Child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) remains one of the gravest and most under-addressed threats to children’s safety and well-being in the United States. While awareness of the issue has grown in recent years, meaningful progress to prevent abuse, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable continues to lag. It is within this context that World Childhood Foundation USA presents these findings — a sobering but necessary snapshot of how each U.S. state responds to CSAE.
The United States Out of the Shadows Index (OOSI) provides a ground-breaking, state-by-state assessment of CSAE prevention and response efforts, offering critical insights into policies, practices, and gaps across four key domains. The average score across all states and the District of Columbia is just 50 out of 100 — a failing grade that reflects widespread fragmentation, inconsistent standards, and insufficient political will. These numbers represent missed opportunities to protect children and support survivors.