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Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data Site

Child Welfare Outcomes, an annual Report to Congress published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides information on state performance in seven categories of outcomes that are widely accepted performance objectives for child welfare practice. The Report also includes findings of analyses conducted on performance across states and over time. Users of this data site will be able to explore the outcomes, demographic, and context data contained in the Report and generate customized reports by state and year.

Trends and Highlights

  • 1.4%

    Decline in children reentering foster care within 12 months of a prior foster care episode between 2018 and 2022

  • 88.4%

    Children exiting foster care discharged to a permanent home in 2022

  • 25.0%

    Decline in young children placed in group homes or institutions from 2018 to 2022

Key Insights

Explore key insights based on the data collected across 52 states in 2022.

Percent of Exits from Care by Discharge Reason

Exits to Emancipation by Age of Entry into Care

Exits to Emancipation by Age of Entry into Care025507510012 or youngerolder than 1216.5%83.5%

Entries into Foster Care by Type

0255075100New<=12 months>12 monthsMissing80.3%7.6%11.7%0.5%

Percent of Children with 2 or Fewer Placement Settings by Time in Care

0255075100<12 months12-24 months>24 months83.5%68%43.2%

Highlighted Reports