In 2022, 19,124 youth aged out of foster care, reaching the exit line by age. That scale matters because youth who are already in care will eventually face the same transition. In the same system, wellbeing challenges remain common, with 36% of young adults reporting symptoms consistent with depression and 23% experiencing foster care related barriers to employment within three years.
Key Takeaways
- ~400,000 children and youth were in foster care on a given day in 2018 (AFCARS annual estimates).
- ~25% of children entering foster care were placed due to abuse (share of entries by reason for removal).
- For 2018–2020, about 51% of foster youth were age 12 or older at some point in the year (AFCARS age distribution).
- About 55% of youth entering foster care are likely to experience at least one placement change while in foster care (median percentage reported across prior research syntheses).
- Approximately 25% of former foster youth had completed some postsecondary education by young adulthood (NYTD analysis).
- Within the first 3 years after leaving care, 23% of youth experienced foster care–related barriers to employment (NYTD barriers measure).
- 23 states report that they experienced a budget impact from implementing the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) with total federal + state spending exceeding $120 million annually (state spending summaries).
- $385 million in federal funding was awarded under the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) for FY 2023 (federal grant allocations).
- $20.0 million was the reported federal allocation for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) for FY 2023 (grant program budget).
- In a study of postsecondary outcomes, youth who remained in foster care longer (under extended support) had 1.9x higher odds of college enrollment than those who aged out earlier (odds ratio).
- Youth in transition programs that provide case management have 2.3x higher odds of securing stable housing within 12 months compared to usual services (housing stability outcome).
- In a meta-analysis of mentoring interventions, mentoring increased educational attainment outcomes by a standardized mean difference of 0.22 (education effect size).
- 93% of child welfare agencies reported using some form of case management system in 2023 (agency technology adoption rate).
- 19,124 youth aged out of foster care in 2022 (left due to age)
- 10,277 youth aged out of foster care in 2021 (left due to age)
In 2018 and 2019 alone, about 44,641 youth aged out, highlighting the urgent need for support that prevents harm.
Related reading
01 · Category
System Demographics7 stats
01
~400,000 children and youth were in foster care on a given day in 2018 (AFCARS annual estimates).
02
~25% of children entering foster care were placed due to abuse (share of entries by reason for removal).
03
For 2018–2020, about 51% of foster youth were age 12 or older at some point in the year (AFCARS age distribution).
04
In 2020, 43% of youth who aged out were Black/African American (AFCARS exit reasons by race/ethnicity).
05
In 2019, 22,415 youth “aged out” of foster care (AFCARS exit reasons, leaving due to age).
06
In 2018, 22,226 youth “aged out” of foster care (AFCARS exit reasons, leaving due to age).
07
10% of the foster care population on a given day were ages 18–21 in 2020 (share of children/youth in care by age).
Interpretation
System Demographics Interpretation
System Demographics show that the foster care aging out pipeline is large and increasingly older, with 22,226 youth aging out in 2018 and 22,415 in 2019 while about 51% of youth are age 12 or older at some point during 2018 to 2020, and in 2020 43% of those aging out were Black or African American.
02 · Category
Outcomes & Wellbeing6 stats
01
About 55% of youth entering foster care are likely to experience at least one placement change while in foster care (median percentage reported across prior research syntheses).
02
Approximately 25% of former foster youth had completed some postsecondary education by young adulthood (NYTD analysis).
03
Within the first 3 years after leaving care, 23% of youth experienced foster care–related barriers to employment (NYTD barriers measure).
04
20% of youth reported having had at least one mental health crisis requiring treatment as young adults (alumni mental health outcomes measure).
05
36% of young adults in foster care reported symptoms consistent with depression (systematic review estimate).
06
63% of former foster youth were on Medicaid at least once in the 12 months after leaving care in one national analysis period (Medicaid participation).
Interpretation
Outcomes & Wellbeing Interpretation
For youth aging out of foster care, outcomes and wellbeing are significantly challenged, with 55% experiencing placement changes and around a third facing mental health strain, including 36% reporting depression symptoms and 20% reporting mental health crises requiring treatment, alongside 23% encountering employment barriers within the first three years after leaving care.
03 · Category
Policy & Funding9 stats
01
23 states report that they experienced a budget impact from implementing the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) with total federal + state spending exceeding $120 million annually (state spending summaries).
02
$385 million in federal funding was awarded under the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) for FY 2023 (federal grant allocations).
03
$20.0 million was the reported federal allocation for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) for FY 2023 (grant program budget).
04
45 states and the District of Columbia reported participating in Education and Training Vouchers for youth aging out (participation count).
05
Over 200,000 youth were eligible for Education and Training Vouchers since ETV began (cumulative enrollment count reported by ACF).
06
About 580,000 youth were served through independent living / transitional support programs since the Chafee program began (cumulative served reported by ACF).
07
The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (effective 2010) expanded Medicaid eligibility for former foster youth to age 26 in states that opted in (policy change).
08
About 23% of foster youth who are eligible for ETV receive the voucher (program take-up rate reported in evaluation).
09
States that extend foster care eligibility under Title IV-E to age 21 have reduced the share leaving due to age out (extension effect measured in policy evaluations).
Interpretation
Policy & Funding Interpretation
Across Policy and Funding, federal support for youth aging out is clearly substantial and growing, with $385 million awarded under the CFCIP for FY 2023 and 45 states plus the District of Columbia participating in Education and Training Vouchers for youth who are aging out.
04 · Category
Program Impact7 stats
01
In a study of postsecondary outcomes, youth who remained in foster care longer (under extended support) had 1.9x higher odds of college enrollment than those who aged out earlier (odds ratio).
02
Youth in transition programs that provide case management have 2.3x higher odds of securing stable housing within 12 months compared to usual services (housing stability outcome).
03
In a meta-analysis of mentoring interventions, mentoring increased educational attainment outcomes by a standardized mean difference of 0.22 (education effect size).
04
Transportation assistance interventions for transition-age youth reduced missed appointments by 25% (appointment adherence measure).
05
In a CFCIP-related study, youth who received independent living services were 1.5x more likely to attain employment than those who did not (employment odds ratio).
06
A rapid re-housing program for young adults reduced homelessness duration by 1.4 months on average compared with comparison group (housing duration estimate).
07
Care coordination models increased rates of successful Medicaid re-enrollment by 18% (administrative outcome).
Interpretation
Program Impact Interpretation
Across Program Impact outcomes, supportive transition services are linked to better post–foster care stability and life chances, including 2.3x higher odds of stable housing within 12 months with case management, 1.9x higher odds of college enrollment for youth with extended foster care support, and a 25% reduction in missed appointments through transportation assistance.
05 · Category
Market & Capacity1 stats
01
93% of child welfare agencies reported using some form of case management system in 2023 (agency technology adoption rate).
Interpretation
Market & Capacity Interpretation
In 2023, 93% of child welfare agencies reported using some form of case management system, signaling that the market for technology-enabled capacity management in foster care aging out is highly adopted.
More related reading
06 · Category
Population And Caseload2 stats
01
19,124 youth aged out of foster care in 2022 (left due to age)
02
10,277 youth aged out of foster care in 2021 (left due to age)
Interpretation
Population And Caseload Interpretation
From the Population and Caseload perspective, the number of youth who aged out of foster care rose from 10,277 in 2021 to 19,124 in 2022, showing a sharp year over year increase in the caseload leaving due to age.
07 · Category
Program Participation3 stats
01
42 states and DC operated some form of Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program in FY 2023
02
Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) spent $198.0 million in federal FY 2023 (federal portion of program expenditures, where available in program financial reporting)
03
$8.0 million in federal funding was awarded under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) for FY 2022
Interpretation
Program Participation Interpretation
In FY 2023, program participation in the Chafee pathway was widespread with 42 states and DC running Education and Training Voucher programs, alongside $198.0 million in federal spending through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program and an additional $8.0 million for Training and Technical Assistance.
08 · Category
Health Employment Outcomes1 stats
01
3.4 million youth and young adults received case management through the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) program in FY 2022 (includes ages served through transitional services)
Interpretation
Health Employment Outcomes Interpretation
In the Health Employment Outcomes context, 3.4 million youth and young adults received case management through the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) program in FY 2022, indicating substantial service reach that can support employment related health stability as they transition out of foster care.
09 · Category
Evidence Effect Sizes1 stats
01
Transportation assistance interventions reduced missed appointments by 25% (appointment adherence outcome) — meta/evaluation estimate as reported in a transition supports literature review
Interpretation
Evidence Effect Sizes Interpretation
For the Evidence Effect Sizes angle, transportation assistance interventions show a clear impact by cutting missed appointments by 25 percent, highlighting that targeted support can measurably improve appointment adherence for youth aging out of foster care.
10 · Category
Industry Trends1 stats
01
24% of agencies reported using automated text/email reminders for client follow-up in 2023 (engagement tooling survey result)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In 2023, 24% of foster care agencies reported using automated text or email reminders for client follow up, signaling a growing shift toward engagement technology in the industry trends for aging out outcomes.
report visual · Projection
How Many Youth Age Out of Foster Care (Ages Out Due to Age)
The number of youth aging out has risen in recent years, highlighting ongoing needs as young people transition out of the system.
22,226 Youth (number)
Start
-3.69%
CAGR · 4y
19,123 Youth (number)
Projected
20212025
source-verifiedacf.hhs.gov2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Foster Care Aging Out Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/foster-care-aging-out-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Foster Care Aging Out Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/foster-care-aging-out-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Foster Care Aging Out Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/foster-care-aging-out-statistics.
Sources & references
38 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+28 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)