ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the sources of data on child maltreatment and children placed in foster care. The fact that the federal government collects incidence and prevalence data on child maltreatment suggests that the occurrence of child maltreatment and child placements could be tracked to determine whether federal and state welfare reform legislation does have an impact on the frequency and severity of child mal-treatment. The chapter presents findings on the extent of maltreatment and the number of children placed in foster care. The report opened with the finding that the number of abused and neglected children doubled between 1986 and 1993. The chapter also examines trend data on abuse, neglect, and foster care placements. The data show no evidence that Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is producing an increase in abuse, neglect, or foster care placements.
