Numerator Children receiving visits in the home (%)
413,617
408,959
449,544
446,504
395,677
Denominator Children receiving visits in the home (%)
521,789
512,724
513,096
490,671
455,430
1 The
source data for each table is indicated in parentheses for each
section. A calendar year is the basis for data from the Census Bureau.
Most of the other data on these pages are from the National Child
Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) or the Adoption and Foster Care
Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and are based on the federal
fiscal year, October 1 through September 30. Back 2 Data
that did not meet the quality standards for inclusion in the report
are represented as DQ*. Missing and incomplete data excluded from inclusion in the
report are represented as --. For additional information on the data
quality thresholds for the Child Welfare Outcomes Report, please
reference the full report or the Child Welfare Outcomes data site.
Back 3 The
total child population and data on race/ethnicity represent estimates
from the Census Bureau
https://www.census.gov/data/tables.html . Child poverty data are from the Census Bureau's American Community
Survey (ACS). Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020
poverty estimates are not available on data.census.gov. The 2020
poverty estimates are considered experimental and can be found on the
ACS Experimental Data webpage:
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/data/experimental-data.html. Back 4 For
race/ethnicity tables, all races exclude children of Hispanic origin.
The Child Welfare Outcomes Report data site
http://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite
provides alternative race/ethnicity breakdowns in which race and
ethnicity are treated as two separate categories. Back 5 A child
victim is defined as a child for whom the state determined at least
one maltreatment was substantiated or indicated. This includes a child
who died of child abuse and neglect. This is a change from prior years
when children with dispositions of alternative response victim were
included as victims. The rate for foster care entry is per 1,000
children in the state population. Data on child maltreatment victims
are from NCANDS. Data on foster care entry rate, children in foster
care on 9/30, and children adopted are from AFCARS. Back 6 The
reporting population subject to the caseworker visits requirements
includes all children under age 18 for at least the first day of the
FY (October 1) who have been in foster care for at least one full
calendar month during the FY. All states have the option of using an
approved sampling procedure for the caseworker visits reporting
requirement. Back
B. Child Maltreatment Data (National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System
[NCANDS])
7
7 The
unique count of child victims counts a child only once regardless of
the number of times he or she was found to be a victim during the
reporting year. Back 8 The
rates for Child Protective Services responses and victims are per
1,000 children under age 18; for fatalities, the rate is per 100,000
children under age 18. Back 9 These
percentages are calculated against the number of unique victims. A
child may have been the victim of more than one type of maltreatment,
or the same type of maltreatment more than once. As a result, the
total percentages both within and across maltreatment categories may
exceed 100. Back 10
Response time is defined as the time between the report of suspected
maltreatment and the first face-to-face contact with the alleged
victim or with another person who can provide information on the
allegation. Back
C. Characteristics of Children in Foster Care (Adoption and Foster Care
Analysis and Reporting System [AFCARS] Foster Care File)
Overview Foster Care Information
Category
In Foster Care on 10/1 FY
Entered Foster Care in FY
Exited Foster Care in FY
In Foster Care on 9/30 FY
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Total number
52,661
50,470
50,350
49,726
47,090
26,945
27,888
24,570
22,720
20,609
25,310
26,143
23,193
23,710
21,775
54,304
52,220
51,728
48,738
45,924
Median length of stay (months)
15.3
15.3
14.5
16.3
17.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
16.3
16.8
15.6
18.2
18.3
15.8
14.8
16.5
17.2
17.3
Age of Children in Foster Care (%)
Category
In Foster Care on 10/1 FY
Entered Foster Care in FY
Exited Foster Care in FY
In Foster Care on 9/30 FY
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Under 1 year
7.7
7.6
8.1
7.4
7.8
21.1
20.6
21.7
22.9
23.0
4.6
4.2
4.2
3.6
3.8
7.2
7.9
7.2
7.6
7.6
1 year
8.4
8.5
8.0
8.7
8.4
7.3
7.1
6.9
6.7
6.6
10.1
9.7
9.3
9.0
9.2
8.3
8.1
8.7
8.4
8.5
2 years
7.0
7.0
6.9
6.8
7.4
6.6
6.1
6.4
6.0
5.8
9.5
8.7
8.5
8.6
8.8
6.9
6.9
6.9
7.5
7.0
3 years
6.1
6.0
5.9
6.1
5.9
6.0
5.8
5.9
5.6
5.1
7.6
7.5
7.1
7.3
7.1
5.9
5.9
6.1
5.9
6.2
4 years
5.3
5.4
5.4
5.4
5.4
5.3
5.3
5.2
5.4
4.9
6.9
6.2
6.1
6.5
6.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.4
5.1
5 years
4.8
4.9
5.0
5.1
4.9
5.0
5.3
5.1
4.9
4.8
5.8
5.8
5.7
5.6
5.6
4.8
5.0
5.1
4.9
4.9
6 years
4.8
4.4
4.5
4.7
4.8
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.7
4.7
5.4
5.0
5.0
5.4
5.3
4.3
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.6
7 years
4.4
4.6
4.3
4.4
4.4
4.6
4.7
4.5
4.6
4.6
5.4
4.9
4.8
5.0
4.9
4.5
4.3
4.4
4.4
4.6
8 years
4.3
4.1
4.3
4.1
4.3
4.2
4.3
4.2
4.0
4.0
4.9
4.8
4.7
4.4
4.6
4.0
4.3
4.1
4.3
4.2
9 years
4.2
4.2
3.9
4.1
3.9
3.9
4.2
3.7
3.7
4.1
4.6
4.4
4.1
4.1
4.3
4.1
3.9
4.1
3.9
4.1
10 years
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.8
3.9
3.7
3.6
4.3
4.1
4.3
4.0
4.0
3.9
4.0
3.8
3.9
3.8
11 years
3.9
4.0
4.1
3.8
3.8
3.8
3.9
3.5
3.7
3.6
4.1
4.0
3.7
3.6
3.6
3.9
4.1
3.8
3.8
3.8
12 years
3.8
4.0
4.1
4.0
3.9
3.6
4.1
3.9
3.8
4.1
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.8
3.6
3.9
4.1
4.0
3.9
3.8
13 years
3.6
4.0
4.3
4.2
4.1
3.6
4.0
3.8
4.1
4.0
3.3
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
4.3
4.2
4.1
4.1
14 years
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.5
4.4
3.8
3.9
4.0
4.0
4.2
3.1
3.1
3.2
3.6
3.5
3.9
4.2
4.5
4.4
4.3
15 years
4.4
4.6
4.7
4.6
4.8
4.1
4.0
3.8
3.8
4.3
2.9
2.8
3.0
3.2
3.2
4.4
4.6
4.6
4.7
4.9
16 years
5.1
4.9
5.2
5.0
5.0
3.8
4.0
4.1
4.0
4.2
3.2
3.0
3.4
3.2
3.1
4.8
5.2
4.9
4.9
5.3
17 years
5.8
5.7
5.5
5.6
5.6
3.5
3.2
3.3
3.2
3.1
2.7
2.1
2.4
2.2
2.1
5.5
5.4
5.5
5.5
5.5
18 years
5.0
2.7
2.7
2.5
2.5
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.6
3.0
7.2
7.4
7.7
7.5
5.0
2.7
2.7
2.6
2.7
19 years
2.4
2.7
2.6
2.5
2.5
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.3
2.8
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.4
3.4
2.5
2.5
2.4
2.5
20 years
1.1
2.6
2.5
2.5
2.5
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.5
1.0
0.7
0.4
0.6
2.4
2.5
2.5
2.6
2.5
21+; Missing Data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.0
4.2
4.8
4.9
4.9
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.1
Race/Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care (%)
Category
In Foster Care on 10/1 FY
Entered Foster Care in FY
Exited Foster Care in FY
In Foster Care on 9/30 FY
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Alaska Native / American Indian
0.8
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.9
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
Asian
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.8
1.7
1.8
1.6
1.8
1.6
1.6
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
Black
19.3
18.9
18.7
18.6
18.2
16.2
16.1
16.3
15.5
15.6
16.4
16.2
16.4
16.5
16.0
19.1
18.7
18.6
18.1
18.0
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
Hispanic (of any race)
51.1
53.3
54.2
55.1
56.2
53.0
55.0
54.9
56.3
56.1
51.9
54.5
54.7
55.6
56.2
51.7
53.6
54.3
55.4
56.2
White
19.2
19.2
18.7
18.0
17.8
20.6
19.7
19.7
19.4
19.6
20.4
20.1
20.3
19.2
19.6
19.4
19.0
18.5
18.2
17.7
Two or more races
5.1
4.9
4.8
4.9
5.0
3.9
4.2
4.4
4.4
4.4
4.7
4.5
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.7
4.7
4.8
4.8
4.8
Unknown
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.3
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.3
Missing race data
2.9
1.4
1.0
0.8
0.5
3.2
1.6
1.2
1.2
1.0
3.5
1.5
0.9
0.9
0.7
2.7
1.4
1.2
0.9
0.7
D. Characteristics of Children "Waiting for Adoption"
11
(AFCARS Foster Care File)
Children Waiting for Adoption
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Total waiting children
15,151
14,712
15,356
15,639
15,349
Number of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated
7,370
7,500
6,842
7,178
8,180
11 There
is no federal definition for a child waiting to be adopted. The
definition used in the tables on this page includes children and youth
through age 17 who have a goal of adoption and/or whose parents'
parental rights have been terminated. It excludes children 16 years
old and older whose parents' parental rights have been terminated and
who have a goal of emancipation. A state's own definition may differ
from that used here. Back
12
Children older than 17 years fall outside of the definition used to
identify waiting children and are therefore excluded from this table.
Back
Race/Ethnicity of Children Waiting for Adoption (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Alaska Native / American Indian
0.6
0.6
0.7
0.6
0.6
Asian
1.0
1.1
1.1
1.0
0.9
Black
16.4
16.9
16.4
16.6
17.0
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
Hispanic (of any race)
53.0
53.7
54.5
55.7
56.5
White
21.1
20.7
20.8
19.7
18.9
Two or more races
5.0
5.2
4.9
4.9
4.8
Unknown
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.4
Missing race data
2.5
1.3
1.2
1.0
0.6
E. Characteristics of Children Adopted (AFCARS Adoption File)
Children Adopted
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Total children adopted
6,966
6,981
5,562
6,242
5,657
Age of Children Adopted (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Under 1 year
1.9
2.1
1.6
1.3
1.2
1 year
16.1
16.6
16.3
13.8
14.6
2 years
17.6
16.2
16.4
16.0
16.2
3 years
12.0
12.2
12.1
11.6
11.5
4 years
9.4
8.9
9.0
9.8
8.8
5 years
7.1
7.9
7.6
7.2
7.3
6 years
6.4
6.0
6.2
6.8
6.2
7 years
5.6
5.4
4.9
5.8
5.4
8 years
4.5
4.5
4.4
4.7
4.8
9 years
4.2
3.9
3.8
4.1
4.3
10 years
3.5
3.8
3.9
3.8
4.0
11 years
3.3
3.6
3.5
3.5
3.5
12 years
2.3
2.5
2.5
2.8
2.4
13 years
1.9
2.1
2.2
2.6
3.0
14 years
1.6
1.6
2.1
1.9
2.0
15 years
0.9
0.9
1.2
1.4
1.6
16 years
0.8
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.5
17 years
0.7
0.7
1.0
1.1
1.4
18 years
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
19 years
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.0
<.1
20 years
<.1
0.0
<.1
<.1
0.0
Race/Ethnicity of Children Adopted (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Alaska Native / American Indian
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.8
0.4
Asian
1.1
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2
Black
12.6
13.5
13.4
13.8
12.5
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
0.3
0.2
0.2
<.1
0.1
Hispanic (of any race)
51.1
52.9
52.8
52.9
55.3
White
25.3
25.1
25.2
24.4
24.3
Two or more races
6.3
5.7
5.9
5.5
5.3
Unknown
0.2
0.3
0.5
0.3
0.4
Missing race data
2.4
0.7
0.5
0.9
0.6
California [Outcomes Data]
Reduce Recurrence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect (NCANDS)
Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 12 Months (%) 13
Year
2018-2019
2019-2020
2020-2021
2021-2022
2022-2023
Children without a recurrence
92.1
92.5
92.6
92.9
N/A
Children with one or more recurrences
7.9
7.5
7.4
7.1
N/A
Number
63,833
64,333
58,872
55,974
N/A
13 At
the time of the analysis, data were not available to calculate the
recurrence of maltreatment for children who were victims of
maltreatment in 2022. Back
Reduce the Incidence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect in Foster Care
(NCANDS and AFCARS Foster Care File)
2.1 Maltreatment in Foster Care (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Children maltreated while in foster care
0.19
0.19
0.25
0.24
0.30
Children not maltreated while in foster care
99.81
99.81
99.75
99.76
99.70
Number
79,613
78,362
74,922
72,448
67,699
Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care (AFCARS Foster Care
File)
3.1 Exits of Children From Foster Care (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Adoption
25.9
25.4
22.0
24.6
26.0
Guardianship
11.0
9.7
8.7
11.2
9.2
Reunification
53.5
50.6
54.2
49.5
49.6
Other
9.5
14.3
14.9
14.6
15.0
Missing data
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
Number
25,310
26,143
23,193
23,710
21,775
Exits of Children With a Diagnosed Disability (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Adoption
31.2
32.0
28.8
30.1
31.5
Guardianship
12.8
11.2
9.7
12.5
9.8
Reunification
43.4
38.2
41.7
38.3
39.3
Other
12.3
18.5
19.6
19.0
19.3
Missing data
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
Number
7,541
8,084
7,200
7,833
7,671
Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry Into Foster Care (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Adoption
1.9
1.7
2.3
2.4
3.0
Guardianship
7.3
5.3
6.1
7.1
6.3
Reunification
47.1
36.9
36.6
34.2
35.1
Other
43.4
56.0
54.9
56.1
55.3
Missing data
0.4
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
Number
4,325
5,100
4,926
4,871
4,384
Exits to Emancipation (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Children age 12 or younger at entry
19.7
21.6
20.4
19.1
22.7
Children older than 12 at entry
80.3
78.4
79.6
80.9
77.3
Missing data
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Number
1,990
3,278
3,025
3,111
2,887
Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
Category
Alaska Native / American Indian
Asian
Black (non-Hispanic)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Adoption
19.7
19.9
13.1
22.8
16.4
16.7
14.8
14.6
16.2
17.1
19.8
21.3
18.1
20.2
20.1
Guardianship
22.5
13.7
16.5
21.8
20.5
5.7
3.7
5.1
7.3
7.6
15.0
12.7
11.2
15.3
12.0
Reunification
49.6
48.3
51.1
39.3
43.8
71.4
66.5
62.3
62.1
55.4
50.4
44.8
48.9
45.5
47.2
Other
8.2
17.1
19.3
15.5
18.5
6.2
15.0
17.9
14.4
19.8
14.6
21.1
21.7
19.0
20.5
Missing data
0.0
0.9
0.0
0.5
0.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.1
0.1
<.1
0.1
Number
244
211
176
206
146
402
427
390
396
368
4,159
4,247
3,801
3,914
3,493
Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
Category
Hispanic (of any race)
Native Hawaiian/Other Pac. Is.
White (non-Hispanic)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Adoption
25.6
24.7
21.1
23.5
25.5
32.8
21.7
19.6
6.1
11.1
32.1
31.7
27.5
31.7
33.1
Guardianship
10.5
10.1
8.6
10.9
9.1
5.2
2.9
10.9
10.2
8.9
8.5
6.7
6.9
8.8
6.8
Reunification
55.6
52.8
57.1
52.3
52.0
44.8
62.3
60.9
61.2
53.3
49.8
48.1
51.8
45.6
46.3
Other
8.3
12.3
13.1
13.2
13.4
17.2
13.0
8.7
22.4
26.7
9.4
13.4
13.6
13.8
13.6
Missing data
<.1
<.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.2
<.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
Number
13,147
14,239
12,682
13,188
12,234
58
69
46
49
45
5,170
5,254
4,717
4,542
4,262
Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
Category
Two or More Races
Unable to Determine
Missing Data
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Adoption
33.7
31.5
28.6
28.6
28.9
30.0
15.7
22.0
29.6
35.1
18.0
11.1
11.4
20.9
22.5
Guardianship
11.0
8.0
9.2
9.7
11.2
11.7
6.1
8.7
4.6
10.5
12.9
12.9
10.5
13.3
9.2
Reunification
46.0
43.8
45.9
43.5
43.0
45.0
64.3
59.1
56.5
45.6
62.9
63.4
59.5
51.7
46.5
Other
9.3
16.5
16.2
18.0
16.8
13.3
13.9
10.2
9.3
8.8
6.1
12.6
18.1
14.2
21.8
Missing data
<.1
0.3
<.1
0.3
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
Number
1,187
1,177
1,044
1,096
1,028
60
115
127
108
57
883
404
210
211
142
Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing Reentry (AFCARS Foster
Care File)
Time to Reunification (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Less than 12 mos.
63.0
62.7
62.1
55.1
56.0
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.
31.0
31.7
32.7
37.2
34.5
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.
3.7
3.7
3.5
5.5
6.2
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.
1.1
0.9
0.7
1.1
1.8
48 or more mos.
1.3
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.5
Missing data
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
Number
13,534
13,225
12,581
11,748
10,806
Children Reentering Foster Care (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Children entering care for the first time
79.6
80.4
80.5
80.2
80.1
Children reentering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode
7.9
7.1
7.1
7.3
6.5
Children reentering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode
12.2
12.1
12.1
12.1
13.1
Missing data
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.3
Number
26,945
27,888
24,570
22,720
20,609
Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption (AFCARS Foster Care File)
Time to Adoption (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Less than 12 mos.
3.5
3.9
3.3
2.6
2.4
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.
30.0
30.0
29.2
24.7
24.3
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.
36.0
34.2
33.6
33.3
34.0
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.
18.3
18.5
19.1
21.9
20.7
48 or more mos.
12.2
13.3
14.8
17.6
18.6
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Number
6,554
6,638
5,096
5,829
5,668
Increase Placement Stability (AFCARS Foster Care File)
Number of Placements by Time in Care (%)
Category
In Care Less Than 12 Months
In Care at Least 12 months but Less Than 24 months
In Care for 24 Months or Longer
Time in Care Missing or Out of Range
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Children with 2 or fewer placements
87.7
87.8
88.8
87.6
86.8
70.8
71.5
73.2
74.6
74.4
42.0
42.5
44.4
47.4
48.3
90.5
96.6
92.8
92.7
92.6
Children with 3 or more placements
12.3
12.2
11.2
12.4
13.2
29.2
28.5
26.8
25.4
25.6
58.0
57.5
55.6
52.6
51.7
9.5
3.4
6.2
6.1
7.4
Missing Placement setting counts
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.0
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
<.1
0.0
<.1
0.0
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.0
1.2
0.0
Total number
31,086
31,929
28,457
26,087
23,870
21,260
20,368
20,975
19,285
17,849
27,246
25,976
25,393
26,994
25,885
21
89
97
82
95
Reduce Placement of Young Children in Group Homes or Institutions
(AFCARS Foster Care File)
Most Recent Placement Settings of Children Who Entered Care During the Fiscal Year and Were Age 12 or Younger at the Time of This Placement (%)