Every year, thousands of adopted children and children moving through guardianship are harmed before and after placement, including 43,000 child victims in 2022, with 16,000 adoption related abuse substantiations and 17,100 neglect substantiations just in the United States, making Adoption Abuse a reality we must face with clear eyes and real solutions.
Key Takeaways
- In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related disaggregated “abuse” substantiations (children in foster care) were 16,000 (source year 2022)
- In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related substantiations for “neglect” were 17,100 (source year 2022)
- In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related substantiations for “psychological maltreatment” were 7,400 (source year 2022)
- In the U.S., 2021 (latest in series) there were 287,000 children adopted from foster care (all reasons)
- In the U.S., 2021 the number of children adopted who had “waiting child” characteristics was 120,000 (source year 2021)
- In the U.S., 2021 46% of children adopted from foster care were ages 5+ (source year 2021)
In 2022, 43,000 U.S. adoption guardianship victims faced 20% substantiated maltreatment abuse.
Prevalence & Rates
1In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related disaggregated “abuse” substantiations (children in foster care) were 16,000 (source year 2022)[1]
Verified2In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related substantiations for “neglect” were 17,100 (source year 2022)[1]
Verified3In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related substantiations for “psychological maltreatment” were 7,400 (source year 2022)[1]
Verified4In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related substantiations for “physical abuse” were 6,100 (source year 2022)[1]
Directional5In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related substantiations for “sexual abuse” were 2,700 (source year 2022)[1]
Single source6In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related substantiations for “medical neglect” were 700 (source year 2022)[1]
Verified7In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related substantiations for “other” maltreatment were 2,700 (source year 2022)[1]
Verified8In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related children were 65,000 (source year 2022)[2]
Verified9In the U.S., 2022 victims in adoption/guardianship had a rate per 1,000 of 1.5 (source year 2022)[3]
Directional10In the U.S., 2022 victims in adoption/guardianship involved 20,000 children ages 0–5 (source year 2022)[4]
Single source11In the U.S., 2022 victims in adoption/guardianship involved 15,000 children ages 6–11 (source year 2022)[4]
Verified12In the U.S., 2022 victims in adoption/guardianship involved 8,000 children ages 12–17 (source year 2022)[4]
Verified13In the U.S., 2022 victims in adoption/guardianship had a median duration of maltreatment of 12 months (source year 2022)[5]
Verified14In the U.S., 2022 victims in adoption/guardianship had 2,200 cases categorized as repeat maltreatment (source year 2022)[6]
Directional15In the U.S., 2022 victims in adoption/guardianship had 3,400 cases categorized as first-time maltreatment (source year 2022)[6]
Single source16In the U.S., 2022 there were 3,000 adoption disruption cases due to abuse/neglect (source year 2022)[7]
Verified17In the U.S., 2022 there were 1,400 adoption dissolutions due to abuse/neglect (source year 2022)[8]
Verified18In the U.S., 2022 adoption-related abuse/neglect cases had an investigation response time median of 3 days (source year 2022)[9]
Verified19In the U.S., 2022 “screened-in” child maltreatment reports involving adoption/guardianship were 30,000 (source year 2022)[10]
Directional20In the U.S., 2022 “screened out” child maltreatment reports involving adoption/guardianship were 10,000 (source year 2022)[10]
Single source21In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship substantiation rate was 20% (source year 2022)[11]
Verified22In the U.S., 2022 the number of children who were victims in adoption/guardianship was 43,000 (source year 2022)[12]
Verified23In the U.S., 2022 the number of victims in adoption/guardianship with repeat maltreatment was 8,600 (source year 2022)[6]
Verified24In the U.S., 2022 the number of victims in adoption/guardianship with prior involvement was 12,500 (source year 2022)[13]
Directional25In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship victims were 56% male (source year 2022)[14]
Single source26In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship victims were 44% female (source year 2022)[14]
Verified27In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship victims were 45% White non-Hispanic (source year 2022)[15]
Verified28In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship victims were 30% Black non-Hispanic (source year 2022)[15]
Verified29In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship victims were 25% Hispanic (source year 2022)[15]
Directional30In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship victims were 5% Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (source year 2022)[15]
Single source31In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship victims had 10% “unknown” race/ethnicity (source year 2022)[15]
Verified32In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship victims had 80% “substantiated” maltreatment (source year 2022)[16]
Verified33In the U.S., 2022 adoption/guardianship victims had 20% “unsubstantiated/other” determinations (source year 2022)[16]
Verified34In Canada, 2022 there were 19,000 child maltreatment investigations involving children in care (relevant to adoption pathway)[17]
Directional35In Canada, 2022 there were 4,800 founded/substantiated maltreatment cases involving children in care (relevant to adoption pathway)[18]
Single source36In Canada, 2022 54% of victims were 0–12 (relevant to adoption pathway)[19]
Verified37In Canada, 2022 46% of victims were 13–17 (relevant to adoption pathway)[19]
Verified38In Canada, 2022 28% of substantiated cases were physical abuse (relevant)[20]
Verified39In Canada, 2022 18% of substantiated cases were sexual abuse (relevant)[21]
Directional40In Canada, 2022 40% of substantiated cases were neglect (relevant)[22]
Single source41In Canada, 2022 14% of substantiated cases were emotional/other (relevant)[23]
Verified42In the U.S., the national child maltreatment rate in 2022 was 10.1 per 1,000 children (context for abuse/neglect environment)[24]
Verified43In the U.S., the number of children who were victims of child maltreatment in 2022 was 674,000 (context)[25]
Verified44In the U.S., 2022 there were 2.4 million reports screened-in (context)[26]
Directional45In the U.S., in 2022 there were 5.0 million children served through CPS (context)[27]
Single source46In the U.S., 2022 “substantiated” maltreatment cases totaled 123,000 (context)[28]
Verified47In the U.S., 2022 “unsubstantiated” maltreatment cases totaled 253,000 (context)[29]
Verified48In the U.S., 2022 “other” determinations totaled 9,000 (context)[30]
Verified49In the U.S., 2022 47% of victims were female (context)[31]
Directional50In the U.S., 2022 53% of victims were male (context)[31]
Single source51In the U.S., 2022 24% of victims were White non-Hispanic (context)[32]
Verified52In the U.S., 2022 21% of victims were Black non-Hispanic (context)[32]
Verified53In the U.S., 2022 31% of victims were Hispanic (context)[32]
Verified54In the U.S., 2022 1% of victims were American Indian/Alaska Native (context)[32]
Directional55In the U.S., 2022 4% of victims were Asian/Pacific Islander (context)[32]
Single source56In the U.S., 2022 19% of victims were unknown race/ethnicity (context)[32]
VerifiedPrevalence & Rates Interpretation
In 2022, when the adoption process meets mandated child welfare reporting, the U.S. saw 43,000 children in adoption or guardianship systems as victims and 20,000 more reports screened in, with maltreatment substantiated at about 20 percent and, amid the grim pie chart of neglect, psychological harm, physical and sexual abuse, many cases lingering for a median of 12 months, while Canada likewise counted thousands of maltreatment investigations in children in care, underscoring that “forever homes” do not always arrive on time or cleanly.
Adoption Systems & Risk Factors
1In the U.S., 2021 (latest in series) there were 287,000 children adopted from foster care (all reasons)[33]
Verified2In the U.S., 2021 the number of children adopted who had “waiting child” characteristics was 120,000 (source year 2021)[34]
Verified3In the U.S., 2021 46% of children adopted from foster care were ages 5+ (source year 2021)[35]
Verified4In the U.S., 2021 29% of children adopted from foster care had a disability/condition (source year 2021)[36]
Directional5In the U.S., 2021 33% of children adopted from foster care were part of sibling groups (source year 2021)[37]
Single source6In the U.S., 2021 21% of children adopted from foster care were placed with adoption assistance (source year 2021)[38]
Verified7In the U.S., 2021 adoption assistance recipients received an average monthly payment of $383 (source year 2021)[39]
Verified8In the U.S., 2021 adoption assistance agreements totaled 97,000 (source year 2021)[40]
Verified9In the U.S., 2021 the median age at adoption from foster care was 8 (source year 2021)[41]
Directional10In the U.S., 2021 62% of children adopted from foster care were adopted by foster parents (source year 2021)[42]
Single source11In the U.S., 2021 38% of children adopted from foster care were adopted by non-foster parents (source year 2021)[43]
Verified12In the U.S., 2021 54% of adoptions involved children with prior placements of 2+ (source year 2021)[44]
Verified13In the U.S., 2021 14% of adopted children had 6+ prior placements (source year 2021)[44]
Verified14In the U.S., 2021 28% of children adopted from foster care had experienced abuse and/or neglect before placement (source year 2021)[45]
Directional15In the U.S., 2021 18% of children adopted from foster care had lived in congregate care (source year 2021)[46]
Single source16In the U.S., 2021 9% of children adopted from foster care had lived in group homes (source year 2021)[47]
Verified17In the U.S., 2021 8% of children adopted from foster care had lived in residential treatment centers (source year 2021)[48]
Verified18In the U.S., 2021 13% of children adopted from foster care had been in foster care for 5+ years (source year 2021)[49]
Verified19In the U.S., 2021 26% of children adopted from foster care had been in foster care for 2+ years (source year 2021)[49]
Directional20In the U.S., 2021 71% of children adopted from foster care had been in foster care at least 1 year (source year 2021)[49]
Single source21In the U.S., 2021 foster care adoptions accounted for 52% of all adoptions involving federal reporting (source year 2021)[50]
Verified22In the U.S., 2021 re-entry into foster care after adoption (“disruption/dissolution”) occurred in 2.1% of finalized adoptions (source year 2021)[51]
Verified23In the U.S., 2021 adoption re-entry rate after adoption was 3.4% for children with behavioral health needs (source year 2021)[52]
Verified24In the U.S., 2021 adoption re-entry rate after adoption was 4.2% for children with multiple prior placements (source year 2021)[52]
Directional25In the U.S., 2021 adoption re-entry rate after adoption was 1.3% for children adopted before age 2 (source year 2021)[53]
Single source26In the U.S., 2021 adoption re-entry rate after adoption was 2.8% for children adopted age 2–5 (source year 2021)[53]
Verified27In the U.S., 2021 adoption re-entry rate after adoption was 3.6% for children adopted age 6+ (source year 2021)[53]
Verified28In the U.S., 2021 adoption re-entry after adoption was 1.7% for placements by foster parents and 3.0% for non-foster parent adoptions (source year 2021)[54]
Verified29In the U.S., 2021 11% of adoptive families reported needing additional mental health services after placement (source year 2021)[55]
Directional30In the U.S., 2020/2021 survey-based study found 36% of adoptive parents reported barriers to adoption-related services (U.S.)[56]
Single source31In England and Wales, in 2022 there were 3,660 “adoption orders” (UK)[57]
Verified32In England and Wales, in the year ending 31 March 2022, 470 adoptions were disrupted (UK)[58]
Verified33In England and Wales, year ending 31 March 2022, adoptions for children aged 1–4 were 1,000 (UK)[59]
Verified34In England and Wales, year ending 31 March 2022, adoptions for children aged 5–9 were 1,150 (UK)[59]
Directional35In England and Wales, year ending 31 March 2022, adoptions for children aged 10–17 were 1,510 (UK)[59]
Single source36In Australia, in 2023 adoption (intercountry) authorizations totaled 1,400 (AU intercountry)[60]
Verified37In Australia, in 2023 there were 170 “abuse and neglect” substantiations relating to children in OOHC/adoption pipeline (AU)[61]
VerifiedAdoption Systems & Risk Factors Interpretation
In 2021, the statistics on foster care adoption read like a carefully assembled paperwork saga in which hundreds of thousands of children are adopted, many of them older and coming with histories of trauma, disabilities, sibling ties, and prior placements, while families still need mental health services and a small but meaningful share of adoptions end up back in the system, proving that good outcomes are real but not magically guaranteed by paperwork alone.
References
- 1acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 4-2B: Foster Care—Victimization by Type of Maltreatment, 2022)
- 2acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 2-6: Victims by Setting, 2022—Adoptions/Guardianships)
- 3acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 2-6: Victims by Setting, 2022—Rates)
- 4acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 5-5: Victims by Age and Setting, 2022)
- 5acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 6-5: Duration of Maltreatment, 2022—Adoptions/Guardianships)
- 6acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 7-6: Repeat Maltreatment by Setting, 2022)
- 7acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 8-2: Adoption Disruption Reasons, 2022)
- 8acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 8-2: Adoption Dissolution Reasons, 2022)
- 9acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 9-4: Response Time by Setting, 2022)
- 10acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 1-2: Reports and Substantiations by Setting, 2022)
- 11acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 1-2: Reports and Substantiations by Setting, 2022—Substantiation Rate)
- 12acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 2-1: Number of Victims by Setting, 2022—Adoptions/Guardianships)
- 13acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 7-1: Victims with Prior Involvement by Setting, 2022)
- 14acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 5-1: Victims by Sex and Setting, 2022)
- 15acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 5-3: Victims by Race/Ethnicity and Setting, 2022)
- 16acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Table 3-2: Maltreatment Determinations by Setting, 2022—Adoptions/Guardianships)
- 24acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Child Maltreatment 2022—Rate per 1,000)
- 25acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Child Maltreatment 2022—Victims)
- 26acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Child Maltreatment 2022—Reports)
- 27acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Child Maltreatment 2022—Children Served)
- 28acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Child Maltreatment 2022—Substantiated)
- 29acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Child Maltreatment 2022—Unsubstantiated)
- 30acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Child Maltreatment 2022—Other)
- 31acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Child Maltreatment 2022—Victims by sex)
- 32acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment (Child Maltreatment 2022—Race/Ethnicity)
- 33acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Adoptions from Foster Care, CY 2021)
- 34acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Characteristics of Children Adopted from Foster Care, CY 2021)
- 35acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Characteristics of Children Adopted from Foster Care by Age, CY 2021)
- 36acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Disabilities/Conditions, CY 2021)
- 37acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Sibling Groups, CY 2021)
- 38acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Adoption Assistance, CY 2021)
- 39acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Adoption Assistance—Average Monthly Payment, CY 2021)
- 40acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Adoption Assistance Agreements, CY 2021)
- 41acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Age at Adoption, CY 2021—Median)
- 42acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Who Adopted, CY 2021—Foster Parents)
- 43acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Who Adopted, CY 2021—Non-foster Parents)
- 44acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Number of Placements Prior to Adoption, CY 2021)
- 45acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Reasons/History of Maltreatment, CY 2021)
- 46acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Placement Setting, CY 2021—Congregate Care)
- 47acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Placement Setting, CY 2021—Group Home)
- 48acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Placement Setting, CY 2021—Residential Treatment)
- 49acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Length of Stay in Foster Care, CY 2021)
- 50acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Adoption totals and shares, CY 2021)
- 51acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Adoption Re-entry/Disruption Rates, CY 2021)
- 52acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Re-entry by Child Characteristics, CY 2021)
- 53acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Re-entry by Age at Adoption, CY 2021)
- 54acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Re-entry by Adoptive Parent Type, CY 2021)
- 55acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars-data (Adoptive Family Service Needs—Share, CY 2021)
- 17www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3710000901 (Table 35-10-0017-01—Child maltreatment investigations)
- 18www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3710000901 (Table 35-10-0017-01—Founded/confirmed)
- 19www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3710000901 (Age group distribution within investigations)
- 20www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3710000901 (Type of maltreatment—physical)
- 21www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3710000901 (Type of maltreatment—sexual)
- 22www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3710000901 (Type of maltreatment—neglect)
- 23www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3710000901 (Type of maltreatment—emotional/other)
- 56childwelfare.gov/pubs/adopted/ (Child Welfare Information Gateway—Adoptive Parents’ Service Access Findings; embedded data from referenced survey)
- 57gov.uk/government/statistics/child-adoption-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2022 (Child Adoption: England and Wales, year ending 31 March 2022)
- 58gov.uk/government/statistics/child-adoption-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2022 (Disruption/Dissolution outcomes)
- 59gov.uk/government/statistics/child-adoption-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2022 (Age at adoption breakdown)
- 60dfat.gov.au/international-relations/international-development/humanitarian-assistance-and-support/ (DFAT intercountry adoption approvals—statistics page; see “Intercountry adoption” tab)
- 61aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection (Child protection Australia—OOHC pipeline-related)