In 2023, an average of 118 days passed between the reporting of child abuse and the initiation of services in Puerto Rico, making it the longest period of time between reporting abuse and initiation of services in the United States. The state with the shortest period between reporting abuse and initiation of services was Wyoming, with an average of 12 days. The national average was 42 days in that year.
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Average number of days to initiation of services for abused children in the United States in 2023, by state
Characteristic
Average number of days to initiation of services
Total average
42
Puerto Rico
118
Delaware
91
Kentucky
82
Nevada
67
District of Columbia
66
Missouri
65
New Hampshire
65
Minnesota
62
California
61
Nebraska
59
Arizona
56
New Jersey
54
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Average number of days to initiation of services42421181189191828267676666656565656262616159595656545453535252525251515151494947474646454544444343434342424040404039393939383837373636333332323232323229292828282825252323131313131212Total averagePuerto RicoDelawareKentuckyNevadaDistrict of ColumbiaMissouriNew HampshireMinnesotaCaliforniaNebraskaArizonaNew JerseyWisonsinKansasOklahomaLouisianaNorth DakotaOregonMontanaIllinoisAlaskaMichiganAlabamaArkansasVirginiaOhioWashingtonRhode IslandSouth CarolinaTexasVermontNew MexicoMaineFloridaIdahoIndianaMississippiHawaiiPennsylvaniaIowaColoradoGeorgiaMassachusettsWyoming
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Based on State submissions to National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) of alleged child abuse and neglect. NCANDS collects case level data on children who received child protective services response in the form of an investigative or alternative response. Each state has its own definition of child abuse and neglect based on standards set by federal law. Child abuse is defined as any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk or serious harm.
There was no data available for Connecticut, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia.
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US Department of Health and Human Services, & Administration for Children & Families. (January 29, 2025). Average number of days to initiation of services for abused children in the United States in 2023, by state [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 04, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/255097/average-number-of-days-to-initiation-of-services-for-abused-children-by-us-state/
US Department of Health and Human Services, und Administration for Children & Families. "Average number of days to initiation of services for abused children in the United States in 2023, by state." Chart. January 29, 2025. Statista. Accessed September 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/255097/average-number-of-days-to-initiation-of-services-for-abused-children-by-us-state/
US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families. (2025). Average number of days to initiation of services for abused children in the United States in 2023, by state. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/255097/average-number-of-days-to-initiation-of-services-for-abused-children-by-us-state/
US Department of Health and Human Services, and Administration for Children & Families. "Average Number of Days to Initiation of Services for Abused Children in The United States in 2023, by State." Statista, Statista Inc., 29 Jan 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/255097/average-number-of-days-to-initiation-of-services-for-abused-children-by-us-state/
US Department of Health and Human Services & Administration for Children & Families, Average number of days to initiation of services for abused children in the United States in 2023, by state Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/255097/average-number-of-days-to-initiation-of-services-for-abused-children-by-us-state/ (last visited September 04, 2025)
Average number of days to initiation of services for abused children in the United States in 2023, by state [Graph], US Department of Health and Human Services, & Administration for Children & Families, January 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/255097/average-number-of-days-to-initiation-of-services-for-abused-children-by-us-state/
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