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.
Reports and briefs
AFCARS Report #24
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau
Provides preliminary estimates of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data for Federal fiscal year 2016.
| Series Title | Numbers and Trends |
| Author(s) | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability | View Download (PDF - 335KB) |
| Year Published | 2020 |
A National Look at the Use of Congregate Care in Child Welfare
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2015)
Uses data to summarize the experience of use in congregate care in order to determine policy implications.
National Youth in Transition Database Data Brief #6
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2017)
Summarizes the demographic data and the financial and social outcomes of former-foster youth who recently transitioned out of care.
Data sources
Adoption & Foster Care Statistics
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau
Collects case-level information on all children in foster care for whom State child welfare agencies have the responsibility of placement, care, or supervision and on children who are adopted under the auspices of the State's public child welfare agency.
Child Welfare Outcomes 2016: Report to Congress
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2019)
Reports information on the performance of States in seven national outcome categories and includes data on contextual factors and findings of analyses conducted across States. Foster care data include data about children entering and exiting foster care, caseworker visits, waiting for adoption, and permanency.
National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), 1997-2014 and 2015-2022
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation
Presents a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of children and families who have been investigated by child protective services. It includes firsthand reports from children, parents, and other caregivers as well as reports from caseworkers, teachers, and data from administrative records.
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