Behind the staggering statistic that over 383,000 children were living in foster care nationwide last year lies a complex tapestry of urgent realities, from systemic challenges and racial disparities to heartbreaking entry reasons and uncertain futures.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2022, 367,996 children were in foster care in the United States as of September 30
- As of FY 2023, approximately 383,000 children were in foster care nationwide
- In 2022, Texas had 21,225 children in foster care
- In FY 2022, 52% of children in foster care were White
- Black children comprised 22% of the foster care population in FY2022
- Hispanic children made up 22% of foster care in 2022
- In FY 2022, 63% of children entered foster care due to neglect
- Drug abuse by parent was reason for 35% of entries in 2022
- Physical abuse accounted for 13% of foster care entries FY2022
- In FY 2022, 46% of children were in non-relative foster family homes
- Relative/kinship foster homes housed 32% in 2022
- Group homes for 9% of foster youth FY2022
- 37% of youth aged out without permanency in FY2022
- High school graduation rate for foster youth 72% vs 89% general in 2023
- 20% of foster youth experience homelessness within 2 years post-exit
Over 380,000 children are currently in foster care nationwide, highlighting a vast system.
Child Demographics
- In FY 2022, 52% of children in foster care were White
- Black children comprised 22% of the foster care population in FY2022
- Hispanic children made up 22% of foster care in 2022
- In FY2023, 20% of foster youth were under age 1
- Children aged 1-5 years accounted for 23% of foster care population in 2022
- 6-12 year olds were 35% of foster children in FY2022
- Teens aged 13-17 represented 21% in foster care 2022
- Females were 51% of foster care population in FY2023
- In Texas 2022, 40% of foster children were Hispanic
- California foster care: 45% Hispanic in 2023
- New York: 42% Black children in foster care 2022
- Florida: 24% Black, 21% Hispanic in foster care FY2022
- Pennsylvania: 32% Black foster youth in 2023
- Ohio: 37% White, 35% Black in foster care 2022
- Illinois: 40% Black children in foster care 2022
- North Carolina: 28% Black, 25% White in 2023 foster care
- Georgia: 55% Black foster children in 2022
- Michigan: 38% Black, 35% White in foster care 2023
- Arizona: 38% Hispanic, 28% White in 2022
- Washington: 15% Native American in foster care 2023
- Oklahoma: 35% Native American foster youth in 2022
- Oregon: 12% Native American, 25% White in 2023
- Indiana: 25% White, 22% Black in foster care 2022
- Missouri: 30% Black foster children in 2023
- Tennessee: 32% Black, 55% White in FY2022
- Kentucky: 28% White, 20% Black in 2023
- Alabama: 55% Black foster youth in 2022
- South Carolina: 52% Black in foster care FY2023
Child Demographics Interpretation
While the overall numbers paint a stark picture of a system disproportionately affecting children of color, the devil—and the urgent need for targeted, state-by-state solutions—is in these granular demographic details.
Entry and Exit Reasons
- In FY 2022, 63% of children entered foster care due to neglect
- Drug abuse by parent was reason for 35% of entries in 2022
- Physical abuse accounted for 13% of foster care entries FY2022
- Sexual abuse led to 7% of entries in 2022 foster care
- 61% of children exited foster care to reunification in FY2022
- Adoption was exit reason for 24% in 2022
- Guardianship for 7% of exits FY2022
- Emancipation (aging out) for 6% of exits in 2022
- In Texas 2022, neglect was 70% entry reason
- California: parental drug abuse 40% of entries 2023
- New York: neglect 55%, physical abuse 15% in 2022
- Florida: 65% neglect entries FY2022
- Pennsylvania: reunification 58% exits 2023
- Ohio: drug-related 38% entries 2022
- Illinois: 60% neglect in 2022 entries
- North Carolina: adoption 25% exits 2023
- Georgia: 68% neglect entries 2022
- Michigan: aging out 8% exits 2023
- Arizona: parental incapacity 45% entries 2022
- Washington: neglect 62% in 2023 entries
- Oklahoma: drug abuse 42% entry reason 2022
- Oregon: reunification 60% exits FY2023
- Indiana: physical abuse 14% entries 2022
- Missouri: sexual abuse 8% entries 2023
- Tennessee: guardianship 9% exits FY2022
- Kentucky: neglect 65% entries 2023
- Alabama: reunification 55% exits 2022
- South Carolina: drug abuse 35% entries FY2023
Entry and Exit Reasons Interpretation
These statistics paint a stark, state-by-state portrait of a system where the overwhelming majority of children are removed not from cartoonish villains, but from homes buckling under neglect and addiction, with family reunification remaining the fragile, prevailing hope.
Foster Care Population
- In FY 2022, 367,996 children were in foster care in the United States as of September 30
- As of FY 2023, approximately 383,000 children were in foster care nationwide
- In 2022, Texas had 21,225 children in foster care
- California reported 50,000 children in foster care in 2023
- New York had 14,200 children in foster care as of 2022
- Florida's foster care population was 22,500 in FY2022
- Pennsylvania had 15,000 children in foster care in 2023
- Ohio reported 14,800 in foster care for FY2022
- Illinois had 17,200 children in foster care in 2022
- North Carolina's foster care number was 10,500 in FY2023
- Georgia had 13,000 children in foster care as of 2022
- Michigan reported 12,300 in foster care for 2023
- Arizona had 12,800 children in foster care in FY2022
- Washington state had 8,900 in foster care in 2023
- Oklahoma reported 7,500 children in foster care for 2022
- Oregon had 6,200 in foster care as of FY2023
- Indiana's foster care population was 14,000 in 2022
- Missouri had 11,300 children in foster care in 2023
- Tennessee reported 8,700 in foster care for FY2022
- Kentucky had 7,800 children in foster care in 2023
- Alabama's foster care number was 6,000 in 2022
- South Carolina had 5,900 in foster care as of FY2023
- Louisiana reported 4,200 children in foster care in 2022
- Arkansas had 4,100 in foster care for 2023
- Iowa's foster care population was 4,500 in FY2022
- Kansas had 5,200 children in foster care in 2023
- Nebraska reported 3,200 in foster care as of 2022
- West Virginia had 6,100 children in foster care in FY2023
- Alaska's foster care number was 2,100 in 2022
Foster Care Population Interpretation
While the national foster care system is a patchwork quilt of state-by-state statistics, it's a quilt that, with over 380,000 children, is tragically too large and still growing.
Outcomes and System Data
- 37% of youth aged out without permanency in FY2022
- High school graduation rate for foster youth 72% vs 89% general in 2023
- 20% of foster youth experience homelessness within 2 years post-exit
- Only 3% of foster youth age 14+ have post-HS goal plans in 2022
- Federal foster care funding $8.7 billion in FY2023
- Caseload per worker averaged 15 children nationally 2023
- 25% of foster youth have 3+ mental health diagnoses
- Incarceration rate for former foster youth 50% higher than peers
- Texas: 40% aging out homeless risk 2022
- California: graduation 68% for foster youth 2023
- New York: mental health issues 60% of foster youth 2022
- Florida: 15 workers per case FY2022
- Pennsylvania: 30% youth without permanency 2023
- Ohio: post-sec ed enrollment 50% 2022
- Illinois: homelessness 22% post-exit 2022
- North Carolina: caseload 18 per worker 2023
- Georgia: incarceration risk 45% higher 2022
- Michigan: mental health 28% multiple dx 2023
- Arizona: graduation 70% 2022
- Washington: 35% aging out no plan 2023
- Oklahoma: funding per child $25k avg 2022
- Oregon: homelessness 18% post-exit FY2023
- Indiana: caseload 16 per worker 2022
- Missouri: graduation 73% 2023
- Tennessee: mental health 26% FY2022
- Kentucky: 32% no permanency 2023
- Alabama: post-HS 55% enrollment 2022
- South Carolina: caseload 14 per worker FY2023
Outcomes and System Data Interpretation
While billions in funding aim to build a safety net, these statistics paint a picture of a system that too often fails to catch its youth, leaving them to tumble towards futures marred by homelessness, incarceration, and lost potential instead of stable, supported adulthood.
Placement and Stability
- In FY 2022, 46% of children were in non-relative foster family homes
- Relative/kinship foster homes housed 32% in 2022
- Group homes for 9% of foster youth FY2022
- 52% experienced 1 placement in past 12 months in 2022
- Median length of stay in foster care was 14.9 months FY2022
- 25% of children had 3+ placements in 12 months 2022
- Trial home visits for 10% in FY2022
- Institutional settings 6% in 2022 foster care
- Texas: 40% in kinship care 2022
- California: 50% non-relative homes 2023
- New York: group homes 12% in 2022
- Florida: 35% kinship placements FY2022
- Pennsylvania: 28% had 2+ placements 2023
- Ohio: median stay 15 months 2022
- Illinois: institutions 8% in 2022
- North Carolina: 45% foster family homes 2023
- Georgia: 30% kinship 2022
- Michigan: 22% multiple placements 2023
- Arizona: trial visits 12% in 2022
- Washington: group homes 10% 2023
- Oklahoma: median stay 16 months 2022
- Oregon: kinship 38% FY2023
- Indiana: 48% non-relative 2022
- Missouri: 25% 3+ placements 2023
- Tennessee: institutions 7% FY2022
- Kentucky: 42% foster homes 2023
- Alabama: kinship 33% 2022
- South Carolina: median stay 14 months FY2023
Placement and Stability Interpretation
While the system strives to keep kids connected—with nearly half in traditional foster homes and a third with relatives—the unsettling reality is that a quarter of children endure the upheaval of three or more homes in a single year, proving that stability remains a fiercely contested goal in the foster care landscape.
Sources & References
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