Child abuse in the U.S. - days to initiation of services, by state 2021

In 2021, an average of 81 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 Georgia, with an average of 12 days. The national average was 29 days in that year.

Average number of days to initiation of services for abused children in the United States in 2021, by state

Characteristic	Average number of days to initiation of services
Total average	29
Puerto Rico	81
Kentucky	76
Delaware	75
Nevada	66
Minnesota	60
Nebraska	57
New Hampshire	55
Kansas	54
North Dakota	54
Wisonsin	52
Oklahoma	51
Missouri	48
Oregon	47
Montana	46
Vermont	46
New Jersey	45
Illinois	45
Michigan	44
Maine	43
Alaska	43
Texas	43
Ohio	42
Virginia	40
District of Columbia	40
South Carolina	39
Alabama	38
Arkansas	37
Louisiana	36
New Mexico	34
West Virginia	33
Rhode Island	31
Indiana	30
Florida	29
Pennsylvania	29
Washington	29
Mississippi	27
Hawaii	25
Iowa	24
Colorado	23
Idaho	22
California	14
Massachusetts	14
Wyoming	13
Georgia	12

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Release date

February 2023

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Region

United States

Survey time period

2021

Supplementary notes

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 is no data available for Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah.

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