual and multi-year reports to Congress. User functionality Users can choose reports by year. For Adoption and Foster Care Statistics, users can compare gender, race, adoption finalization age, time between TPR and finalization, prior relationship of adoptive parent and child, special needs among children, adoptive family structure, and information about receiving state or federal subsidy among states. AFCARS reports cover a variety of background information about age, length of stay, race, gender, and exiting circumsta nces. Child Maltreatment reports give data in paragraph and limited table form related to abuse and child fatalities. Child Welfare reports discuss foster care, child victims, and adoption statistics in paragraph and table formats. Data Notes For the Adoption and Foster Care Statistics report, data are available from 2003 -2009. State-by-state statistics are available from 2000-2006. Child Abuse and Neglect reports are available from 1995 to 2009. Child welfare reports are available from 1998 -2007.

Users can get information related to child welfare in the United States. Background The Child Welfare Information Gateway is part of the Administration of Children and Families. It provides resources and statistics related to child welfare, child abuse, child neglect, adoption and more. Resources are grouped under the following topics: family-centered practice; child abuse and neglect; preventing child abuse and neglect; responding to child abuse and neglect; supporting and preserving families; out-of-home care; achieving and maintaining permanency; and adoption. User Functionality The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a number of resources for users. Users can search for foster care and adoption agencies by state using the National Foster Care and Adoption Directory; search for relevant publications using the Online Catalog and Library Search tools; search for State Statutes; and link to external databases related to child and family well-being, child abuse and neglect, child welfare and foster care, or adoption. Data Notes Years and data sources are clearly identified for each resource.

In 2023, there were about 5,936 intake and screening workers in child protective services in the United States. In total, there were about 32,685 people working in child protective services in that year.

In 2023, the child abuse rate for children of Hispanic origin was at 6.7, indicating 6.7 out of every 1,000 Hispanic children in the United States suffered from some sort of abuse. This rate was highest among American Indian or Alaska Native children, with 13.8 children out of every 1,000 experiencing some form of abuse. Child abuse in the U.S. The child abuse rate in the United States is highest among American Indian or Alaska Native victims, followed by African-American victims. It is most common among children between two to five years of age. While child abuse cases are fairly evenly distributed between girls and boys, more boys than girls are victims of abuse resulting in death. The most common type of maltreatment is neglect, followed by physical abuse. Risk factors Child abuse is often reported by teachers, law enforcement officers, or social service providers. In the large majority of cases, the perpetrators of abuse were a parent of the victim. Risk factors, such as teen pregnancy, violent crime, and poverty that are associated with abuse and neglect have been found to be quite high in the United States in comparison to other countries.

Number of children under age 21 in foster care as of July 1 of each year, by race/ethnicity. This is a point-in-time, unduplicated count of children under the supervision of county welfare departments and excludes cases under the supervision of county probation departments, out-of-state agencies, state adoptions district offices, and Indian child welfare departments. The total by race/ethnicity may not add up to total number of children in foster care due to missing values. U.S. totals reflect children in foster care as of Sept. 30 each year. N/A means that data are not available. Data Source: As cited on kidsdata.org, Needell, B., et al. (May 2014). Child Welfare Services Reports forCalifornia, U.C. Berkeley Center for Social Services Research; U.S. data come from Child Trends analysis of Adoption and Foster CareAnalysis and Reporting System data available through the National DataArchive on Child Abuse & Neglect, as cited on KIDS COUNT (May 2014). Retrieved on May 31, 2015.

Number of children under age 21 in foster care as of July 1 of each year, by age group. This is a point-in-time, unduplicated count of children under the supervision of county welfare departments and excludes cases under the supervision of county probation departments, out-of-state agencies, state adoptions district offices, and Indian child welfare departments. The total by age group may not add up to total number of children in foster care due to missing values. U.S. totals reflect children in foster care as of Sept. 30 each year. N/A means that data are not available. Note: Although U.S. data are not available for children ages 1-2 and 3-5, data for children ages 1-5, combined, is available on KIDS COUNT. Data Source: Needell, B., et al. (May 2014). Child Welfare Services Reports for California, U.C. Berkeley Center for Social Services Research; U.S. data come from Child Trends analysis of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System data available through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect, as cited on KIDS COUNT (May 2014). Retrieved on May 31, 2015.

The State Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Policies Database, supported by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human services, compiles data on state definitions and policies related to the surveillance of child maltreatment incidence and associated risk and protective factors. The SCAN Policies Database is a resource for researchers, analysts, and others who are interested in examining differences in definitions and policies on child maltreatment across states. A primary use of these data is to allow researchers to link the analytic files to other data sources to address important questions about how variations in states’ definitions and policies are associated with the incidence of child maltreatment, the child welfare system response, and ultimately child safety and well-being. Other data sources that can be linked with the SCAN Policies Database include data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), state administrative data, and survey data. When data from the SCAN Policies Database are linked with other data sources, these data can be used to answer key research questions about how variations in definitions and policies are associated with key aspects of understanding the incidence of child abuse and neglect. The SCAN Policies Database includes state definitions and policies from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The data were collected from a review of statutes and state documentation between May 2019 - June 2020. Investigators: Elizabeth C. Weigensberg, PhD - Mathematica Nuzhat Islam, MS - Mathematica Jean Knab, PhD - Mathematica Mary A. Grider, MBA - Mathematica Jeremy Page, MA - Mathematica Sarah Bardin, BA - Mathematica

What is the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)? The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) is a federally sponsored effort that annually collects and analyzes data on child abuse and neglect known to child protective services (CPS) agencies in the United States. The mandate for NCANDS is based on the 1988 amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) which directed the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create a national data collection and analysis program for state-level child abuse and neglect information. Subsequent amendments to CAPTA have led to new data collection requirements, many of which are incorporated into NCANDS. A successful federal-state partnership is the core component of NCANDS. Each state designates one person to be the NCANDS state contact, who works closely with the Children’s Bureau and the NCANDS Technical Team to uphold the high-quality standards associated with NCANDS data. Webinars, technical bulletins, virtual meetings, email, and phone conferences are used regularly to facilitate information sharing and provision of technical assistance. Annual Data Collection Process Every year, NCANDS data are submitted voluntarily by the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The NCANDS reporting year is based on the FFY calendar which spans October 1 to September 30. States submit case-level data, called a Child File, by constructing an electronic file of child-specific records for each report of alleged child abuse and neglect that received a CPS response in the form of an investigation or alternative response. Case-level data include information about the characteristics of the reports of abuse and neglect, the children involved, the types of maltreatment, the CPS findings, the risk factors of the child and the caregivers, the services provided, and the perpetrators. The Child File is supplemented by agency-level aggregate statistics in a separate data submission called the Agency File. The Agency File contains data that are not reportable at the child-specific level and are often gathered from agencies external to CPS. Information collected in the Agency File include receipt of prevention and postresponse services and caseload and workforce data. States are asked to submit both the Child File and the Agency File each year. How are the data used? The NCANDS data are a critical source of information for many publications, reports, child welfare personnel, researchers, and others. NCANDS data are used to measure the performance of several federal programs, and are an integral part of the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) and the Child Welfare Outcomes: Report to Congress. NCANDS data are also used for the annual Child Maltreatment report series. Each report summarizes the major national and state-by-state findings for the given fiscal year, and is a key resource for thousands of people and organizations across the world. The Children’s Bureau has published an annual Child Maltreatment report every year since 1992. Where are the data available? The Child Maltreatment reports are available on the Children’s Bureau website at /programs/cb/research-data-technology/statisti.... Restricted use files of the NCANDS data are archived at the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN) at Cornell University and available to researchers who are interested in using these data for statistical analyses. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive, case-level examination of the full spectrum of case processing of serious child abuse and neglect cases as they flowed through the justice process, from initial receipt of a report to final disposition in the criminal and/or civil court. This was accomplished by in-depth, detailed tracking, from a single jurisdiction, of both prospective and retrospective samples of serious child abuse cases reported to child protective services and law enforcement agencies. The four agencies that participated directly by providing case samples and case files for tracking were: (1) Child Protective Services (CPS), (2) the sheriff's office, (3) Dependency Court Legal Services (DCLS), and (4) the county prosecutor's office. Each case was abstracted at the point of sampling and then tracked throughout the other participating agencies. Data were collected over a nine-month period. Part 1, Maltreatment Abstract, Person Roster, and CPS Abstract Data, contains three types of data. First, information is provided on each maltreatment incident committed by each perpetrator, background of the perpetrator and the victim, and characteristics of the incident. The data continue with a roster of persons, which covers the relationships among the individuals in the case and whether any of these individuals were living together at the time of the maltreatment. Data from the CPS abstract include which source brought the case to the attention of Protective Services, the dates, priority, and investigation level of the report, if any prior allegations of maltreatment had occurred that involved either the same victims and/or perpetrators and, if so, information on those reports, and the perpetrator's response to the incident and level of cooperation with the investigation. For each victim, information is given on medical findings, if applicable, whether photographs were taken, whether a guardian was appointed, whether the victim was assigned an interim placement, and the CPS disposition of the case. Part 1 concludes with information on interviews with the victim, where the case was referred, the assessment of risk in the case, and whether the victim was placed in foster care. Part 2, Dependency Court Abstract Data, provides information on the case, the reason the case was closed, and the outcome as determined by the court. Part 3, Juvenile Court Schedule of Hearings Data, focuses on the schedule of hearings, such as who was present and if they were represented by an attorney, whether the hearing took place, and, if not, the reason for delay. Part 4, Law Enforcement Abstract Data, contains dates of incidents, reports, and arrests, details of the case, and how the case was handled. Part 5, State Attorney's Office Abstract Data, offers data on the case closing, charges, and sentencing, as well as information on the type of defense attorney representing the perpetrator, if a juvenile, how the defendant was referred to adult court, whether the state attorney filed cases on other perpetrators in the case, whether the victim was interviewed by the prosecutor prior to filing, and whether the victim was deposed by the state attorney after the case was filed. Part 6, Criminal Court Schedule of Hearings Data, contains information on date of arrest, filing, and court hearing, whether a public defender was assigned, number of hearings, type of hearing, and coded remarks about the hearing. Part 7, State Attorney Addendum Data, provides "no-file" data from the State Attorney Questionnaire Addendum, including if the no-file was a warrant or arrest, date of the no-file, and reason for the no-file.

Number of first entries into foster care for children under age 18. Rates represent a three-year average of data. First entries into foster care are unduplicated counts of children under the supervision of county welfare departments and exclude cases under the supervision of county probation departments, out-of-state agencies, state adoptions district offices, and Indian child welfare departments. For rates, LNE (Low Number Event) refers to data that have been suppressed because there were fewer than 20 first entries. N/A means that data are not available. Needell, B., et al. (May 2014). Child Welfare Services Reports for California, U.C. Berkeley Center for Social Services Research; U.S. data come from Child Trends analysis of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System data available through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse & Neglect, as cited on KIDS COUNT (May 2014). Retrieved May 31, 2015.

The numbers of single perpetrator relationships (unique count) are counted once for each relationship category. Perpetrators with two or more relationships are counted in the multiple relationship category. Numbers are for the most recent federal fiscal year for which data are available.

To view more National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) findings, click link to summary page below: https://healthdata.gov/stories/s/kaeg-w7jc

Numbers and rates of child victims for the last five federal fiscal years for which the data are available.

To view more National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) findings, click link to summary page below: https://healthdata.gov/stories/s/kaeg-w7jc

This final report from the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities presents the Commission’s findings and its recommendations to the White House and Congress for ending child maltreatment fatalities in the United States within the context of a new child welfare system for the 21st century. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

Numbers and rates of child victims by single year age and by state for the most recent federal fiscal year for which data are available.

To view more National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) findings, click link to summary page below: https://healthdata.gov/stories/s/kaeg-w7jc

This statistic shows the estimated annual direct costs of child abuse in the United States as of 2012. The estimated cost of child abuse to the child welfare system was around *** billion U.S. dollars. The total direct costs were estimated to be over ** billion U.S. dollars.

The purpose of the National Survey of Current and Former Foster Parents was to collect and analyze data from a nationally representative sample of current and former foster parents that would provide direction for future policy development. This study used a multistage stratified design where probability sampling was employed at each stage of the design. A mail/telephone survey was conducted of current and former foster parents in 16 counties in nine states. Based on lists provided by the counties, 1,572 current foster parents and 362 former foster parents received a questionnaire in the mail. Follow up post cards and telephone calls were made. The survey was designed to identify foster parent characteristics, the types of children for whom they provided care, the types of children they would be willing to care for in the future, and their interactions with the child welfare system. An overall response rate of 71% was achieved.

Investigators: Cook, Ronna

The number of maltreatment types (duplicate count) are counted once for each substantiated maltreatment, but only once per category, by state. Percentages are calculated against the number of victims (unique count).

To view more National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) findings, click link to summary page below: https://healthdata.gov/stories/s/kaeg-w7jc

The Foster Care Program helps states and participating territories and Tribes to provide safe and stable out-of- home care for eligible children and youth until they are safely returned home, placed permanently with adoptive families or legal guardians, or placed in other planned arrangements for permanency. It also provides funding for allowable pre-placement administrative activities for eligible children determined to be at imminent risk of removal who, absent effective provision of preventive services, would be placed in foster care. The program is annually appropriated and funding is awarded as an open-ended entitlement grant. The Title IV-E agency must submit quarterly reports of estimated and actual program expenditures. Funding is contingent upon an approved title IV-E plan to administer or supervise the administration of the program. The program operates in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Tribes with approved title IV-E plans. Title IV-E agencies may elect to offer foster care to eligible young people up to the age of 21. Participating young people must be completing secondary education, attending post-secondary education, working at least 80 hours per month, participating in certain pre-employment activities, or have a medical condition that prevents them from participating in education or work activities. The following states been approved to operate a foster care program serving young people over age 18: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawai’i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. For maintenance payments, the Foster Care Program provides federal matching funds at the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which ranges from 50 to 83 percent, depending on the state's or Tribe’s per capita income. Matching funds are provided based on the expenditures made on behalf of children determined eligible for the program who are placed in a family foster home or child care institution (CCI) that meets applicable licensure and safety related requirements. As amended by the Family First Prevention Services Act, the law authorizes up to 12 months of foster care payments for a child placed with a parent residing in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility for substance abuse. The law also places time limits on the ability to claim foster care maintenance payments for children placed in certain CCI’s. Administrative costs are matched at 50 percent and include costs such as eligibility determinations, case management for children in foster care, development and operation of automated information systems, and independent legal representation. There is a 75 percent match for allowable training for title IV-E agency employees, persons preparing for employment by the title IV-E agency, foster parents, private child welfare agency staff providing services to children receiving title IV-E assistance, child abuse and neglect court personnel, guardians ad litem, court appointed special advocates, and attorneys for an agency, child, or the child’s parent. In addition, $3 million annually is reserved for technical assistance and plan development/ implementation grants to eligible Tribes. FY 2022: $5,830,000,000 Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.