Decreasing Rates Of Foster Care Entry Not Associated With Changes In Child Maltreatment Mortality Rates

Decreasing rates of foster care entry are not associated with changes in child maltreatment mortality rates, according to a recent study. Maltreatment mortality rates did not decrease when foster care entry rates were higher, and they did not increase when foster care entry rates were lower.

The analysis was based on administrative data collected from all states January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2023. The data included information about 3.4 million children in state-supervised foster care during the period under analysis and 24,108 children whose death was attributed by child welfare agencies to child maltreatment.

Approximately 370 . . .