Number of Substantiated Abuse/Neglect Reports Jumps 20%
Foster care placement is often the final act to protect children from abuse and neglect after attempts have been made to stabilize their families. In order to lessen the trauma associated with being removed from their parents, the goal is to place children with people who are familiar to them, such as relatives, extended family members, and/or their siblings whenever possible. These placements not only promote emotional wellbeing, they also maintain family connections and the cultural and familial rituals to which the children are accustomed. This indicator tracks confirmed child abuse and neglect reports (substantiated allegations), the number of children entering foster care, and the percentage of children maintaining their family connections while in foster care.
TREND
Between 2020 and 2021, there was an 20% increase in the number of substantiated child abuse and neglect allegations, from 4,649 to 5,571 reports, respectively. In 2021, there were 2,365 children entering foster care, up 4% from 2020 when 2,276 children entered foster care.
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS AND FOSTER CARE ENTRIES INCREASE
Substantiated Allegations and Foster Care Entries in San Bernardino County, 2012-2021
RACE/ETHNICITY DETAIL
Substantiated Allegations
Black children experienced the highest rates of substantiated allegations (19.4 per 1,000), while Asian/Pacific Islander children had the lowest rates of substantiated allegations (3.0 per 1,000). At 10.1 per 1,000, Latino children were near the countywide average of 9.8 per 1,000 substantiated allegations. White children had a substantiation rate of 7.8 per 1,000. This variation in rates by race/ethnicity contributes to an Equity Gap Score of 6.5, signaling that the group with the highest proportion of substantiated allegations (Black children) is more than six times higher than the group with the lowest proportion of allegations (Asian or Pacific Islander children).
BLACK CHILDREN HAVE MUCH HIGHER RATE OF SUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS
Substantiated Allegations per 1,000 Children by Race/Ethnicity in San Bernardino County, 2021
| Race/Ethnicity | Substantiated Allegations per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.0 |
| White | 7.8 |
| Average | 9.8 |
| Latino | 10.1 |
| Black | 19.4 |
Foster Care Entries
The countywide average for entries to foster care was 4.1 per 1,000, with both White and Asian/Pacific Islander children entering foster care under that average (3.1 per 1,000 and 1.6 per 1,000, respectively). At 4.3 per 1,000, Latino children had a rate similar to the countywide average. Black children had the highest entry rate to foster care (9.5 per 1,000 children).
SOCIOECONOMIC DETAIL
For children from birth through age five, the rate of substantiated allegations is 13.0 per 1,000 children, which is higher than California’s rate of 9.6 per 1,000 children in this age range. The rate of foster care entry is higher for San Bernardino County children from birth through age five (6.7 per 1,000 children 0-5) than children of all ages (4.1 per 1,000 children 0-17). California’s rate for children birth through age five entering foster care is 4.1 per 1,000 children.
GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON
In 2021, San Bernardino County had 9.8 substantiated child abuse and neglect allegations per 1,000 children, higher than the statewide average (6.6 per 1,000) and all neighboring counties compared expect for Riverside County (9.9 per 1,000). The county’s rate of foster care entries (4.1 per 1,000 children) is higher than the statewide average (2.5 per 1,000) and all counties compared. When looking at the relationship between substantiated allegations and foster care placement, 42% of substantiated allegations in San Bernardino County resulted in foster care placement – higher than the state and all counties compared, except for Los Angeles County (also 42%).
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY HAS HIGHEST RATE OF CHILDREN ENTERING FOSTER CARE
County Comparison of Substantiated Allegations and Foster Care Entries per 1,000 Children, 2021
In San Bernardino County, 77.7% of the children in foster care were placed with some or all of their siblings and 55.2% of the children were placed with all siblings. This is the lowest rate among neighboring counties and the state.
FEWER CHILDREN IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ARE PLACED WITH ALL SIBLINGS
County Comparison of Foster Youth Placed with Some or All Siblings, January 2022