Denominator (Children receiving visits in the home)
22,966
24,841
22,274
19,865
18,161
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 Data for FY 2023
and subsequent years are not available for this section due to changes in data
reporting. As of FY 2023, the AFCARS Adoption file, which previously included
both public and private adoptions and served as the data source for this section,
is no longer produced. Consequently, Section E now only includes data from FY 2019
through FY 2022. Please note that adoption-related data for FY 2023 and subsequent
years, such as permanency and exit numbers, are derived from the AFCARS Foster
Care file, which includes only public adoptions and does not provide the detailed
characteristics previously available in the discontinued AFCARS Adoption
file. Back 7 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])
8
8 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 9 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 10 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 11
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
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Total number
1,951
2,180
2,107
1,796
1,905
1,076
848
751
812
731
823
897
1,017
885
889
2,204
2,131
1,841
1,723
1,747
Median length of stay (months)
11.4
13.6
16.5
16.8
15.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
15.8
19.6
23.3
25.3
21.3
13.8
16.6
17.5
14.1
16.0
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
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Under 1 year
9.5
7.7
6.6
6.3
6.3
19.9
22.1
22.9
18.7
17.0
3.9
4.2
3.6
2.8
3.9
7.2
6.5
6.5
6.9
4.6
1 year
9.8
9.6
7.8
7.6
6.2
6.3
5.9
7.2
6.4
5.5
9.5
8.7
7.8
7.9
7.3
9.9
7.9
7.9
7.0
6.5
2 years
6.3
7.4
8.6
7.3
4.9
4.7
6.4
5.5
5.3
6.4
7.5
8.6
8.7
9.8
7.6
7.4
8.6
7.3
5.7
5.3
3 years
6.2
5.3
6.7
7.2
4.5
4.5
4.0
5.2
4.4
5.9
6.2
4.5
7.8
8.2
5.2
5.4
6.7
7.3
5.5
5.1
4 years
5.6
5.4
5.0
5.5
5.1
4.9
3.5
4.3
4.3
4.0
6.0
5.1
5.9
7.3
6.6
5.4
5.1
5.5
5.8
4.1
5 years
4.9
5.0
4.6
5.1
3.5
4.2
3.7
5.6
4.3
4.1
5.0
5.6
4.3
4.4
5.3
5.1
4.7
4.9
3.9
3.6
6 years
4.4
4.5
4.5
4.7
4.7
3.4
4.8
3.9
4.2
2.9
4.9
4.5
5.1
5.0
4.7
4.4
4.6
4.8
5.3
3.2
7 years
4.6
4.2
4.5
4.3
3.8
4.0
4.7
3.6
3.3
4.5
4.1
3.7
3.4
4.5
5.4
4.1
4.5
4.3
4.4
3.8
8 years
4.2
4.4
5.1
4.5
3.7
3.4
4.4
3.3
4.4
2.7
3.8
4.1
5.0
5.0
3.5
4.4
4.9
4.4
4.4
3.5
9 years
3.7
4.2
4.0
4.7
3.6
3.6
2.8
4.0
3.6
3.7
3.3
3.9
4.2
5.0
4.5
4.3
4.0
4.6
3.9
3.4
10 years
4.2
4.0
4.3
4.1
3.1
3.7
5.2
2.7
3.6
3.3
2.6
3.9
3.5
4.4
3.6
3.9
4.2
4.0
3.5
3.2
11 years
4.0
4.4
4.8
4.0
3.5
4.0
3.9
2.5
4.1
3.8
3.5
2.6
3.9
3.7
3.7
4.4
4.8
3.8
4.1
3.3
12 years
3.5
4.5
4.8
4.8
4.3
3.6
2.9
3.3
4.6
4.0
2.8
3.2
3.9
3.3
2.4
4.3
4.7
4.8
4.6
3.9
13 years
4.0
4.1
4.3
5.1
4.8
5.4
3.5
5.5
5.4
5.5
3.0
2.7
3.2
3.6
3.9
4.1
4.2
4.9
5.3
4.6
14 years
4.6
5.3
4.9
5.0
5.7
5.6
5.2
5.2
6.5
5.2
2.8
3.1
3.9
2.1
5.2
5.2
4.9
5.0
6.6
5.3
15 years
5.5
6.0
5.9
5.7
6.4
6.7
5.8
5.7
6.4
7.7
2.7
4.7
4.4
2.6
4.0
5.9
5.9
5.8
7.1
6.5
16 years
7.3
6.1
6.5
7.0
6.5
5.9
6.8
5.5
7.0
7.3
4.9
4.7
3.3
4.4
4.3
6.3
6.5
7.0
7.4
7.8
17 years
7.6
7.4
6.6
6.8
6.6
5.9
4.2
4.3
3.3
5.1
6.2
4.5
5.4
3.5
3.5
7.6
7.0
6.8
8.1
7.7
18 years
0.1
0.1
0.3
<.1
4.4
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.1
1.1
17.4
17.6
12.4
12.1
3.9
0.6
0.2
0.1
0.5
6.4
19 years
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.0
3.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.8
<.1
0.0
0.2
<.1
4.1
20 years
0.0
<.1
<.1
0.2
4.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
1.6
0.0
<.1
<.1
0.0
3.8
21+; Missing Data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
9.0
0.0
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.2
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
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Alaska Native / American Indian
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.7
0.6
0.2
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.4
0.4
0.5
Asian
0.4
0.7
0.7
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.5
0.0
0.7
0.3
0.2
0.6
0.6
0.3
0.4
0.7
0.7
0.5
0.7
0.6
Black
13.0
12.6
14.6
14.3
11.5
15.0
16.9
13.0
10.5
13.8
15.8
11.0
14.3
16.3
10.2
12.9
14.9
14.2
11.4
13.1
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
<.1
<.1
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.1
0.1
<.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
<.1
Hispanic (of any race)
29.5
27.4
27.1
26.5
27.8
24.9
26.4
23.4
27.2
30.9
31.1
29.3
26.3
26.4
30.6
26.6
26.2
26.1
26.9
27.7
White
44.9
47.2
45.6
44.8
45.6
47.1
44.3
49.5
48.0
42.5
40.8
45.7
47.4
43.8
45.4
47.5
46.7
46.2
46.8
44.4
Two or more races
11.2
11.5
11.2
13.2
13.6
10.8
9.6
12.9
12.9
11.2
10.4
12.0
10.8
12.4
12.8
11.3
10.5
12.1
13.5
13.1
Unknown
0.8
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.8
1.7
0.7
0.2
0.5
1.0
1.0
0.4
0.5
0.1
0.7
0.7
0.4
0.2
0.6
Missing race data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
D. Characteristics of Children "Waiting for Adoption"
12
(AFCARS Foster Care File)
Children Waiting for Adoption
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Total waiting children
360
364
290
241
165
Number of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated
108
99
91
94
53
12 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
13
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
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Alaska Native / American Indian
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.6
Asian
0.0
0.3
0.3
2.1
1.2
Black
9.7
14.3
14.1
8.7
4.2
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
0.0
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.0
Hispanic (of any race)
33.3
28.3
30.0
31.5
23.6
White
41.4
42.3
39.7
38.6
52.1
Two or more races
14.4
13.7
15.5
18.7
17.6
Unknown
0.8
0.8
0.0
0.0
0.6
Missing race data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
E. Characteristics of Children Adopted (AFCARS Adoption File)
14
Children Adopted
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Total children adopted
184
152
231
252
N/A
Age of Children Adopted (%)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Under 1 year
2.2
0.7
0.4
0.8
N/A
1 year
15.2
15.1
10.8
10.3
N/A
2 years
21.2
16.4
15.2
18.3
N/A
3 years
11.4
11.8
15.2
13.1
N/A
4 years
9.2
7.2
11.7
7.9
N/A
5 years
6.0
10.5
5.6
5.6
N/A
6 years
6.5
4.6
6.9
5.2
N/A
7 years
3.8
5.3
2.2
4.0
N/A
8 years
3.8
4.6
4.3
4.4
N/A
9 years
6.0
3.3
3.9
7.1
N/A
10 years
2.2
5.9
3.9
4.8
N/A
11 years
2.2
3.9
3.9
3.6
N/A
12 years
1.1
2.0
5.2
2.4
N/A
13 years
2.2
1.3
2.6
4.0
N/A
14 years
1.6
2.0
2.2
2.0
N/A
15 years
1.1
2.6
1.7
2.4
N/A
16 years
1.1
0.7
1.7
1.6
N/A
17 years
3.3
0.7
2.2
2.0
N/A
18 years
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
N/A
19 years
0.0
1.3
0.0
0.0
N/A
20 years
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.8
N/A
Race/Ethnicity of Children Adopted (%)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Alaska Native / American Indian
1.1
0.7
0.0
0.0
N/A
Asian
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
N/A
Black
9.8
2.0
11.3
16.3
N/A
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
0.0
0.0
1.3
0.4
N/A
Hispanic (of any race)
30.4
30.3
23.4
28.2
N/A
White
41.8
48.7
50.6
42.1
N/A
Two or more races
16.3
17.8
13.0
13.1
N/A
Unknown
0.0
0.7
0.4
0.0
N/A
Missing race data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
N/A
14 Data for FY 2023
and subsequent years are not available for this section due to changes in data
reporting. As of FY 2023, the AFCARS Adoption file, which previously included both
public and private adoptions and served as the data source for this section, is no
longer produced. Consequently, Section E now only includes data from FY 2019 through
FY 2022. Please note that adoption-related data for FY 2023 and subsequent years,
such as permanency and exit numbers, are derived from the AFCARS Foster Care file,
which includes only public adoptions and does not provide the detailed characteristics
previously available in the discontinued AFCARS Adoption file.
Back
Rhode Island [Outcomes Data]
Reduce Recurrence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect (NCANDS)
Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 12 Months (%) 15
Year
2019-2020
2020-2021
2021-2022
2022-2023
2023-2024
Children without a recurrence
89.6
91.5
90.2
91.8
N/A
Children with one or more recurrences
10.4
8.5
9.8
8.2
N/A
Total
3,265
2,628
2,548
2,504
N/A
15 At
the time of the analysis, data were not available to calculate the
recurrence of maltreatment for children who were victims of
maltreatment in 2023. Back
Reduce the Incidence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect in Foster Care
(NCANDS and AFCARS Foster Care File)
Maltreatment in Foster Care (%)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Children maltreated while in foster care
2.08
2.21
1.43
2.34
1.97
Children not maltreated while in foster care
97.92
97.79
98.57
97.66
98.03
Total
3,027
3,028
2,858
2,608
2,636
Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care (AFCARS Foster Care
File)
Exits of Children From Foster Care (%)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Adoption
22.0
16.6
22.0
26.9
17.7
Guardianship
14.3
10.7
12.3
17.3
22.3
Reunification
43.4
54.7
54.5
43.4
47.8
Other
20.3
17.9
11.2
12.4
12.3
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
823
897
1,017
885
889
Exits of Children With a Diagnosed Disability (%) 16
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Adoption
28.3
27.1
29.4
47.0
17.9
Guardianship
8.6
9.0
11.3
14.1
16.2
Reunification
24.1
31.9
38.5
18.4
39.7
Other
39.0
31.9
20.8
20.5
26.3
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
187
188
221
234
179
16 The
absence of data for some states in AFCARS 2020 under Measure 3.2 is
likely due to reporting issues rather than a decline in the percentage
of children with a diagnosed disability exiting to a permanent home.
Back
Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry Into Foster Care (%)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Adoption
2.8
0.4
2.1
3.9
1.3
Guardianship
9.2
9.2
7.2
11.1
10.4
Reunification
31.9
35.7
51.1
32.2
44.3
Other
56.2
54.8
39.6
52.8
43.9
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
251
272
235
180
230
Exits to Emancipation (%)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Children age 12 or younger at entry
13.1
8.1
19.2
13.1
8.2
Children older than 12 at entry
86.9
91.9
80.8
86.9
91.8
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
137
148
104
107
97
Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
Category
Alaska Native / American Indian
Asian
Black (non-Hispanic)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Adoption
40.0
50.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
50.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
13.8
3.0
17.9
26.4
7.7
Guardianship
20.0
0.0
0.0
100.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
25.0
10.8
15.2
9.0
16.0
16.5
Reunification
20.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
50.0
0.0
60.0
100.0
66.7
50.0
43.8
57.6
59.3
41.7
53.8
Other
20.0
50.0
0.0
0.0
50.0
50.0
40.0
0.0
33.3
25.0
31.5
24.2
13.8
16.0
22.0
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
5
2
0
1
2
2
5
6
3
4
130
99
145
144
91
Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
Category
Hispanic (of any race)
Native Hawaiian/Other Pac. Is.
White (non-Hispanic)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Adoption
21.5
16.7
19.1
28.6
19.9
0.0
0.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
22.3
17.8
23.7
26.3
15.8
Guardianship
10.5
6.8
12.7
15.4
21.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
17.0
12.0
13.1
17.5
23.5
Reunification
51.2
57.4
56.2
42.3
47.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
40.5
53.4
52.3
44.1
49.3
Other
16.8
19.0
12.0
13.7
12.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
20.2
16.8
11.0
12.1
11.4
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
256
263
267
234
272
0
0
3
1
1
336
410
482
388
404
Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
Category
Two or More Races
Unable to Determine
Missing Data
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Adoption
34.9
25.0
26.4
27.3
27.2
0.0
11.1
25.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Guardianship
20.9
12.0
12.7
22.7
26.3
12.5
11.1
25.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Reunification
30.2
50.9
52.7
44.5
39.5
75.0
66.7
50.0
75.0
100.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Other
14.0
12.0
8.2
5.5
7.0
12.5
11.1
0.0
25.0
0.0
0.0
100.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
86
108
110
110
114
8
9
4
4
1
0
1
0
0
0
Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing Reentry (AFCARS Foster
Care File)
Time to Reunification (%)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Less than 12 mos.
55.2
36.3
28.9
37.0
36.9
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.
34.2
38.5
41.7
27.3
36.7
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.
7.6
19.3
18.6
25.8
14.6
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.
2.2
4.3
8.1
7.3
6.1
48 or more mos.
0.8
1.6
2.7
2.6
5.6
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
357
491
554
384
425
Children Reentering Foster Care (%)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Children entering care for the first time
79.5
82.0
81.5
79.8
79.8
Children reentering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode
8.5
5.4
7.1
4.4
6.6
Children reentering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode
12.1
12.6
11.3
15.5
13.4
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
Total
1,076
848
751
812
731
Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption (AFCARS Foster Care File)
Time to Adoption (%)
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Less than 12 mos.
6.1
2.7
1.8
3.4
8.9
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.
35.4
24.2
17.9
22.7
25.5
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.
33.1
42.3
35.7
31.5
30.6
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.
16.0
19.5
29.0
19.3
14.0
48 or more mos.
9.4
11.4
15.6
23.1
21.0
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
181
149
224
238
157
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
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Children with 2 or fewer placements
89.7
90.6
92.0
89.9
85.2
76.8
76.5
79.5
78.3
71.2
48.5
55.7
57.1
54.8
37.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
0.0
Children with 3 or more placements
10.3
9.4
8.0
10.1
14.8
23.2
23.5
20.5
21.7
28.8
51.5
44.3
42.9
45.2
62.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Missing Placement setting counts
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total number
1,252
994
874
940
869
976
978
835
668
784
796
1,054
1,147
998
983
3
2
2
2
0
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 (%)