https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/PENNSYLVANIA.pdf?token=AWzahEIc680pNihT-9MLhItaIhLspMmHUHGgxWTWJRQ3BAKs7943HSvkIWwgJq0H8PwJ2LT9NPyCVmonXoXLXrLRGHQJDvrevif0c16bwHduL2cQKXeyRdv_kGZ6x3VQsIwFMTjhM1ckRbTN2KASD4M3
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
In 2015, Pennsylvania had 36,223 total referrals for child abuse and neglect. Of those, 36,223 reports were
referred for investigation.8
In 2015, there were 3,855 victims of abuse or neglect in Pennsylvania, a rate of 1.4 per 1,000 children, a an
increase 18.2% from 2014. Of these children, 3.6% were neglected, 38.5% were physically abused, and 50.4%
were sexually abused.9
The number of child victims has increased 17.3% in comparison to the number of victims in 2011.10
In 2015, there were 34 child deaths resulting from abuse or neglect reported in Pennsylvania11
16,049 children in Pennsylvania lived apart from their families in out-of-home care in 2015, compared with
14,315 children in 2011. Of the children living apart from their families in 2014, there were 5,311 aged 5 or
younger, and 3,606 were 16 or older.12
The number of children living apart from their families in out-of-home care has increased 12.1% in comparison
to the number of children in out-of-home care in 2011.13
In 2015, of children in out-of-home care in Pennsylvania, 40% were white, 41% were black, 13% were Hispanic,
< .5% were American Indian/Alaskan Native, < .5% were Asian or Pacific Islander and 6% were of more than one
race or ethnicity/undetermined race or ethnicity.14
ADOPTION, KINSHIP CARE, AND PERMANENT FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN
Of the 9,455 children exiting out-of-home care in 2014 in Pennsylvania, 51% were reunited with their parents or
primary caretakers.15
1,832 children were legally adopted through a public child welfare agency in Pennsylvania in 2015, a decrease of
0.9% from 1,849 in 2014.16
Of the 16,049 children in out-of-home care in 2015, there were 2,423 or 15.1% waiting to be adopted.17
