Child Trends released its newly updated state by state data on Child Welfare in the United States. Now including 2020 data, this comprehensive resource offers state- and national-level data on child maltreatment, foster care, kinship care, and adoption through interactive features.
Highlights from the national data indicates that the number of reports of maltreatment decreased by 9 percent from 2019 to 2020. Research shows that one factor likely driving this shift is COVID-19 restrictions limiting contact between children and educators, which is consistent with the findings of the Children’s Bureau’s Child Maltreatment report that was released earlier this year.
Similarly, the number of children currently in foster care decreased for the third year in a row and the number of children entering foster care decreased for the fourth year in a row.
Child trends also noted that as of December 31, 2020, 34 percent of children in foster care were in a relative care placement. Kinship care is a valuable source of stability and connection for foster youth.
