Here's how Pennsylvania stacks up against the 49 other states on child welfare issues, according to the 1997 Child Welfare League of America Stat Book. Many of the figures are from 1995, the most recent year for which comparable data were available.

Higher rate than any other state of removing children from their homes after a report of abuse or neglect.

Lower rate than any other state of proving neglect after receiving a report.

Places more children than any other state in group homes.

Thirteenth-highest rate of child abuse fatalities, with 61 deaths in 1995. The rate is 2 per 100,000 children in the state.

Sixth-highest payment to foster families, at an average of $711 per child per month, or about $24 a day.

Fourth-highest expenditure of federal funds to help teach teen-age foster children to live independently when foster care support for them is cut off at age 18.

Thirteenth-lowest rate of completing adoptions for foster children.

Sixth-highest expenditure of state and local government funds per capita for child welfare, excluding Medicaid insurance spending.