Behind the staggering number of nearly 368,000 children in foster care lies a mosaic of real kids—like an eight-year-old median-aged child, more likely to be placed with a non-relative than a family member, and facing a system where stability is a fragile hope.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2022, there were 367,996 children in foster care in the United States as of September 30, representing a 6% decrease from FY 2021
- Among children in foster care on 9/30/2022, 51% were male and 48% were female, with 1% unknown or other gender
- The median age of children in foster care on 9/30/2022 was 8 years old, with 29% aged 0-5, 29% aged 6-10, 21% aged 11-15, 14% aged 16-18, and 7% aged 19+
- In FY 2021, neglect was the primary reason for removal for 62% of children entering foster care
- Drug abuse by caregiver accounted for 36% of foster care entries in FY 2021
- Physical abuse led to 13% of removals into foster care in FY 2021
- On 9/30/2022, 49% of children in foster care were in non-relative foster family homes
- Relative/kinship foster homes housed 22% of foster children on 9/30/2022
- Group homes and institutions placed 6% of foster youth in FY 2022
- 51% of children reunified with family in FY 2022 after average 8.1 months in care
- Adoption was permanency outcome for 25% of exits in FY 2022, averaging 23.4 months in care
- 12% of foster children aged out of care in FY 2022 without permanency
- In FY 2022, foster care caseload declined 6% from prior year to 367,996 children
- Entries into foster care dropped 10% to 203,871 in FY 2022
- Exits from foster care increased 3% to 216,081 in FY 2022
While foster care numbers decline, achieving permanency remains an urgent challenge for thousands.
Demographics
- In FY 2022, there were 367,996 children in foster care in the United States as of September 30, representing a 6% decrease from FY 2021
- Among children in foster care on 9/30/2022, 51% were male and 48% were female, with 1% unknown or other gender
- The median age of children in foster care on 9/30/2022 was 8 years old, with 29% aged 0-5, 29% aged 6-10, 21% aged 11-15, 14% aged 16-18, and 7% aged 19+
- In FY 2022, 20% of children in foster care were Hispanic/Latino, 22% were Black/African American, 44% were White, 11% were multiracial or other races, and 3% unknown
- Children under age 1 made up 6% of the foster care population on 9/30/2022, while those aged 1-5 comprised 23%
- In FY 2022, 76% of children in foster care had a primary caregiver who was non-relative, 22% relative foster caregiver, and 2% group home or institution
- On 9/30/2022, 42% of foster children were in urban areas, 31% suburban, 18% rural, and 9% tribal lands
- Native American/Alaska Native children represented 2% of foster care population in FY 2022 despite being 1% of child population
- In FY 2022, 14% of foster children had an identified disability or medical condition
- Asian children were 1% of foster care caseload on 9/30/2022
- Pacific Islander children comprised less than 1% of foster care population in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, 55% of foster children entered care before age 6
- Females aged 13-18 made up 22% of foster care population on 9/30/2022
- In urban counties, 48% of foster children were White in FY 2022
- Siblings entering foster care together were 34% of all entries in FY 2022
- On 9/30/2022, 7% of foster children were pregnant or parenting
- Children with intellectual disabilities were 8% of foster care caseload in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, 28% of foster children identified as two or more races
- Median length in care for children on 9/30/2022 was 15.8 months
- In FY 2022, 65% of foster children were in homes with other foster children
- Black children aged 0-5 were 25% of their age group in foster care FY 2022
- In tribal areas, 65% of foster children were American Indian in FY 2022
- Foster children with emotional disturbances were 17% in FY 2022
- On 9/30/2022, 12% of foster youth were LGBTQ+ identified
- Hispanic males were 11% of foster care population in FY 2022
- Children in foster care from families with substance abuse history were 38% in FY 2022
- White females aged 11-15 comprised 13% of caseload on 9/30/2022
- In FY 2022, 4% of foster children had physical disabilities
- Multiracial children under 1 year were 12% of infants in care FY 2022
- On 9/30/2022, 19% of foster children were in kinship care arrangements
Demographics Interpretation
Behind the headline of a 6% decrease lies a sobering reality: nearly 368,000 childhoods are on hold, disproportionately affecting the very young, children of color, and those coping with trauma, revealing a system strained but still tasked with mending the broken starts of our most vulnerable.
Maltreatment and Entry
- In FY 2021, neglect was the primary reason for removal for 62% of children entering foster care
- Drug abuse by caregiver accounted for 36% of foster care entries in FY 2021
- Physical abuse led to 13% of removals into foster care in FY 2021
- Sexual abuse was the reason for 7% of foster care entries in FY 2021
- Caregiver inability to care due to incarceration caused 8% of entries in FY 2021
- Abandonment was cited in 5% of foster care removals FY 2021
- In FY 2021, 75% of children entered foster care due to maltreatment by parent
- Alcohol abuse by caregiver contributed to 11% of entries in FY 2021
- Domestic violence in home led to 12% of foster care entries FY 2021
- Inadequate housing was a factor in 6% of removals in FY 2021
- Mental health issues of caregiver caused 14% of entries FY 2021
- 82% of foster care entries in FY 2021 involved parental rights not terminated at entry
- In FY 2021, 18% of entries were voluntary placements by parents
- Child behavior problems led to 4% of foster care entries FY 2021
- Prenatal drug exposure accounted for 9% of infant entries in FY 2021
- Multiple maltreatment types were reported in 28% of entries FY 2021
- In FY 2021, 55% of Black children entered due to neglect
- Caregiver death caused 2% of foster care entries in FY 2021
- Sexual exploitation was reason for 1% of entries FY 2021
- In FY 2021, 92% of entries were court-ordered removals
- Neglect involving lack of supervision was 19% of cases FY 2021
- Physical neglect (failure to provide) was 25% of entries FY 2021
- In FY 2021, 31% of entries involved substance-exposed newborns
- Emotional abuse led to 4% of foster care entries FY 2021
- Relinquishment by parent was 3% of entries in FY 2021
- In FY 2021, 67% of Hispanic children entered due to neglect
- Caregiver risk of maltreatment caused 7% of entries FY 2021
- Medical neglect accounted for 2% of foster care entries FY 2021
- In FY 2021, 45% of entries had prior child welfare involvement
- Educational neglect was factor in 1% of entries FY 2021
Maltreatment and Entry Interpretation
Behind the stark percentages lies a devastating truth: the overwhelming majority of children are not rescued from strangers, but from the profound and often overlapping crises—neglect, addiction, violence, and despair—festering within the very homes meant to protect them.
Placements and Stability
- On 9/30/2022, 49% of children in foster care were in non-relative foster family homes
- Relative/kinship foster homes housed 22% of foster children on 9/30/2022
- Group homes and institutions placed 6% of foster youth in FY 2022
- Trial home visits were setting for 9% of children on 9/30/2022
- In FY 2022, 52% of foster children experienced 1 placement setting
- 23% of children had 3 or more placements during FY 2022 spell in care
- Median number of placements per child in FY 2022 was 2.1
- 8% of foster children were in supervised independent living on 9/30/2022
- In FY 2022, 4% were placed in emergency shelter care
- Pre-adoptive homes housed 12% of foster children on 9/30/2022
- 71% of children discharged in FY 2022 had 2 or fewer placements
- In FY 2022, 15% of placements were out-of-state
- Sibling groups were placed together in 68% of cases in FY 2022
- On 9/30/2022, 3% of foster children were in psychiatric residential treatment
- Average placement duration before first move was 6.2 months in FY 2022
- 27% of children aged 14+ were in group care settings FY 2022
- In FY 2022, 81% of placements were in family-like settings (foster/kinship)
- Placements with prior caregiver were 5% of total in FY 2022
- 12% of foster children changed schools due to placement moves in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, 62% of infants were in non-relative foster homes
- Median stability for children in care <12 months was 1 placement in FY 2022
- 19% of placements in FY 2022 were kinship but licensed
- Out-of-home placements lasting >24 months had average 3.4 settings FY 2022
- In FY 2022, 7% were in residential treatment centers
- 34% of Black children were in kinship care on 9/30/2022
- Placement disruptions due to behavior were 22% in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, 91% of foster homes had capacity for 1-4 children
- Children in care >3 years averaged 4.2 placements FY 2022
- 2% of placements were in hotels/motels temporarily FY 2022
- Siblings separated in 32% of multi-sibling entries FY 2022
- On 9/30/2022, 11% were in independent living programs
- In FY 2022, 56% of children exiting care had no placement disruptions
Placements and Stability Interpretation
While the system strives to place over 80% of children in family-like homes, the fact that nearly a quarter experience three or more jarring placement changes reveals a heartbreaking game of musical chairs where the music stops too often and the stakes are a child's stability.
System and Trends
- In FY 2022, foster care caseload declined 6% from prior year to 367,996 children
- Entries into foster care dropped 10% to 203,871 in FY 2022
- Exits from foster care increased 3% to 216,081 in FY 2022
- National Title IV-E foster care funding was $8.5 billion in FY 2022
- 43 states saw foster care population decreases in FY 2022
- Average caseload per worker was 15.2 children in FY 2022
- 78% of children achieved permanency within 24 months of entry by FY 2022
- Kinship care placements rose 2% to 22% of caseload in FY 2022
- Federal policy Family First Prevention Services Act impacted 15% of states by FY 2022
- Worker turnover rate in child welfare was 23% in FY 2022
- Pandemic-related entries fell 14% in FY 2021-2022 period
- 91% of jurisdictions met Timeliness to Permanency standards FY 2022
- Adoption incentives funded 1,200 additional adoptions FY 2022
- Interstate compacts moved 16,000 children FY 2022
- Court hearings held within 60 days for 85% of entries FY 2022
- 34 states reduced foster care numbers by >5% FY 2018-2022 trend
- Chafee funding for aged-out youth totaled $140 million FY 2022
- 62% compliance with ASFA visitation requirements FY 2022
- Tribal foster care caseload grew 4% to 15,000 children FY 2022
- National recurrence rate within 6 months post-reunification was 7.3% FY 2022
- 1.4 million investigations led to 20% foster entries FY 2022
- Quality improvement initiatives in 40 states FY 2022
- Median time to adoption decreased to 23 months FY 2022 trend
- 75% of states increased kinship navigator programs by FY 2022
- Foster parent recruitment campaigns reached 500,000 potential homes FY 2022
- Data system interoperability improved in 28 states FY 2022
- National average reimbursement rate per child was $25,000 annually FY 2022
- 82% of TPR cases completed within 15 months FY 2022
- Prevention services diverted 25,000 potential entries FY 2022
- Caseload peaked at 443,000 in 2017 before FY 2022 decline
- 95% of foster children had case plans developed within 30 days FY 2022
System and Trends Interpretation
While the numbers show a system slowly bending toward progress with fewer entries and a promising 78% achieving permanency within two years, the reality is that we're still asking a single worker to be a hero for fifteen kids and celebrating a system that can only keep its own staff three out of every four years.
Well-being and Outcomes
- 51% of children reunified with family in FY 2022 after average 8.1 months in care
- Adoption was permanency outcome for 25% of exits in FY 2022, averaging 23.4 months in care
- 12% of foster children aged out of care in FY 2022 without permanency
- Guardianship achieved by 9% of children exiting FY 2022
- 65% of children in care <12 months achieved permanency in FY 2022
- Mental health services received by 42% of foster children in FY 2022
- High school graduation rate for foster youth was 62% in FY 2022 cohort
- 28% of foster children had documented PTSD symptoms in FY 2022 assessments
- Postsecondary enrollment for aged-out youth was 48% within 6 months in FY 2022
- Obesity rates among foster children were 22% higher than general population FY 2022
- 37% of foster youth experienced homelessness within 2 years post-exit FY 2022
- Dental care access for 89% of foster children under 21 in FY 2022
- Incarceration rate for aged-out foster youth was 25% within 2 years FY 2022
- 73% of reunified children re-entered care within 12 months in FY 2022
- IEP prevalence among foster children was 19% in FY 2022
- Substance use disorders diagnosed in 15% of foster teens FY 2022
- 84% of foster children received medical care services in FY 2022
- Pregnancy rate for foster females aged 15-17 was 11% in FY 2022
- 41% of foster children showed improved behavioral outcomes post-services FY 2022
- Employment rate for 18-21 year olds post-foster care was 55% FY 2022
- 52% of adopted foster children had mental health diagnoses FY 2022
- Academic proficiency in reading for foster students was 32% FY 2022
- 67% of children discharged to kinship had stability at 12 months FY 2022
- Suicide attempt rate among foster youth was 4 times general population FY 2022
- 76% of foster infants met developmental milestones FY 2022 screenings
- 29% of foster youth had juvenile justice involvement FY 2022
- Medicaid coverage for 99% of foster children in FY 2022
- 63% of long-term foster children had attachment issues FY 2022
- Post-adoption disruption rate was 5% within 3 years FY 2022 adoptions
- 48% of foster youth reported bullying victimization FY 2022
- Health insurance continuity post-exit was 92% for 6 months FY 2022
Well-being and Outcomes Interpretation
The system performs a kind of tragic arithmetic where even the victories of reunification and adoption are measured against a crushing backdrop of childhoods spent waiting, and where the price of survival for too many is paid in delayed health, stalled education, and futures lost to trauma, homelessness, and the justice system.