Numerator Children receiving visits in the home (%)
322,480
317,064
308,415
305,571
246,856
Denominator Children receiving visits in the home (%)
362,204
355,643
337,878
332,345
269,694
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
31,926
32,698
31,169
29,854
27,938
20,296
18,257
16,259
15,008
9,486
19,361
19,603
17,513
16,825
16,067
32,862
31,355
29,916
28,037
21,358
Median length of stay (months)
10.7
10.8
11.4
12.1
12.5
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
15.6
16.1
16.8
17.4
17.6
10.8
11.4
12.2
12.5
15.3
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
8.5
8.7
8.2
8.3
9.2
21.1
21.4
22.6
25.0
28.9
3.2
3.0
2.4
2.4
2.6
8.6
8.1
8.3
9.2
9.4
1 year
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.7
10.6
9.3
8.9
9.2
8.2
9.1
11.8
11.8
11.2
11.1
12.2
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.6
11.3
2 years
8.6
8.7
8.4
8.6
8.1
8.2
7.9
7.5
7.2
7.7
10.9
11.5
11.1
11.5
11.7
8.6
8.5
8.6
8.1
8.2
3 years
7.2
7.4
7.3
7.0
7.2
6.9
6.9
7.0
6.9
7.3
8.6
8.6
8.8
8.4
8.3
7.4
7.3
7.0
7.1
6.6
4 years
6.4
6.6
6.6
6.3
6.4
6.6
6.4
6.1
6.1
5.8
7.3
7.8
7.4
7.3
7.6
6.6
6.5
6.3
6.4
6.1
5 years
5.8
5.7
5.7
5.9
5.5
5.5
5.8
5.6
5.4
5.4
6.7
6.4
6.8
6.4
6.6
5.7
5.7
5.8
5.6
5.6
6 years
5.4
5.2
5.5
5.3
5.3
5.1
5.1
5.0
4.7
4.9
6.0
5.9
5.8
5.9
5.7
5.2
5.5
5.2
5.3
5.0
7 years
5.1
4.9
4.8
5.1
4.8
4.7
4.5
4.4
4.8
4.5
5.4
5.3
5.0
5.6
5.1
4.9
4.7
5.1
4.8
5.0
8 years
4.9
4.8
4.6
4.3
4.7
4.6
4.1
4.0
4.2
4.1
4.9
4.7
4.8
5.1
5.0
4.8
4.6
4.3
4.7
4.2
9 years
4.6
4.6
4.4
4.2
4.0
4.1
4.0
3.7
3.7
3.3
4.6
4.5
4.4
4.0
4.4
4.6
4.4
4.2
4.0
4.2
10 years
4.4
4.3
4.2
4.1
4.1
3.9
3.7
3.5
3.4
3.1
4.2
4.3
4.1
3.7
3.7
4.3
4.3
4.1
4.1
3.6
11 years
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.2
4.1
3.6
3.6
3.7
3.4
2.9
3.9
3.8
3.8
3.4
3.6
4.1
4.2
4.2
4.1
4.0
12 years
3.9
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.2
3.5
3.4
3.2
2.8
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.9
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.1
13 years
3.7
3.8
4.0
4.1
4.1
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.3
2.9
2.9
3.2
3.3
3.3
3.0
3.8
4.0
4.1
4.1
4.1
14 years
3.7
3.9
4.1
4.2
4.2
3.0
3.2
3.3
3.4
2.3
2.7
2.8
3.0
3.2
2.9
3.9
4.1
4.1
4.2
4.1
15 years
4.2
3.9
4.1
4.3
4.4
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.0
2.4
2.7
2.5
2.7
2.8
2.8
3.9
4.1
4.3
4.4
4.4
16 years
4.3
4.3
4.5
4.5
4.4
2.8
3.0
2.9
2.6
2.0
2.6
2.5
2.7
3.0
2.7
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.4
4.7
17 years
4.0
4.0
4.4
4.4
4.4
1.2
1.5
1.4
1.4
0.7
2.2
2.2
2.4
2.5
2.3
4.0
4.3
4.4
4.4
4.4
18 years
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.3
<.1
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.6
5.6
6.7
6.6
6.1
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
19 years
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
<.1
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.3
20 years
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.1
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
<.1
0.0
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.1
<.1
0.1
<.1
0.2
<.1
0.2
21+; Missing Data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.1
0.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.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
<.1
<.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
<.1
0.1
0.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.1
0.2
<.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
<.1
Asian
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.3
Black
21.0
22.5
22.6
22.5
21.4
21.3
19.5
19.9
18.6
20.9
19.2
19.8
20.4
20.9
20.4
22.3
22.4
22.4
21.4
21.9
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
<.1
<.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
<.1
0.1
0.1
<.1
0.2
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.1
0.1
<.1
<.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
Hispanic (of any race)
42.5
41.9
41.4
41.9
43.6
40.6
41.5
42.6
43.1
40.8
42.5
43.0
42.3
40.9
42.4
41.2
41.0
41.5
43.1
43.3
White
29.9
29.0
29.3
29.0
28.7
31.4
31.9
31.1
31.8
30.9
31.8
30.5
30.6
31.2
30.4
29.7
29.7
29.5
29.2
28.3
Two or more races
4.8
5.0
5.2
5.2
5.0
4.6
5.2
4.8
4.8
5.5
4.6
4.9
5.2
5.6
5.4
4.8
5.2
5.0
4.8
4.9
Unknown
1.3
1.1
0.9
0.7
0.7
1.7
1.2
1.0
1.2
1.3
1.5
1.3
1.1
0.9
0.8
1.5
1.1
0.8
0.9
0.9
Missing race data
<.1
0.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
0.1
<.1
<.1
<.1
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
13,777
12,901
12,290
11,637
10,232
Number of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated
8,895
8,581
7,729
7,470
7,198
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
0.1
<.1
0.2
0.2
0.1
Asian
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
Black
21.9
22.3
21.9
20.7
20.3
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
<.1
<.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
Hispanic (of any race)
42.4
42.8
42.1
43.8
44.2
White
29.2
28.0
29.6
29.0
29.4
Two or more races
4.6
5.4
5.0
5.0
4.6
Unknown
1.4
1.1
0.8
0.7
0.7
Missing race data
<.1
0.1
0.1
<.1
0.1
E. Characteristics of Children Adopted (AFCARS Adoption File)
Children Adopted
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Total children adopted
5,748
6,105
5,249
4,647
4,361
Age of Children Adopted (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Under 1 year
1.1
1.0
1.1
0.7
0.8
1 year
15.8
15.9
15.0
15.6
17.0
2 years
16.1
16.6
16.8
17.5
18.8
3 years
10.5
10.4
10.6
11.2
10.0
4 years
8.6
8.8
8.0
7.7
8.7
5 years
7.5
6.6
7.6
6.1
7.1
6 years
6.6
6.4
6.1
5.7
5.8
7 years
5.6
5.7
5.0
5.9
4.4
8 years
4.3
4.4
4.9
5.3
4.9
9 years
4.5
4.3
4.5
4.0
3.7
10 years
4.0
4.3
3.9
3.6
3.1
11 years
3.4
3.3
3.7
3.2
3.1
12 years
3.0
3.2
3.0
2.7
3.0
13 years
2.3
2.7
2.7
3.1
2.5
14 years
2.1
2.0
2.3
2.3
2.3
15 years
1.7
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.6
16 years
1.6
1.5
1.7
2.0
1.4
17 years
1.3
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.5
18 years
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
19 years
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
20 years
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Race/Ethnicity of Children Adopted (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Alaska Native / American Indian
0.1
<.1
<.1
0.1
0.2
Asian
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
Black
18.1
18.0
18.7
18.4
17.2
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
0.1
<.1
0.0
0.2
0.2
Hispanic (of any race)
44.9
44.3
44.2
43.5
44.9
White
30.0
30.6
29.9
30.5
30.7
Two or more races
5.5
5.5
5.8
6.1
6.0
Unknown
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.0
0.5
Missing race data
0.0
<.1
0.0
0.0
<.1
Texas [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
94.5
94.5
93.9
95.0
N/A
Children with one or more recurrences
5.5
5.5
6.1
5.0
N/A
Number
64,031
63,867
65,287
63,453
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
0.23
0.24
0.44
0.84
0.41
Children not maltreated while in foster care
99.77
99.76
99.56
99.16
99.59
Number
52,222
50,955
47,429
44,862
37,425
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
29.6
31.1
29.9
27.5
27.6
Guardianship
25.5
23.1
23.3
25.0
25.0
Reunification
38.4
39.3
39.3
39.8
40.4
Other
6.4
6.5
7.5
7.7
7.1
Missing data
<.1
<.1
0.0
<.1
0.0
Number
19,361
19,603
17,513
16,825
16,067
Exits of Children With a Diagnosed Disability (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Adoption
38.6
38.2
37.5
36.8
35.9
Guardianship
15.8
14.8
14.6
16.3
17.1
Reunification
24.9
27.6
24.3
25.9
25.6
Other
20.7
19.3
23.6
20.9
21.4
Missing data
0.0
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
Number
2,665
2,999
2,682
2,726
2,563
Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry Into Foster Care (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Adoption
7.5
7.9
6.8
7.3
6.8
Guardianship
19.8
19.1
19.0
20.2
21.5
Reunification
36.0
36.0
33.6
33.2
32.4
Other
36.5
36.6
40.6
39.2
39.2
Missing data
0.4
0.4
0.0
<.1
0.0
Number
2,509
2,511
2,495
2,506
2,085
Exits to Emancipation (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Children age 12 or younger at entry
24.5
24.6
21.0
22.2
24.4
Children older than 12 at entry
75.5
75.4
79.0
77.8
75.6
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Number
1,147
1,162
1,229
1,187
1,041
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
53.3
46.2
21.4
35.3
24.1
20.5
20.0
22.9
21.9
19.6
27.9
28.3
27.6
24.3
23.5
Guardianship
13.3
7.7
14.3
0.0
10.3
22.7
9.1
10.4
12.5
26.1
29.6
25.8
26.8
29.1
29.8
Reunification
20.0
15.4
28.6
58.8
62.1
50.0
61.8
54.2
46.9
39.1
34.6
38.2
36.7
37.1
38.3
Other
13.3
30.8
35.7
5.9
3.4
6.8
9.1
12.5
18.8
15.2
7.8
7.6
8.9
9.5
8.4
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
<.1
<.1
0.0
<.1
0.0
Number
15
13
14
17
29
44
55
48
32
46
3,714
3,891
3,564
3,513
3,275
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
31.2
32.0
31.2
29.3
29.3
66.7
42.9
0.0
31.8
45.5
27.9
31.2
29.3
27.0
28.0
Guardianship
23.6
21.6
22.2
24.2
24.5
22.2
28.6
28.6
0.0
27.3
25.2
23.3
23.0
23.6
22.9
Reunification
39.0
40.2
40.2
39.0
39.3
0.0
21.4
57.1
54.5
27.3
40.7
39.0
39.3
42.0
42.6
Other
6.0
6.0
6.4
7.5
6.8
11.1
7.1
14.3
13.6
0.0
6.2
6.5
8.4
7.4
6.5
Missing data
<.1
0.1
0.0
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
<.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Number
8,234
8,424
7,412
6,882
6,805
9
14
7
22
22
6,161
5,985
5,360
5,250
4,886
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
34.7
34.5
32.0
29.1
29.6
22.1
26.6
30.3
30.4
15.8
0.0
11.1
0.0
20.0
33.3
Guardianship
26.9
23.3
22.1
24.5
22.4
29.5
29.0
19.0
25.3
24.1
20.0
11.1
12.5
20.0
0.0
Reunification
32.1
36.2
39.2
42.0
41.8
45.2
41.1
46.7
38.6
53.4
0.0
22.2
25.0
20.0
0.0
Other
6.2
5.9
6.6
4.4
6.1
3.2
3.2
4.1
5.7
6.8
80.0
55.6
62.5
40.0
66.7
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
Number
898
964
905
946
865
281
248
195
158
133
5
9
8
5
6
Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing Reentry (AFCARS Foster
Care File)
Time to Reunification (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Less than 12 mos.
52.4
48.7
45.7
40.6
36.9
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.
43.4
46.8
49.4
52.4
55.4
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.
2.5
2.4
3.1
4.8
5.2
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.
0.6
1.0
0.9
1.3
1.4
48 or more mos.
1.0
1.0
0.8
0.9
1.1
Missing data
0.1
0.1
<.1
<.1
0.0
Number
7,444
7,702
6,875
6,694
6,485
Children Reentering Foster Care (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Children entering care for the first time
88.4
87.3
86.8
87.6
87.5
Children reentering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode
3.4
3.6
3.9
3.3
3.6
Children reentering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode
7.4
8.4
8.9
8.8
8.8
Missing data
0.9
0.7
0.4
0.2
<.1
Number
20,296
18,257
16,259
15,008
9,486
Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption (AFCARS Foster Care File)
Time to Adoption (%)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Less than 12 mos.
2.8
2.7
2.5
1.6
1.7
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.
53.7
52.6
49.9
44.4
43.6
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.
30.3
31.1
33.9
37.2
36.6
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.
7.3
7.9
7.8
9.6
10.8
48 or more mos.
5.9
5.7
6.0
7.2
7.3
Missing data
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Number
5,725
6,090
5,235
4,631
4,436
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
83.0
82.7
84.2
81.1
81.5
56.0
56.2
55.6
56.3
56.3
23.2
21.7
21.7
21.3
22.6
87.5
100.0
100.0
85.7
100.0
Children with 3 or more placements
17.0
17.3
15.8
18.9
18.5
44.0
43.8
44.4
43.7
43.7
76.8
78.3
78.3
78.7
77.4
12.5
0.0
0.0
14.3
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
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total number
24,714
22,606
19,843
17,847
12,361
17,109
17,711
16,645
15,695
14,203
10,375
10,617
10,931
11,313
10,856
24
21
10
7
5
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 (%)