In 2022, around 18,144 children in California who were the victims of child abuse were in foster care, the most out of any state. Florida, Texas, Illinois, and Indiana rounded out the five leading states for children in foster care in that year.
Number of child abuse victims who received foster care in the United States in 2022, by state
Based on State submissions to National Child Absuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) of alleged child abuse and neglect. NCANDS collects case level data on children who received child protective services response in the form of an investigative or alternative response. Each state has its own definition of child abuse and neglect based on standards set by federal law. Child abuse is defined as any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk or serious harm.
There is no data available for New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
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US Department of Health and Human Services, & Administration for Children & Families. (January 29, 2024). Number of child abuse victims who received foster care in the United States in 2022, by state [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/255125/number-of-child-abuse-victims-who-received-foster-care-in-the-us-by-state/
US Department of Health and Human Services, und Administration for Children & Families. "Number of child abuse victims who received foster care in the United States in 2022, by state." Chart. January 29, 2024. Statista. Accessed March 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/255125/number-of-child-abuse-victims-who-received-foster-care-in-the-us-by-state/
US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families. (2024). Number of child abuse victims who received foster care in the United States in 2022, by state. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: March 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/255125/number-of-child-abuse-victims-who-received-foster-care-in-the-us-by-state/
US Department of Health and Human Services, and Administration for Children & Families. "Number of Child Abuse Victims Who Received Foster Care in The United States in 2022, by State." Statista, Statista Inc., 29 Jan 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/255125/number-of-child-abuse-victims-who-received-foster-care-in-the-us-by-state/
US Department of Health and Human Services & Administration for Children & Families, Number of child abuse victims who received foster care in the United States in 2022, by state Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/255125/number-of-child-abuse-victims-who-received-foster-care-in-the-us-by-state/ (last visited March 10, 2025)
Number of child abuse victims who received foster care in the United States in 2022, by state [Graph], US Department of Health and Human Services, & Administration for Children & Families, January 29, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/255125/number-of-child-abuse-victims-who-received-foster-care-in-the-us-by-state/