Every single day in America, nearly 400,000 children wake up not in their own beds, a statistic that only begins to tell the story of a foster system where a toddler's chance at stability is too often decided by geography, race, and the availability of a licensed home.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2022, there were 391,098 children in foster care on September 30, representing a 3% decrease from the previous year
- Approximately 52% of children in foster care in FY 2022 were male, while 48% were female
- In FY 2022, 36% of children in foster care were White, 23% Black, 24% Hispanic, and 11% multiracial or other races
- In FY 2019, 78% of foster children were removed due to neglect
- Parental drug abuse was a factor in 36% of foster care removals in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, caregiver drug abuse contributed to 14% of entries into foster care
- In FY 2022, 52% of children were placed with non-relative foster parents
- Kinship care housed 28% of foster children in FY 2022
- Group homes and institutions sheltered 6% of youth in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, 57% of children exiting foster care were reunified with parents
- Adoption finalized for 24% of exits in FY 2022
- Guardianship exits accounted for 12% in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, average foster parent age was 47 years
- Licensed foster homes decreased by 10% from 2017-2022 nationally
- Federal foster care funding: $8.7 billion in FY 2022 via Title IV-E
Foster care holds nearly four hundred thousand children, mostly young and often reunified.
Entry and Removal Reasons
- In FY 2019, 78% of foster children were removed due to neglect
- Parental drug abuse was a factor in 36% of foster care removals in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, caregiver drug abuse contributed to 14% of entries into foster care
- Physical abuse accounted for 12% of removal reasons in FY 2021
- Sexual abuse was cited in 7% of foster care entries in FY 2022
- In 2021, 20% of removals involved abandonment or relinquishment
- Domestic violence was a factor in 11% of foster care entries per FY 2020 data
- In FY 2022, 68% of children entered foster care involuntarily
- Prenatal drug exposure led to 8% of entries in 2021
- In 2020, inadequate housing contributed to 5% of removals
- Mental health issues of caregiver in 13% of FY 2022 removals
- Incarceration of parent factored into 7% of entries in FY 2021
- FY 2020: 15% of removals due to child behavior problems
- Alcohol abuse by caregiver: 11% of FY 2022 entries
- Death of caregiver led to 3% of foster entries in FY 2021
- 75% of removals involved parental incapacity in 2020
- Child disability as removal factor: 12% in FY 2022
- Poverty cited in 23% of investigations leading to removal (2021)
- In 2022, 9% of entries were voluntary placements by parents
- Emotional abuse: 5% primary reason for removal FY 2021
- Interstate compact placements: 1% of foster children in FY 2022
- Medical neglect: 4% of FY 2020 removals
Entry and Removal Reasons Interpretation
It seems the modern recipe for family dissolution is a grim cocktail of systemic poverty, untreated addiction, and simple human failing, where love is too often undone by circumstance or chemistry.
Outcomes and Exits
- In FY 2022, 57% of children exiting foster care were reunified with parents
- Adoption finalized for 24% of exits in FY 2022
- Guardianship exits accounted for 12% in FY 2022
- 11% of youth aged out of foster care in FY 2022 (over 2,300 under 18)
- Median time to adoption was 25.7 months in FY 2022
- 50% of children reunified re-enter care within 8 years (longitudinal)
- In 2021, 3% exited via emancipation
- Post-adoption disruption rate 9-11% within 10 years
- 20% of aged-out youth experience homelessness within 2 years
- High school graduation rate for foster youth: 50-60% vs 80% general, 2021 data
- Incarceration rate for former foster youth: 25% by age 26
- Only 3% of foster youth aged out with a Bachelor’s degree by 26
- Teen pregnancy among foster girls: 3x national average
- Employment rate at age 24 for aged-out: 48%
- Mental health diagnosis in 50% of foster youth at exit
- Recidivism to foster care: 13% within 12 months of reunification (FY 2021)
- 80% of foster youth report trauma exposure
- Suicide attempt rate 4x higher for foster alumni
- 75% of children reunified within 12 months of entry (FY 2022 subset)
- Adoption wait time for infants: 13 months median FY 2021
- 15% of exits were to other planned permanency in FY 2022
- Foster youth postsecondary enrollment: 20% within 2 years of aging out
- PTSD prevalence in foster alumni: 25% vs 6% general population
- 60% of child welfare-involved youth had mental health needs unmet at exit
- Long-term foster care (over 5 years): 12% of population FY 2022
- Juvenile justice crossover: 30% of foster youth have delinquency records
- Health insurance coverage post-exit: 92% for aged-out via Medicaid extension
- Substance use disorder rate: 40% lifetime for foster alumni
- Early death rate: foster youth 4x higher before age 30
- Financial literacy training reached 35% of older foster youth in 2021
- Marriage rate by 26: 17% for former foster youth
- Poverty rate at 24: 50% for aged-out vs 20% peers
Outcomes and Exits Interpretation
While the system diligently aims for reunification, adoption, and guardianship—celebrated as permanency—the data reveals a sobering truth: these exits often mark the beginning of a lifelong struggle where the trauma of foster care casts a long shadow, leaving youth vulnerable to homelessness, incarceration, and poverty at rates that betray our collective promise of safety and stability.
Placement Characteristics
- In FY 2022, 52% of children were placed with non-relative foster parents
- Kinship care housed 28% of foster children in FY 2022
- Group homes and institutions sheltered 6% of youth in FY 2022
- 82% of foster children experienced placement stability in FY 2021 (2 or fewer moves)
- Average length of stay in foster care was 20.3 months in FY 2022
- In 2021, 34% of children were in trial home visits during foster care spell
- Emergency shelter use dropped to 1% in FY 2022 from 2% prior years
- 65% of foster placements in 2020 were in family-like settings (foster/kinship)
- Sibling placements together in 48% of cases per 2021 data
- In FY 2022, 4% of children were in own home (post-removal)
- Placement moves averaged 2.7 per child in care over 12 months (2021)
- 15% of older youth (14+) in congregate care in 2022
- Geographic proximity: 70% placed in same county as removal in FY 2021
- In 2020, 9% in supervised independent living for 18+
- Foster family homes: 60% licensed, 5% unlicensed kinship in FY 2022
- 22% of placements changed schools in FY 2021
- 29% of foster children in relative foster homes in FY 2021
- Trial home visit disruptions: 18% returned to foster care within 6 months (2021)
- 71% of foster children changed schools at least once (lifetime in care)
- Congregate care use for under 13: declined to 3% in FY 2022
- Average foster home capacity: 2.5 children per home nationally 2022
- 85% of kinship caregivers unlicensed in 2021 survey
- Placement with same race/ethnicity: 68% in FY 2021
- Runaway episodes: 10% of foster youth experienced at least one
- Median placement duration: 7.5 months for non-permanent (2022)
- 12% in pre-adoptive homes at FY end 2022
- Sibling separation: 53% of sibling groups split in initial placement
- Rural placement shortages led to 20% out-of-county moves
- 5% of placements were in residential treatment facilities FY 2022
Placement Characteristics Interpretation
The system shows cautious promise, with most children finding stability in family-like settings, yet persistent challenges in sibling unity and a reliance on unlicensed kin reveal a safety net that is both resilient and frayed.
Population and Demographics
- In fiscal year 2022, there were 391,098 children in foster care on September 30, representing a 3% decrease from the previous year
- Approximately 52% of children in foster care in FY 2022 were male, while 48% were female
- In FY 2022, 36% of children in foster care were White, 23% Black, 24% Hispanic, and 11% multiracial or other races
- The median age of children in foster care on September 30, 2022, was 8.2 years
- In FY 2022, 20% of children entering foster care were under 1 year old
- As of 2021, 41 states reported an increase in foster care entries compared to 2020, with national entries at 206,383
- In 2021, children aged 0-5 made up 32% of the foster care population
- Black children represented 23% of foster care entries in FY 2021 despite being 14% of the child population
- In 2020, 55% of foster youth were in urban areas, 28% suburban, and 17% rural
- FY 2021 data shows 4% of foster children identified as LGBTQ+, higher than general population estimates
- On any given day in 2022, about 1 in 178 U.S. children were in foster care
- In FY 2020, 57,995 children aged out of foster care without permanency
- Hispanic children comprised 26% of foster care population in 2021, up from 20% in 2012
- In 2022, 7% of foster children had a reported disability
- Native American children were 2% of foster care but 10 times overrepresented relative to population
- FY 2022 foster care population included 3% Asian children
- In 2021, 12% of foster youth were siblings placed together in care
- Over 50% of foster children have siblings also in care, per 2020 Chapin Hall study
- In FY 2022, 64% of children in foster care were in homes with two or more foster children
- Pacific Islander children were 0.4% of foster care population but overrepresented 3x
- In 2021, 25% of foster children had three or more prior placements
- FY 2022 saw 217,941 children enter foster care, a 5% increase from prior year
- 43% of foster entries were repeat entries in FY 2021
- Children with multiple racial identities: 17% in FY 2022 foster care
- Urban foster care population density highest in California (45,000 children)
- 6% of foster children were pregnant or parenting at entry (teens)
Population and Demographics Interpretation
These numbers tell a story of a system still burdened by stark racial inequities, vulnerable infants, and fragmented families, yet they also offer a fragile hint of progress in the slight overall decline of children in care.
Services and Support
- In FY 2022, average foster parent age was 47 years
- Licensed foster homes decreased by 10% from 2017-2022 nationally
- Federal foster care funding: $8.7 billion in FY 2022 via Title IV-E
- 1.2 million children received Title IV-B services in FY 2021
- Caseworker caseload average: 15-17 children per worker (2021)
- 27% annual turnover rate for child welfare workers in 2020
- Visitation services provided to 60% of families pre-reunification
- Mental health services: 40% of foster children received in FY 2021
- Post-permanency services funded for 15% of adoptions in 2022
- Kinship navigator programs in 37 states, serving 50,000 families by 2022
- Independent Living Program funded $140 million for 2022
- Court involvement: 95% of foster cases had judicial reviews
- Vaccine completion rate in foster care: 85% vs 92% general kids
- Early intervention services for 25% of infants in care (2021)
- National average reimbursement rate for foster care: $675/month per child FY 2022
- Foster parent recruitment shortfall: 20,000 homes needed annually
- Training hours required: average 30 pre-service for foster parents 2022
- IV-E waiver programs in 25 states testing new funding models 2022
- Family Finding services implemented in 40 states, locating relatives for 70%
- Child and Family Services Reviews: 70% states not in compliance 2021
- Supervised visitation: 55% compliance with court orders FY 2021
- Therapeutic foster care beds: shortage of 15% nationally 2022
- Quality improvement funding: $100 million via Title IV-B Part 2
- CASA volunteers served 250,000 children in 2021
- Postsecondary tuition waiver for foster youth in 32 states, covering 90% costs
Services and Support Interpretation
Our foster care system is a graying, underfunded, and overburdened village trying to raise a nation's children with heroic but patchwork dedication, where the heart's compass often points true but the map keeps changing.
Sources & References
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