Child Welfare League of America Making Children a National Priority

 

Child Welfare League of America Making Children a National Priority
About Us
CWLA
Special Initiatives
CWLA
Advocacy
CWLA
Membership
CWLA
News and Media Center
CWLA
Programs
CWLA
Research and Data
CWLA
Publications
CWLA
Conferences and Training
CWLA
Culture and Diversity
CWLA
Consultation
CWLA
Support CWLA
CWLA Members Only Content
       
 

Home > Advocacy > State Fact Sheets for 2007 > California

 
 

CALIFORNIA'S CHILDREN 2007

California's Children At a Glance

 
 State Population 1  36,132,147 
 Population, Children Under 18 2  9,701,862 
 State Poverty Rate 3  13.2% 
 Poverty Rate, Children Under 18 4  18.6% 
 Poverty Rate, Children Ages 5-17 5  17 7% 
 Poverty Rate, Children Under 5 6  19.6% 
All statistics are for 2005.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

  • In 2004, California had 355,239 total referrals of child abuse and neglect. Of those, 234,718 reports were referred for investigation. 7
  • In 2004, 98,201 children were substantiated or indicated as abused or neglected in California, a rate of 10.2 per 1,000 children. Of these children, 67.8% were neglected, 13.9% were physically abused, and 8.1% were sexually abused. 8
  • In 2004, 140 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in California. 9
  • On September 30, 2004, 92,344 children in California lived apart from their families in out-of-home care, compared with 97,261 children on September 30, 2003. In 2004, 27.0% of the children living apart from their families were age 5 or younger, and 21 7% were 16 or older. 10
  • Of the children in out-of-home care on September 30, 2004, 24.4% were white, 27.7% were black, 41.3% were Hispanic, 0.8% were American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 5.7% were children of other races and ethnicities. 11

PERMANENT FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN

  • Of the 43,170 children exiting out-of-home care in 2004, 60.4% were reunited with their parents or other family members. 12
  • In 2004, 7,754 children were legally adopted through the public child welfare agency in California, a 4.1% increase from 7,433 in 2003. 13
  • Of the 92,344 children in out-of-home care in 2004, 4,905 or 5.3% were waiting to be adopted. 14

KINSHIP SUPPORT

  • In 2005, approximately 269,496 California grandparents had primary responsibility caring for their grandchildren. 15
  • Of the 92,344 children in out-of-home care on September 30, 2004, 33.2% were living with relatives while in care. 16
  • Of all California children in kinship care on September 30, 2004, 20.8% were white, 32.6% were black, 40.7% were Hispanic, 0.8% were American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 5.1% were of other races. 17

CHILD POVERTY AND INCOME SUPPORT

  • The total number of individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in California decreased from 1,092,422 in March 2005 to 1,055,250 in March 2006, a decrease of 3.5%. The number of families receiving TANF in March 2006 was 451,961 , a 3.1% decrease from March 2005. 18
  • In 2002, a family of three receiving only TANF and food stamp benefits in California was at 70.7% of the federal poverty guideline. 19
  • In 2004, California spent $6,177,940,510 in TANF funds, including 53.2% on basic assistance, 2.7% on child care, 1.8% on transportation, and 36.5% on nonassistance. 20
  • In 2005, California collected and distributed $2,222,045,042 in child support funds, an increase of 2.0% from 2004. 21
  • In 2005, the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in California was $1,149 per month. The wage necessary to afford this two-bedroom apartment was $22.09 per hour, working a 40-hour week. 22

CHILD CARE AND HEAD START

  • In 2005, California had an estimated monthly average of 162,600 children served by subsidized child care; 160,100 children received subsidized child care in 2004, and 153,600 in 2003. 23
  • In 2006, to be eligible for subsidized child care in California, a family of three could make no more than $35,100, which is equivalent to 62% of the state's median income. 24
  • In 2006, California had 280,000 children on its waiting list for child care assistance. 25
  • In 2005, Head Start served 98,432 California children, a 0.5% decrease from 2004. 26

HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

  • In 2002, 3,652,400 children younger than 19 were enrolled in Medicaid in California, representing 39.0% of the total number of enrollees. 27
  • In 2001, 143,169 foster and adopted children were enrolled in Medicaid in California, representing 4.3% of all children in Medicaid. 28
  • In 2001, California spent $4,019,360 on Medicaid services for children in foster care, and $2,807 on Medicaid services per foster care enrollee. 29
  • California reported spending $18,531,412.00 of its total Medicaid expenditures in 2001 on targeted case management services for foster children. 30
  • California reported spending $179,508,782.00 of its total Medicaid expenditures in 2001 on rehabilitative services for foster children. 31
  • In 2005, California had 1,223,475 children enrolled in its State Children's Health Insurance Program, an 18.1% increase from 2004, when 1,035,752 children were enrolled. 32
  • In 2003, 35,628 babies were born weighing less than 2,500 grams, giving California a ranking of 50 nationally in number of low-weight births (1 being the best, and 50 the worst). 33
  • In 2003, 2,820 infants younger than 1 year died in California, giving the state a ranking of 50 nationally in infant mortality rates (1 being the best, and 50 the worst). 34
  • In 2004, the birth rate for teens age 15-17 in California was 21.2 births per 1,000 girls; for teens 18-19, the rate was 67.9. This reflects a total rate of 39.5 births per 1,000 girls ages 15-19. 35
  • Cumulative through 2004, 134,573 adults and adolescents, as well as 648 children younger than 13, were reported as having HIV/AIDS in California. 36
  • In 2004, an estimated 296,000 children age 12-17, and 1,568,000 adults 26 and older, were dependent on or abusing illicit drugs or alcohol in California. 37

VULNERABLE YOUTH

  • In 2004, 4535 children aged-out of out-of-home care in California. 38
  • In 2004, 123,000 California teens age 16-19 were high school dropouts. 39
  • In 2004, 8% of teens age 16-19 were not enrolled in school, were not working, and had no degree beyond high school. 40
  • In 2004, approximately 167,000 children age 12-17 in California needed, but had not received, treatment for illicit drug use in the past year. 41
  • In 2004, approximately 188,000 children age 12-17 needed, but had not received, treatment for alcohol use in the past year. 42
  • In 2003, 144 children and youth younger than 20 committed suicide, a rate of 1.37 per 100,000 children. 43

JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION

  • In 2003, 151 children under age 18 were killed in firearm homicides in California, a 4% decrease from 157 in 2002. 44
  • In 2005, 217,158 children younger than 18 were arrested in California, a 6.1% increase from 204,602 arrests in 2004. Of the arrests in 2005, 15,266 were for violent crimes and 9,146 were for possession of a weapon. 45
  • A 2003 census of juvenile offenders showed 16,782 children in juvenile correction facilities in California. 46

FUNDING CHILD WELFARE SERVICES FOR CALIFORNIA'S CHILDREN

  • In 2004, California spent $4,328,207,000 for child welfare services. Child welfare services are all direct and administrative services the state agency provides to children and families. 47 Of this amount, 43% was from federal funds, 33% was from state funds, and 24% was from local funds. 48
  • In 2004, of the $1,858,513,000 in federal funds received for child welfare, 71% was from Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, 5% came from Title IV-B Child Welfare Services and Promoting Safe and Stable Families, 10% came from the Social Services Block Grant, 13% was from TANF, and 1% came from other federal sources. 49
  • Of 92,344 children in out-of-home care in California on September 30, 2004, only 54,532 , or 59.1%, received Title IV-E federal foster care assistance. 50

CALIFORNIA'S CHILD WELFARE WORKFORCE

  • A 2003 General Accounting Office (GAO) report documented that staff shortages, high caseloads, high worker turnover and low salaries impinge on delivering services to achieve safety, permanence, and well-being for children. 51
  • The federal Child and Family Service Reviews have demonstrated clearly that the more time a caseworker spends with a child and family, the better the outcomes for those children and families. 52
  • According to the 2003 GAO report, the average caseload for child welfarefoster care caseworkers is 24-31 children; these high caseloads contribute to high worker turnover and insufficient services provided to children and families. CWLA recommends that foster care caseworkers have caseloads of 12-15 children. 53

REFERENCES

  1. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Division (2005). Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for the United States and States, and for Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005 (NST-EST2005-01). Retrieved online September 18, 2006. Washington, DC: Author. back
  2. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, Population Reference Bureau. (2006). Special tabulations of the supplementary survey. Washington, DC: Author. back
  3. U.S. Bureau of the Census (2006). Current Population Survey, 2006 Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Poverty Status by State: 2005. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: Author. back
  4. U.S. Bureau of the Census (2006). Current Population Survey, 2006 Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Poverty Status by State: 2005 Below 100% and 125% of Poverty--People Under 18 Years of Age. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: Author. back
  5. U.S. Bureau of the Census (2006). 2005 American Community Survey, Selected Economic Characteristics. Retrieved January 23, 2007. back
  6. Ibid. back
  7. Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF). (2006). Child Maltreatment 2004: Reports From the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). back
  8. Ibid.; Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. (2005). Child Maltreatment 2003: Reports From the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS. back
  9. ACYF, Child Maltreatment 2004. back
  10. Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). (2006). Special tabulation of the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System AFCARS). Washington, DC: Author. back
  11. "Other races and ethnicities" includes Asian, Pacific Islander, Hawaiian Native, unknown or unable to determine, missing data and two or more races; CWLA, Special tabulation from AFCARS, 2006. back
  12. Ibid. back
  13. Ibid.; CWLA. (2005). Special tabulation from AFCARS. back
  14. CWLA, Special tabulation from AFCARS, 2006. back
  15. U.S. Census Bureau. (2005). American Community Survey, Data Profile. Selected Social Characteristics: 2005. Retrieved online January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: Author. back
  16. CWLA, Special tabulation from AFCARS, 2006. back
  17. Ibid. back
  18. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. (2006, 2005). Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Separate State Program-Maintenance of Effort Aid to Families with Dependant Children: Caseload Data. Retrieved online, January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS. back
  19. Calculations by CWLA, based on Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. (2004). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program: Sixth Annual Report to Congress. (Table 1:14, Average Monthly Amount of Assistance per Family and per Recipient Fiscal Year 2002). Retrieved online January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS; Food and Nutrition Service. (2005). Food Stamp Program--Annual State Level Data--State Level Participation. Food Stamp Program: Average Monthly Benefit Per Household (FY 2002). Retrieved online October 13, 2005. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (2002). The 2002 HHS Poverty Guidelines. Retrieved online January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS. back
  20. Administration for Children and Families. (2004). TANF Financial Data. Table F: Combined Spending of Federal and States Funds Expended in FY 2004 Through the Fourth Quarter. Retrieved online January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS. back
  21. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement. (2006). Child Support Enforcement, FY 2005 Preliminary Data. Table 3--Total Distributed Collections, FY 2005. Retrieved online, January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS; Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement. (2005). Child Support Enforcement Program Results for FY 2004. Table 3--Total Distributed Collections, FY 2004. Retrieved online, January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS. back
  22. Pitcoff, W.; Pelletiere, D.; Crowley, S.; Treskon, M.; & Dolbeare, C. (2005). Out of Reach 2005. Retrieved online, September 27, 2006. Washington, DC: National Low Income Housing Coalition. back
  23. Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau. (2005). FFY 2005 CCDF Data Tables and Charts; Average Monthly Adjusted Number of Children and Families Served. Retrieved online, January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS; Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau. (2003). FFY 2003 CCDF Data Tables and Charts; Average Monthly Adjusted Number of Children and Families Served. Retrieved online, January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS; Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau. (2004). FFY 2004 CCDF Data Tables and Charts; Average Monthly Adjusted Number of Children and Families Served. Retrieved online, January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS. back
  24. Schulman, K. & Blank, H. (2006). State Child Care Assistance Policies 2006: Gaps Remain with New Challenges Ahead. Retrieved online, January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: National Women's Law Center. back
  25. Ibid. back
  26. Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau. (2006). Head Start fact sheet. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS; Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau. (2005). Head Start program fact sheet. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: HHS. back
  27. Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2006). Medicaid enrollment by group, FFY 2002. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Menlo Park, CA: Author. back
  28. Geen, R., Sommers, A., & Cohen, M. (2005). Medicaid Spending on Foster Children. Retrieved online, January 17, 2007. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. back
  29. Ibid. back
  30. Urban Institute estimates based on data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2001). Medicaid Statistical Information System, Summary File, Baltimore: Author. back
  31. Ibid. back
  32. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2006). FY 2005 number of children ever enrolled year--SCHIP by program type. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Baltimore: Author. back
  33. Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2006). Kids Count. State Level Data Online: Comparisons by Topic: Low-birthweight babies: Number: 2003. Retrieved online, January 17, 2007. Baltimore: Author. back
  34. Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2006). Kids Count. State Level Data Online: Comparisons by Topic: Infant Mortality: Number: 2003. Retrieved online, January 17, 2007. Baltimore: Author. back
  35. Martin, J.A.; Hamilton, B.E.; Sutton, P.D.; Ventura, S.J.; Menacker, F.; & Kirmeyer, S. (2006). Births: Final data for 2004. National Vital Statistics Reports 55(1). Retrieved January 23, 2007. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. back
  36. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2004. Vol. 16. Retrieved online January 23, 2007. Atlanta: Author. back
  37. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Office of Applied Studies. (2006). State estimates of substance use from the 2003-2004 national surveys on drug use and health. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Rockville, MD: Author. back
  38. Children who aged out of foster care are captured by the AFCARS emancipation data element. Children who exit care to emancipation are those who reached the age of majority; AFCARS. back
  39. Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2006). Kids Count data book indicators: Teens who are high school dropouts: Number: 2004. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Baltimore: Author; Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2006). Kids Count data book indicators: Teens who are high school dropouts: Number: 2000. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Baltimore: Author. back
  40. Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2006). Kids Count data book indicators: Teens who are high school dropouts: Number: 2004. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Baltimore: Author; Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2006). Kids Count data book indicators: Teens who are high school dropouts: Number: 2000. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Baltimore: Author. back
  41. SAMHSA, State Estimates of Substance Use from the 2003-2004 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. back
  42. Ibid. back
  43. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (2006). Injury Mortality Reports, 1999-2004. Retrieved online, January 23, 2007. Atlanta: Author. back
  44. Ibid. back
  45. Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2006). Crime in the United States 2005 (Table 69). Retrieved January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: Author; Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2006). Crime in the United States 2004 (Table 69). Retrieved January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: Author. back
  46. Sickmund, M., Sladky, T.J., & and Kang, W. (2005). Census of juveniles in residential placement databook. Retrieved January 23, 2007. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. back
  47. Examples of direct services include child abuse and neglect investigations, foster care, community-based programs, case management, and all such services required for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. Examples of administrative services include management information systems, training programs, eligibility determination processes, and all services that provide the infrastructure supports for the public agency. back
  48. Scarcella, C.A.; Bess, R.; Zielewski, E.H.; & Geen, R. (2006). The Cost of Protecting Vulnerable Children V: Understanding State Variation in Child Welfare Financing. Retrieved online, January 17, 2007. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. back
  49. Ibid. back
  50. CWLA, Special tabulation from AFCARS, 2005. back
  51. U.S. General Accounting Office. (March 2003). Child Welfare: HHS Could Play a Greater Role in Helping Child Welfare Agencies Recruit and Retain Staff. Retrieved online, January 17, 2007. Washington, DC: Author. back
  52. Ibid. back
  53. Ibid. back




 Back to Top   Printer-friendly Page Printer-friendly Page   Contact Us Contact Us

 
 

 

 


About Us | Special Initiatives | Advocacy | Membership | News & Media Center | Practice Areas | Support CWLA
Research/Data | Publications | Webstore | Conferences/Training | Culture/Diversity | Consultation/Training

All Content and Images Copyright Child Welfare League of America. All Rights Reserved.
See also Legal Information, Privacy Policy, Browser Compatibility Statement

CWLA is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and access for all individuals.
No employee, applicant for employment, or member of the public shall be discriminated against
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or
any other personal characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.