In California and across the nation, increasing emphasis has been placed on utilizing evidence-based approaches and practice within the child welfare system. As such, it becomes increasingly important to understand child welfare data and to track child outcomes through indicators for permanency, safety, and well-being.
The data below are consistent with national trends of disproportionality amongst African-American and American Indian populations within the child welfare system. It also closely reflects national trends regarding age of the child at the time of that child’s abuse and the gender of the child abused. While individual outcomes vary widely, having a basic understanding of the factors affecting the consequences of experiencing child abuse and neglect can better inform practices and policies to prevent maltreatment and to support remediation when necessary.