|
Home > Systemwide > Statistics > Child Welfare/Foster Care Statistics
Child Welfare/Foster Care Statistics
These resources provide State and national data on the number of children in the child welfare system, trends in foster care caseloads, and well-being outcomes. Learn about sources of data and statistics on children and families in the child welfare system and considerations for understanding the limitations and potential use of the available data.
Because time is needed to compile, analyze, and publish data, statistical publications often are released 2 or more years after the time period being analyzed. Information Gateway makes every effort to ensure the resources provided are the most current statistics available.
State and national data
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS)
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
AFCARS collects case-level information on all children in foster care for whom State child welfare agencies have responsibility of placement, care, or supervision and on children who are adopted under the auspices of the State's public child welfare agency.
Alternative Responses to Child Maltreatment : Findings from NCANDS
This report is the second in a series of three reports, based on the Secondary Analysis On Child Abuse and Neglect Topics of Current Policy Interest. This research examined case-level data reported to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) by six States Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Wyoming that offered both alternative response and traditional investigation. Case characteristics, circumstances of reports, and outcomes were examined for 313,838 children of whom 140,072 received an alternative response during 2002. Overall, the findings from the included States indicate that the use of alternative response was either increasing or ...
Center for State Foster Care and Adoption Data
Chapin Hall Center for Children & American Public Human Services Association
Provides subscribing State child welfare agencies with a national database to assess the impact of their program initiatives over time.
Child Abuse and Neglect State Profiles
First Star
Collects a range of data and indicators from State agencies to highlight aspects of the child welfare system.
Child Welfare Outcomes 2003 : Annual Report
Mandated by the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, this annual report analyzes the performance of state child welfare agencies on seven child welfare outcomes including the recurrence of child abuse and neglect, permanency planning, placement stability, and the safety of children in foster care. See a list of all Child Welfare Outcomes Reports. Data were obtained from state reports provided to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting Systems (AFCARS) and the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) in 2003. Information for a qualitative analysis also was extracted from Child and Family Service Review ...
Foster Care Statistics
This factsheet provides the most recent national statistical estimates for children in foster care from fiscal year (FY) 2005 and also provides earlier data from FY 2000 to allow for some estimate of trends over time. Data were obtained from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). AFCARS collects information on all children in foster care for whom State child welfare agencies have responsibility for placement, care, or supervision and on children who are adopted with public child welfare. Data show that on September 30, 2005, there were an estimated 513,000 children in foster care.
National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being
Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Seeks to describe the child welfare system and the experiences and well-being of children and families who come in contact with the system.
Placement Change Definitions Implementation Guide (PDF – 476 KB)
Child Welfare League of America & National Working Group to Improve Child Welfare Data (2006)
Tool to help States consistently interpret Federal guidance when extracting data from their information systems to report placement change data to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS).
Section 11 - Child Protection, Foster Care, and Adoption Assistance (PDF - 426 KB)
U.S. House of Representatives (2004)
In Green Book
Provides data on funding and participants of federally funded child welfare programs, including trends that affect child welfare populations and national foster care and adoption information.
(Back to Top)
Data sources
Federal and State Reporting Systems
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Overview of the Federal and State reporting systems that provide data to monitor and improve child welfare outcomes: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems (NCANDS), and Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS).
National Data Analysis System
Child Welfare League of America
Searchable online database that provides State data on child abuse and neglect, child abuse and neglect fatalities, adoption, childcare services, children's health, juvenile justice, out-of-home care, and population.
National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect
Facilitates secondary analysis of research data relevant to the study of child abuse and neglect by making data available to researchers.
Using AFCARS, NCANDS, and Census Data to Obtain Demographic Data for Your State/City/County (PDF - 118 KB)
National Data Analysis System (2005)
Information for researchers on obtaining State and local child welfare data.
(Back to Top)
Understanding the data
Beyond Common Sense: Child Welfare, Child Well-Being, and the Evidence for Policy Reform
Wulczyn, Barth, Yuan, Harden, & Landsverk (2005)
View Abstract
Examines the use of child well-being as an outcome for children involved with the child welfare system. Chapters 3 and 4 combine data from several national sources to offer a profile of children's developmental needs as they enter the system.
Can States Be Compared Based on Child Welfare Data? (PDF - 59 KB)
Child Welfare League of America (2006)
Explains the importance of national child welfare data and the complexities of comparing data by State.
Child Maltreatment in Foster Care: Understanding the Data (PDF - 138 KB)
Child Welfare League of America (2002)
Results from a survey reveal States' data reliability and accuracy issues in measuring the occurrence of maltreatment in foster care.
Child Welfare Monitoring
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Overview of the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) process and reports, Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews, Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Assessment Reviews, and the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) Assessment Reviews.
Children in Foster Homes : How Are They Faring? (PDF - 385 KB)
Vandivere, Chalk, & Moore
Child Trends Research Brief, (23), 2003
Describes the well-being of children living in foster family homes based on selected indicators.
Data and Child Welfare Practice
North Carolina Division of Social Services and the Family and Children's Resource Program
Children's Services Practice Notes, 9(4), 2004
How data collection and analysis can help child welfare professionals better serve children and families.
National Resource Center for Child Welfare Data and Technology
Information on improving State data systems and sources of data and statistics.
(Back to Top)
|
