C H I L D W E L F A R E L E A G U E O F A M E R I C A
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After March 2007: 2345 Crystal Drive, Suite 250, Arlington VA 22202
202/638-2952 • Fax 202/638-4004 • www.cwla.org
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A R I Z O N A ’ S C H I L D R E N 2 0 0 7
Arizona’s Children
At a Glance
State Population1........ 5,939,292
Population, Children
Under 182................. 1,580,436
State Poverty Rate3 ............. 15.2
Poverty Rate,
Children Under 184........... 20.3
Poverty Rate,
Children Ages 5–175......... 18.2
Poverty Rate,
Children Under 56............. 23.9
All statistics are for 2005.
C H I L D A B U S E A N D N E G L E C T
•
In 2004, Arizona had 35,993 total referrals of child abuse and neglect. Of
those, 35,623 reports were referred for investigation.7
•
In 2004, 7,344 children were substantiated or indicated as abused or
neglected in Arizona, a rate of 4.7 per 1,000 children, and representing
a 51.8% increase from 2003. Of these children, 76.6% were neglected,
20.5% were physically abused, and 5.8% were sexually abused.8
•
In 2004, 23 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in Arizona.9
• On September 30, 2004, 9,119 children in Arizona lived apart from
their families in out-of-home care, compared with 7,469 children on
September 30, 2003. In 2004, 40.8% of the children living apart from
their families were age 5 or younger, and 16.4% were 16 or older.10
• Of the children in out-of-home care on September 30, 2004, 44.9%
were white, 8.4% were black, 37.0% were Hispanic, 2.5% were
American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 7.3% were children of other
races and ethnicities.11
P E R M A N E N T F A M I L I E S
F O R C H I L D R E N
• Of the 5,108 children exiting out-of-home care in 2004, 57.4% were
reunited with their parents or other family members.12
•
In 2004, 729 children were legally adopted through the public child
welfare agency in Arizona, a 15.1% decrease from 839 in 2003.13
• Of the 9,119 children in out-of-home care in 2004, 2,119 or 23.2%
were waiting to be adopted.14