For the first time in nearly 20 years, total spending on child welfare in the U.S. has declined. A new Child Trends study, Federal, State, and Local Spending to Address Child Abuse and Neglect in SFY 2012, summarizes key findings from a national survey of states’ child welfare expenditures.
The survey of 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico found that child welfare agency expenditures from federal, state, and local sources decreased by eight percent between state fiscal years 2010 and 2012—representing the first decrease in spending that has been found since the survey began in 1996. In addition, federal spending on child welfare declined, and was found to be at its lowest level since the state fiscal year 1998 survey.
Child welfare agencies are charged with ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of children who have been abused or neglected, and those deemed at risk of abuse or neglect. Using federal, state, and local funds, these agencies provide services to prevent abuse and neglect, to preserve families, to protect children, and to place children outside of their homes when necessary.
Between October 2011 and September 2012, child welfare agencies received an estimated 3.4 million referrals of alleged child abuse or neglect, involving around 6.3 million children. Nearly 680,000 children were determined to be victims of maltreatment that year, and an estimated 638,000 children were in foster
[Read the entire press release at http://www.childtrends.org/news/news-releases/survey-finds-decline-in-child-welfare-spending/#sthash.uqU5f9my.dpuf]
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