California

California [Context Data]

A. Context Statistics 1 2

General Child Population (Census Bureau) 3
Year20192020202120222023
Total children under 18 years8,881,1048,902,5378,734,7588,582,9448,445,669
Race/ethnicity (%) 4
Alaska Native / American Indian0.40.40.40.40.4
Asian12.512.712.712.913.1
Black5.05.05.05.05.0
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0.40.40.40.40.4
Hispanic (of any race)51.551.451.651.851.9
White25.024.924.624.223.8
Two or more races5.25.35.45.45.5
Child population in poverty (%)15.614.615.815.314.9
Child Welfare Summary 5 6
Year20192020202120222023
Child maltreatment victims64,13260,31755,50350,86947,824
Foster care entry rate3.12.82.62.42.2
Children in foster care on 9/3052,22051,72848,73845,92444,622
Children adopted6,7435,1985,9455,864N/A
Caseworker Visits 7
Year20192020202120222023
Children receiving monthly visits (%)94.993.893.892.793.0
Numerator (Children receiving monthly visits)512,724513,096490,671455,430423,188
Denominator (Children receiving monthly visits)540,268547,259523,322491,059455,061
Children receiving visits in the home (%)79.887.691.086.984.8
Numerator (Children receiving visits in the home)408,959449,544446,504395,677358,913
Denominator (Children receiving visits in the home)512,724513,096490,671455,430423,188

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

Overview Maltreatment Information 9
CategoryRateTotal
Year2019202020212022202320192020202120222023
Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment38.7 per 1,00034.5 per 1,00031.1 per 1,00034.1 per 1,00034.8 per 1,000343,536306,919271,487292,782294,325
Total child maltreatment victims7.2 per 1,0006.8 per 1,0006.4 per 1,0005.9 per 1,0005.7 per 1,00064,13260,31755,50350,86947,824
Child Fatalities1.72 per 100,0001.68 per 100,0001.82 per 100,0002.05 per 100,0001.78 per 100,000153150159176150
Age of Child Victims (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Under 1 year15.816.216.416.615.0
1 year6.66.56.36.26.3
2 years6.16.36.05.75.6
3 years5.95.85.85.55.6
4 years5.65.55.55.25.5
5 years5.75.65.65.45.4
6 years5.25.55.35.45.5
7 years5.45.15.25.15.2
8 years4.95.04.84.95.0
9 years5.04.74.54.74.8
10 years4.84.74.64.54.6
11 years4.94.54.64.74.6
12 years4.74.74.84.84.7
13 years4.44.54.84.74.9
14 years4.24.34.54.64.9
15 years4.14.14.14.64.8
16 years3.73.83.94.24.3
17 years2.83.03.03.13.3
18+ years0.0<.1<.1<.1<.1
Missing age data0.1<.1<.1<.1<.1
Total64,13260,31755,50350,86947,824
Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Alaska Native / American Indian0.90.80.80.90.9
Asian2.62.62.52.52.3
Black13.013.113.013.012.9
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0.30.30.30.20.3
Hispanic (of any race)55.955.857.057.458.2
White19.919.718.918.818.3
Two or more races2.22.12.32.22.4
Missing race data5.25.65.24.94.7
Total64,13260,31755,50350,86947,824
Maltreatment Types of Child Victims (%) 10
Year20192020202120222023
Emotional abuse9.39.28.38.07.9
Medical neglect0.1<.10.10.10.1
Neglect94.394.093.293.593.7
Physical abuse7.37.06.67.07.4
Sexual abuse5.45.57.06.96.3
Sex trafficking0.10.10.10.20.1
Missing data0.00.00.00.00.0
Other0.70.80.70.60.5
Total64,13260,31755,50350,86947,824
Time to Investigation (in hours) 11
Year20192020202120222023
Mean147.8141.0138.3162.5167.6
Median>72 but <96>72 but <96>72 but <96>72 but <96>48 but <72

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
CategoryIn Foster Care on 10/1 FYEntered Foster Care in FYExited Foster Care in FYIn Foster Care on 9/30 FY
Year20192020202120222023201920202021202220232019202020212022202320192020202120222023
Total number50,47050,35049,72647,09047,35227,88824,57022,72020,60918,77126,14323,19323,71021,77521,50652,22051,72848,73845,92444,622
Median length of stay (months)15.314.516.317.018.3N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A16.815.618.218.318.914.816.517.217.319.1
Age of Children in Foster Care (%)
CategoryIn Foster Care on 10/1 FYEntered Foster Care in FYExited Foster Care in FYIn Foster Care on 9/30 FY
Year20192020202120222023201920202021202220232019202020212022202320192020202120222023
Under 1 year7.68.17.47.87.320.621.722.923.021.14.24.23.63.83.67.97.27.67.66.4
1 year8.58.08.78.47.97.16.96.76.66.59.79.39.09.29.68.18.78.48.57.7
2 years7.06.96.87.46.56.16.46.05.85.78.78.58.68.88.86.96.97.57.06.3
3 years6.05.96.15.95.75.85.95.65.15.47.57.17.37.17.45.96.15.96.25.3
4 years5.45.45.45.44.75.35.25.44.94.96.26.16.56.26.25.45.55.45.14.8
5 years4.95.05.14.94.55.35.14.94.85.15.85.75.65.65.45.05.14.94.94.3
6 years4.44.54.74.84.24.74.84.74.74.65.05.05.45.34.94.64.74.84.64.3
7 years4.64.34.44.44.34.74.54.64.64.84.94.85.04.95.14.34.44.44.64.1
8 years4.14.34.14.33.94.34.24.04.04.14.84.74.44.64.74.34.14.34.24.0
9 years4.23.94.13.93.84.23.73.74.13.94.44.14.14.34.43.94.13.94.13.7
10 years4.04.03.93.93.53.83.93.73.63.84.14.34.04.03.84.03.83.93.83.6
11 years4.04.13.83.83.53.93.53.73.63.74.03.73.63.63.74.13.83.83.83.6
12 years4.04.14.03.93.64.13.93.84.13.83.53.63.83.63.64.14.03.93.83.4
13 years4.04.34.24.13.84.03.84.14.04.23.53.53.63.73.54.34.24.14.13.8
14 years4.14.24.54.44.03.94.04.04.24.53.13.23.63.53.54.24.54.44.34.2
15 years4.64.74.64.84.74.03.83.84.34.72.83.03.23.23.24.64.64.74.94.6
16 years4.95.25.05.05.04.04.14.04.24.13.03.43.23.13.35.24.94.95.35.1
17 years5.75.55.65.65.23.23.33.23.13.72.12.42.22.12.25.45.55.55.55.8
18 years2.72.72.52.54.80.60.60.60.60.97.27.47.77.52.32.72.72.62.75.0
19 years2.72.62.52.54.70.40.40.20.30.40.50.40.40.40.82.52.52.42.54.9
20 years2.62.52.52.54.50.20.30.20.20.31.00.70.40.61.32.52.52.62.54.7
21+; Missing Data0.00.00.00.0<.10.00.00.00.00.04.24.84.94.98.7<.1<.1<.10.10.1
Race/Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care (%)
CategoryIn Foster Care on 10/1 FYEntered Foster Care in FYExited Foster Care in FYIn Foster Care on 9/30 FY
Year20192020202120222023201920202021202220232019202020212022202320192020202120222023
Alaska Native / American Indian0.70.70.70.70.70.80.80.80.90.70.80.80.90.70.80.70.70.70.70.6
Asian1.21.21.31.31.41.71.81.61.81.61.61.71.71.71.61.31.31.31.31.3
Black18.918.718.618.217.916.116.315.515.615.616.216.416.516.015.818.718.618.118.018.0
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0.20.20.20.20.20.20.20.30.20.40.30.20.20.20.20.20.20.20.20.3
Hispanic (of any race)53.354.255.156.256.955.054.956.356.156.954.554.755.656.257.653.654.355.456.256.6
White19.218.718.017.817.219.719.719.419.619.220.120.319.219.618.219.018.518.217.717.6
Two or more races4.94.84.95.05.04.24.44.44.44.44.54.54.64.74.94.74.84.84.84.8
Unknown0.30.40.40.20.60.60.60.60.40.70.40.50.50.30.70.40.40.40.30.6
Missing race data1.41.00.80.5<.11.61.21.21.00.51.50.90.90.70.11.41.20.90.70.2

D. Characteristics of Children "Waiting for Adoption" 12 (AFCARS Foster Care File)

Children Waiting for Adoption
Year20192020202120222023
Total waiting children14,71215,35615,63915,34913,664
Number of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated7,5006,8427,1788,1807,358

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

Age of Children Waiting for Adoption (%) 13
Year20192020202120222023
Under 1 year7.15.65.85.85.4
1 year12.913.912.913.013.2
2 years11.611.212.311.511.3
3 years9.49.69.09.98.9
4 years7.77.97.67.57.9
5 years7.06.96.86.56.6
6 years5.96.06.35.85.9
7 years5.25.45.35.75.4
8 years5.14.84.94.85.2
9 years4.44.74.44.54.6
10 years4.44.14.44.14.4
11 years3.93.83.83.93.9
12 years3.63.73.53.43.4
13 years3.33.33.43.33.4
14 years2.93.12.93.23.0
15 years2.32.63.02.93.1
16 years2.12.02.22.62.4
17 years1.31.51.51.61.9

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 (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Alaska Native / American Indian0.60.70.60.60.6
Asian1.11.11.00.90.9
Black16.916.416.617.017.3
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0.20.20.20.20.1
Hispanic (of any race)53.754.555.756.556.8
White20.720.819.718.918.6
Two or more races5.24.94.94.84.8
Unknown0.30.40.50.40.8
Missing race data1.31.21.00.6<.1

E. Characteristics of Children Adopted (AFCARS Adoption File) 14

Children Adopted
Year20192020202120222023
Total children adopted6,7435,1985,9455,864N/A
Age of Children Adopted (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Under 1 year2.01.71.21.2N/A
1 year16.716.413.914.4N/A
2 years16.216.516.016.1N/A
3 years12.212.111.711.5N/A
4 years8.98.99.88.8N/A
5 years7.97.47.27.3N/A
6 years5.96.16.76.3N/A
7 years5.45.05.75.4N/A
8 years4.54.34.74.9N/A
9 years3.83.84.14.4N/A
10 years3.93.93.94.0N/A
11 years3.63.43.53.4N/A
12 years2.52.52.82.4N/A
13 years2.02.22.63.0N/A
14 years1.62.01.92.0N/A
15 years0.91.21.41.6N/A
16 years1.11.31.41.5N/A
17 years0.71.01.11.4N/A
18 years0.10.20.30.4N/A
19 years<.1<.10.00.1N/A
20 years0.0<.1<.10.0N/A
Race/Ethnicity of Children Adopted (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Alaska Native / American Indian0.70.50.80.5N/A
Asian1.01.11.11.1N/A
Black13.513.313.812.4N/A
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0.20.2<.10.1N/A
Hispanic (of any race)52.852.552.554.7N/A
White25.225.624.725.0N/A
Two or more races5.76.05.75.3N/A
Unknown0.30.50.30.4N/A
Missing race data0.70.41.00.6N/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

California [Outcomes Data]

Reduce Recurrence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect (NCANDS)

Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 12 Months (%) 15
Year2019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-2024
Children without a recurrence92.592.692.993.1N/A
Children with one or more recurrences7.57.47.16.9N/A
Total64,33358,87255,97451,508N/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 (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Children maltreated while in foster care0.190.250.240.300.19
Children not maltreated while in foster care99.8199.7599.7699.7099.81
Total78,36274,92272,44867,69966,128

Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care (AFCARS Foster Care File)

Exits of Children From Foster Care (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Adoption25.422.024.626.027.9
Guardianship9.78.711.29.29.7
Reunification50.654.249.549.648.0
Other14.314.914.615.014.3
Missing data0.10.10.10.1<.1
Total26,14323,19323,71021,77521,506
Exits of Children With a Diagnosed Disability (%) 16
Year20192020202120222023
Adoption32.028.830.131.537.1
Guardianship11.29.712.59.810.5
Reunification38.241.738.339.334.8
Other18.519.619.019.317.6
Missing data0.10.20.10.1<.1
Total8,0847,2007,8337,6718,636

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 (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Adoption1.72.32.43.03.2
Guardianship5.36.17.16.37.2
Reunification36.936.634.235.135.8
Other56.054.956.155.353.8
Missing data0.10.20.20.2<.1
Total5,1004,9264,8714,3844,368
Exits to Emancipation (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Children age 12 or younger at entry21.620.419.122.720.7
Children older than 12 at entry78.479.680.977.379.3
Missing data0.00.00.00.00.0
Total3,2783,0253,1112,8872,719
Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
CategoryAlaska Native / American IndianAsianBlack (non-Hispanic)
Year201920202021202220232019202020212022202320192020202120222023
Adoption19.913.122.816.418.814.814.616.217.117.921.318.120.220.122.5
Guardianship13.716.521.820.518.23.75.17.37.63.512.711.215.312.014.3
Reunification48.351.139.343.846.466.562.362.155.461.444.848.945.547.243.9
Other17.119.315.518.516.615.017.914.419.817.321.121.719.020.519.2
Missing data0.90.00.50.70.00.00.00.00.00.00.10.1<.10.10.0
Total2111762061461814273903963683474,2473,8013,9143,4933,407
Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
CategoryHispanic (of any race)Native Hawaiian/Other Pac. Is.White (non-Hispanic)
Year201920202021202220232019202020212022202320192020202120222023
Adoption24.721.123.525.527.521.719.66.111.128.331.727.531.733.134.2
Guardianship10.18.610.99.19.32.910.910.28.917.46.76.98.86.87.3
Reunification52.857.152.352.050.362.360.961.253.337.048.151.845.646.344.7
Other12.313.113.213.412.813.08.722.426.717.413.413.613.813.613.7
Missing data<.10.10.10.1<.10.00.00.00.00.0<.10.20.20.20.0
Total14,23912,68213,18812,23412,39869464945465,2544,7174,5424,2623,904
Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
CategoryTwo or More RacesUnable to DetermineMissing Data
Year201920202021202220232019202020212022202320192020202120222023
Adoption31.528.628.628.930.315.722.029.635.136.711.111.420.922.54.3
Guardianship8.09.29.711.29.56.18.74.610.58.812.910.513.39.28.7
Reunification43.845.943.543.043.364.359.156.545.634.063.459.551.746.578.3
Other16.516.218.016.816.913.910.29.38.820.412.618.114.221.88.7
Missing data0.3<.10.3<.10.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.50.00.00.0
Total1,1771,0441,0961,0281,0531151271085714740421021114223

Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing Reentry (AFCARS Foster Care File)

Time to Reunification (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Less than 12 mos.62.762.155.156.058.7
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.31.732.737.234.534.4
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.3.73.55.56.24.5
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.0.90.71.11.81.3
48 or more mos.1.00.91.11.51.1
Missing data<.1<.1<.1<.1<.1
Total13,22512,58111,74810,80610,322
Children Reentering Foster Care (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Children entering care for the first time80.480.580.280.181.1
Children reentering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode7.17.17.36.54.3
Children reentering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode12.112.112.113.114.4
Missing data0.40.40.50.30.2
Total27,88824,57022,72020,60918,771

Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption (AFCARS Foster Care File)

Time to Adoption (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Less than 12 mos.3.93.32.62.42.2
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.30.029.224.724.323.0
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.34.233.633.334.031.1
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.18.519.121.920.723.9
48 or more mos.13.314.817.618.619.8
Missing data0.00.00.00.00.0
Total6,6385,0965,8295,6686,003

Increase Placement Stability (AFCARS Foster Care File)

Number of Placements by Time in Care (%)
CategoryIn Care Less Than 12 MonthsIn Care at Least 12 months but Less Than 24 monthsIn Care for 24 Months or LongerTime in Care Missing or Out of Range
Year20192020202120222023201920202021202220232019202020212022202320192020202120222023
Children with 2 or fewer placements87.888.887.686.888.271.573.274.674.472.642.544.447.448.342.796.692.892.792.680.0
Children with 3 or more placements12.211.212.413.211.828.526.825.425.627.457.555.652.651.757.33.46.26.17.420.0
Missing Placement setting counts<.1<.1<.10.00.00.00.00.0<.10.0<.10.0<.10.0<.10.01.01.20.00.0
Total number31,92928,45726,08723,87021,92820,36820,97519,28517,84916,61125,97625,39326,99425,88527,5648997829525

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 (%)
Year20192020202120222023
Group homes0.60.50.50.51.0
Institution1.31.21.01.10.5
Other settings98.198.498.598.498.4
Missing data0.00.00.00.0<.1
Total22,12719,49018,05716,18914,405