Statistical Data Bulletin on Child and Adolescent Protection Measures

Edited as Bulletin number 0 for the first time in December 1998, it is an annual statistical publication dedicated to understanding the current situation of minors who have been cared for by the child protection system in Spain, as well as its temporal evolution.

The Bulletin compiles all the data reported on child protection measures issued by the different child and adolescent protection services of Autonomous Communities and the Cities of Ceuta and Melilla (hereinafter CCAA). The information contained complies with the regulatory framework determined by the Organic Law 1/1996, of January 15, Legal Protection of Minors, Organic Law 8/2015 and Law 26/2015, both amending the system of protection for children and adolescents, Law 54/2007 on International Adoption, Regulation 573/2023 approving the International Adoption Regulation, and Organic Law 8/2021, on comprehensive protection for children and adolescents against violence. Besides protection measures for children and adolescents, the Bulletin of Protection Measures for Children and Adolescents incorporates notifications of suspected abuse recorded in the Unified Register of Suspected Child Abuse Cases (RUMI) and data on International Adoption (ADIN).

The processes developed under this regulatory framework in protection matters could be summarized in the following chart:
Image with the regulatory framework diagram

The protection measures contemplated by the Law and for which the statistical Bulletin currently provides data include: ex lege tutorships, custody, residential placement, family placement, national adoption, and international adoption, with different sections and breakdowns, including those related to age groups and basic typology of protection centers, all with their temporal evolution and comparative data between CCAA. As a novelty, for next year, 3 new sections will be introduced on: care leaver youth, specialized placements, and typology of protection centers.

BOLETINF Logo For the collection of this data from the protection system, an application accessed by the Autonomous Communities and the Cities of Ceuta and Melilla is used, called BOLETINF. It is a constantly updated web application, aimed at establishing a homogeneous and minimum information system by the Autonomous Communities, to feed the national statistical information concerning the protection system. Data entry is performed by authorized representatives of the CCAA. The data collection methodology involves CCAA technicians filling out questionnaires online through BOLETINF, where the DGDIA obtains the information from the protection system, supported by phone calls for clarifications with said technicians if necessary.

Screenshot of the homepage of Statistical Bulletins website

Screenshot of the Statistical Bulletins website. Rate listing

Screenshot of the Statistical Bulletins website. Process listing

Screenshot of the Statistical Bulletins website. List of measures from law 1/1996

It is worth mentioning that the statistics on protection measures for children and adolescents have been included in the Inventory of Statistical Operations of the National Institute of Statistics since 2005, a fundamental tool for statistical coordination and planning and the starting point for the formulation of the National Statistical Plan, dictated by the Higher Statistical Council at the meeting of the Permanent Commission of the HSC on December 4, 2012.