Child Welfare Spending and Rates of Adverse Childhood Experiences

State and federal child welfare represents a major spending category in budgets across the United States. While new and revised legislation is proposed and enacted, sweeping reforms of the child welfare system is uncommon. Changes to child welfare are implemented through budget line items, whether that comes from Congressional funding or state initiatives. Increased funding allows for more direct contact and interaction with children, prompting safer environments and potentially stronger academic and social-emotional outcomes for youth. This paper looks at the relationship between the per capita funding of child welfare services per state and the rate of adverse childhood experiences therein.