Substantiated Abuse/Neglect Reports DECLINE OVER 30% IN 10 YEARS
Foster care placement is often the final act to protect children from abuse and neglect after attempts have been made to stabilize their families. 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, or their siblings, whenever possible. These placements promote emotional well-being as well as maintain family connections, and the cultural and familial traditions to which the children are accustomed.[1] This indicator tracks confirmed child abuse and neglect reports (substantiated allegations), the number of children entering foster care, and the rate of children placed with siblings while in foster care.
TREND
Between 2024 and 2025, there was an 8% decrease in the number of substantiated child abuse and neglect allegations, from 3,910 to 3,578 reports, respectively. This figure is down 31% since 2016, when there were 5,213 substantiated child abuse and neglect allegations. In 2025, there were 1,743 children who entered foster care—about the same as 2024 when 1,740 children entered foster care.
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS CONTINUE TO DECLINE
Substantiated Allegations and Foster Care Entries in San Bernardino County, 2016-2025
In San Bernardino County, 76.9% of the children in foster care were placed with some or all of their siblings and 54.5% of the children were placed with all siblings. These are the lowest rates among neighboring counties and the state. Over the past 10 years, the percentage of children placed in foster care with all or some of their siblings declined slightly, from 78.0% in 2016 to 76.9% in 2026. However, the percentage placed with all siblings in San Bernardino County has increased slightly since 2016, from 52.6% to 54.5% in 2026.
FEWER CHILDREN IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ARE PLACED WITH SIBLINGS
County Comparison of Foster Youth Placed with Some or All Siblings, January 2026
RACE/ETHNICITY DETAIL
Sixty percent of children with a substantiated child maltreatment allegation are identified as Latino, and another 18% are identified as Black. In the accompanying chart, the distribution of the San Bernardino County child population by race and ethnicity is provided for context, suggesting that Black children are notably overrepresented among children with a substantiated referral and Asian/Pacific Islander children are notably underrepresented. The proportion of Latino and White children with a substantiated referral is roughly proportionate to their distribution in the county overall.
LATINO CHILDREN MAKE UP MAJORITY OF SUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS, IN LINE WITH THEIR POPULATION
Distribution of Substantiated Allegations and Child Population by Race/Ethnicity in San Bernardino County, 2025
SOCIOECONOMIC DETAIL
In 2025, the rate of substantiated allegations for children from birth through age five in San Bernardino County was 9.9 per 1,000 children. This was higher than California’s rate of 7.9 per 1,000 children in this age range. The rate of foster care entry was higher for San Bernardino County children from birth through age five (5.5 per 1,000 children 0-5) than children of all ages (3.2 per 1,000 children 0-17). In 2025, California’s rate for children birth through age five entering foster care was 3.4 per 1,000 children.
GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON
In 2025, San Bernardino County had 6.6 substantiated child abuse and neglect allegations per 1,000 children, higher than the statewide average (5.4 per 1,000) but in the middle among neighboring counties. The county’s rate of foster care entries (3.2 per 1,000 children) is higher than the statewide average (2.1 per 1,000) and all counties compared except Riverside County (also 3.2 per 1,000). When looking at the relationship between the rates of substantiated allegations and foster care placement, 49% of substantiated allegations in San Bernardino County resulted in foster care placement – higher than the state and all counties compared.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY HAS HIGHEST PROPORTION OF ALLEGATIONS RESULTING IN FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT AMONG PEER COUNTIES
County Comparison of Substantiated Allegations and Foster Care Entries per 1,000 Children, 2025
[1] Epstein HR, “Kinship Care is Better for Children and Families,” American Bar Association, 1 July 2017, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_interest/child_law/resources/child_law_practiceonline/child_law_practice/vol-36/july-aug-2017/kinship-care-is-better-for-children-and-families/ (accessed April 6, 2025)