Child Protection 3.5 Million; $30 Billion

Children Served During FY2017, state and local child protection agencies screened allegations of abuse or neglect involving some 7.4 million children, carried out child protection responses involving 3.5 million of those children, and provided follow on services in the homes of some 1.1 million of those children. U.S. Constitution places primary public burden for well-being of children & their families on states. At same time, the federal gov provides technical assistance to improve state child welfare work. Further, through the provision of child welfare funding, the federal government compels states to meet federal program rules, including providing case review protections to all children in foster care. Compliance with federal requirements is monitored via federal plan approvals, audits, and reviews.

State child welfare agencies spent close to $30 billion on child welfare purposes during state FY2016, according to a survey by the research group Child Trends; 56% from state and local coffers; balance of funds supplied by federal programs dedicated to child welfare purposes (27%). Total FY 2019 federal funding authority dedicated solely to child welfare is about $9.8 billion.

Some 270,000 children entered foster care during FY2017, and as of the last day of that fiscal year, 443,000 children remained in care (including those who entered care during FY2017 or in earlier years). Circumstances most often associated with foster care placement were neglect and/or parental drug abuse.

Among children who were in foster care on the last day of FY2017, the median length of stay in care was just over a year (12.9 months). The majority (81%) were living in a family setting, 12% lived in a group home or institution, and the remainder lived in other settings. Among the 248,000 children who formally exited foster care during FY2017, the majority returned to their parents or went to live with a relative (56%), while more than one-third (34%) left care for a new permanent family via adoption or legal guardianship (including with kin).

However, some 8% aged out of care, 1% were transferred to the care of another agency, and the remainder left foster care for other reasons. Who Bears Public Responsibility for This Work? As the U.S. Constitution has been understood, states are considered to bear the primary public responsibility for ensuring the well-being of children and their families. Public child welfare agencies at the state and local levels work with an array of private and public entities—including the courts and social service, health, mental health, education, and law enforcement agencies—to carry out child welfare activities.

This work is done consistent with state laws and policies. At the same time, the federal government has long provided technical assistance to improve state child welfare work. Further, through the provision of child welfare funding, the federal government compels states to meet federal program rules, including providing case review protections to all children in foster care. Compliance with federal requirements is monitored via federal plan approvals, audits, and reviews.

Note 1 (99): At the federal level, child welfare programs are administered by the Children’s Bureau within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). At the state level, federal child welfare programs are often administered within the state human services department, or by an independent, state-level child and family services agency. However, some states have county-administered programs supervised by the state agency

(99) Aug 1, 2019, Child Welfare: Purposes, Federal Programs & Funding: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10590