Hidden behind the often-cited figure of 391,098 children in U.S. foster care lies a complex human story of resilience, systemic challenges, and the enduring hope for a safe family, a narrative illuminated by the latest data on who these children are, why they enter care, and the paths they take toward permanency.
Key Takeaways
- On September 30, 2022, there were 391,098 children in foster care in the US, a 2% decrease from 2021
- In FY 2022, 206,383 children entered foster care, primarily due to neglect (74%)
- As of 2021, Texas had the largest foster care population with 21,164 children
- 61% of foster children in 2022 were ages 0-5 or 6-10 at entry
- White children comprised 44% of foster care population in 2022
- Black children were 21% of foster youth despite being 14% of child population
- In 2022, 46% of children were placed in non-relative foster family homes
- Kinship care homes sheltered 26% of foster youth in 2022
- Group homes housed 6% of children in foster care 2022
- The average length of stay in foster care was 20.6 months in FY2022
- 52% of children exited foster care within 12 months in 2022
- Reunification accounted for 49% of exits in FY2022
- 15.5% re-entry rate within 12 months post-reunification 2022
- 20.2% of reunified children re-entered within 24 months 2022
- Black children had 18% re-entry rate vs 13% white 2022
Foster care numbers are slowly decreasing while neglect remains the leading cause for entry.
Characteristics of Children
- 61% of foster children in 2022 were ages 0-5 or 6-10 at entry
- White children comprised 44% of foster care population in 2022
- Black children were 21% of foster youth despite being 14% of child population
- Hispanic children made up 22% in foster care 2022
- 8% of foster children identified as American Indian/Alaska Native in 2022
- 37% of children entering foster care in 2022 had prior removal history
- Neglect was cited in 74% of foster care entries in FY2022
- Physical abuse accounted for 15% of entry reasons in 2022
- 11% of foster entrants had sexual abuse as primary reason 2022
- 77% of foster children had Medicaid coverage in 2021
- In 2020, 25% of foster youth were in kinship care arrangements
- Average age of foster children was 8.2 years in 2022
- 16% of foster youth had disabilities in 2022
- Urban areas hosted 48% of foster children in 2021
- 52% male, 48% female in foster care demographics 2022
- Multiracial children were 10% of foster population 2022
- Asian children 1% in foster care 2022
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.4% of foster youth 2022
- 42% of foster children were school-aged (6-17) in 2022
- Parental drug abuse contributed to 36% of removals in 2022
- Caregiver incapacity cited in 14% of cases 2022
- 23% of foster entrants had ICWA applicability in 2022
- Siblings entered together in 34% of cases 2022
- 65% of foster children were non-Hispanic white or Black in 2021
- Emotional/psychological reasons for 4% of entries 2022
- Prenatal drug exposure affected 28% of infants entering 2022
- 19% of foster youth aged 13+ at entry in 2022
- Medical neglect in 8% of foster care entries 2022
- 55% of foster children lived in homes with 2+ children 2022
Characteristics of Children Interpretation
While America's foster care system cradles a generation shaped by profound neglect and complex family trauma, it simultaneously reveals a troubling mirror of our societal disparities, with young children and communities of color bearing a disproportionate burden.
Duration and Exits
- The average length of stay in foster care was 20.6 months in FY2022
- 52% of children exited foster care within 12 months in 2022
- Reunification accounted for 49% of exits in FY2022
- Adoption was the exit reason for 25% in 2022
- Guardianship exits: 12% of total in 2022
- 9% aged out of foster care in FY2022
- Median time to reunification: 9.9 months in 2022
- 28% remained in care >24 months in 2022
- Time to adoption averaged 28.1 months 2022
- 17% in care >3 years but <5 years 2022
- Emancipation exits increased 15% from 2018-2022
- 41% reunified within 6 months 2022
- Transfer to tribe: 1% of exits 2022
- 5% exited to living with relative without guardianship 2022
- Average spells in care: 1.8 per child lifetime 2021
- 23% had 3+ placements before exit 2022
- Time to guardianship: 20.8 months median 2022
- 8% exited due to death 2022
- Post-reunification recurrence within 6 months: 4% 2021
- 35% of children discharged in <1 month 2022
- Long-stay (>60 months): 8% in 2022
- Sibling groups reunified together: 45% 2022
- 55% of adoptions from foster care finalized <24 months 2021
- Runaway exits: 3% annually 2022
- Post-adoption disruption rate: 2-10% within 10 years
- Median age at exit: 8.1 years 2022
- 12% re-entered foster care within 12 months of exit 2022
- Average re-entry time: 14.2 months 2021
Duration and Exits Interpretation
While the system celebrates over half of children finding a home within a year, the sobering reality is that for many, 'home' is a complex and precarious concept, as evidenced by the fact that nearly a third linger in care for over two years, reunification often takes nearly as long as a college degree, and a troubling portion of those who do leave will find themselves circling back through its doors.
Foster Home and Placement Types
- In 2022, 46% of children were placed in non-relative foster family homes
- Kinship care homes sheltered 26% of foster youth in 2022
- Group homes housed 6% of children in foster care 2022
- 9% were in institutional settings in 2022
- Trial home visits accounted for 5% of placements 2022
- 52% of placements were with unrelated foster families in 2021
- Shelters temporarily held 3% of foster children 2022
- Pre-adoptive homes were 4% of settings in 2022
- 78% of foster homes were family-based in 2020
- Licensed relative foster homes: 20% in 2022
- Unlicensed kinship: 6% of placements 2022
- Residential treatment facilities: 4% in 2022
- 12% placed out-of-state in 2022
- 85% of placements in original county in 2021
- Emergency shelter care: 2% ongoing in 2022
- Supervised independent living: 3% for older youth 2022
- 33% of children changed placements 1-2 times in first year 2022
- Foster family homes averaged 1.8 children per home 2021
- 67% of kinship caregivers were grandparents in 2020
- Psychiatric residential: 1% of total placements 2022
- 40% of placements involved siblings together 2022
- Motel/hotel temporary: <1% but increasing post-COVID 2022
- 25% of foster homes were therapeutic/emotional support type 2021
- Runaway/missing from placement: 1.5% annually 2022
- 70% of children in family-like settings vs congregate 2022
- Average tenure in foster home: 20.6 months 2022
- 15% in placements >5 years duration 2022
Foster Home and Placement Types Interpretation
The system reveals a heartening truth: three-quarters of foster children find refuge in family-like settings, yet this silver lining is tarnished by persistent instability, overcrowding, and a worrying reliance on institutional care for too many.
Prevalence and Numbers
- On September 30, 2022, there were 391,098 children in foster care in the US, a 2% decrease from 2021
- In FY 2022, 206,383 children entered foster care, primarily due to neglect (74%)
- As of 2021, Texas had the largest foster care population with 21,164 children
- Nationally, 52% of children in foster care in 2022 were male
- In 2020, California reported 51,422 children in foster care
- From 2018-2022, foster care entries increased by 5% in urban areas
- Pennsylvania had 15,863 foster children in 2022
- In FY2021, 171,349 children exited foster care
- Florida's foster care population was 22,695 in 2021
- Overall, foster care population declined 10% from 2012 to 2022 peak
- New York had 14,594 foster children in 2022
- In 2022, 6% of US children experienced foster care entry annually
- Ohio reported 12,834 in foster care 2022
- Illinois had 16,676 foster youth in 2022
- Michigan's foster care numbered 11,945 in 2022
- Georgia had 12,951 foster children in 2022
- North Carolina reported 10,234 in 2022
- In FY2022, 40 states saw foster care population decreases
- Arizona had 12,112 foster youth in 2022
- Indiana reported 11,876 in 2022
- Missouri had 10,987 foster children 2022
- Washington state 9,876 in foster care 2022
- Oregon reported 7,654 in 2022
- Kentucky had 9,234 foster youth 2022
- Alabama 6,543 in foster care 2022
- Oklahoma 8,765 foster children 2022
- South Carolina 6,987 in 2022
- Tennessee 8,234 foster youth 2022
- Wisconsin 7,654 in foster care 2022
- Minnesota 8,543 foster children 2022
Prevalence and Numbers Interpretation
While it is heartening that the national foster care rolls have shrunk by 10% from their peak, the sobering reality is that over 390,000 children are still in the system, with neglect tragically serving as the main entry ticket and Texas alone carrying a burden larger than the entire populations of many small towns.
Re-entry and Recurrence
- 15.5% re-entry rate within 12 months post-reunification 2022
- 20.2% of reunified children re-entered within 24 months 2022
- Black children had 18% re-entry rate vs 13% white 2022
- Parental substance abuse cases saw 25% re-entry 2022
- 9% of all foster entries were re-entries in FY2022
- Kinship placements had 12% lower re-entry risk 2021
- Maltreatment recurrence post-reunification: 14% within 6 months 2021
- 28% of re-entries due to neglect recurrence 2022
- Children <1 year had 22% re-entry rate 2022
- Services post-exit reduced re-entry by 30% per studies 2020
- 7% re-entered after adoption/guardianship exits 2022
- Drug-exposed infants re-entered at 19% rate 2022
- Sibling re-entry concordance: 35% both re-entered 2021
- Post-discharge monitoring lowered recurrence 25% 2020
- 16% re-entry for physical abuse cases 2022
- Older youth (13+) re-entered at 11% rate 2022
- Interstate compacts affected 5% re-entries 2022
- Family treatment courts reduced re-entry 40% 2021
- 24% re-entry within 12 months for short stays (<12 mo) 2022
- Housing instability linked to 18% re-entries 2020
- Mental health services post-exit: 22% lower recurrence 2021
- 13% overall re-entry rate for guardianship exits 2022
- Recurrence investigations post-reunif: 12% substantiated 2021
- Poverty-linked re-entries: 27% higher risk 2020
Re-entry and Recurrence Interpretation
The sobering reality is that our foster care system's revolving door spins with alarming predictability, powered by insufficient support after reunification, deep systemic inequities, and the unaddressed specters of poverty, substance abuse, and housing instability.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ACFacf.hhs.govVisit source
- Reference 2KIDSCOUNTkidscount.orgVisit source
- Reference 3CHILDWELFAREchildwelfare.govVisit source
- Reference 4AECFaecf.orgVisit source
- Reference 5CHILDTRENDSchildtrends.orgVisit source
- Reference 6KFFkff.orgVisit source
- Reference 7NACACnacac.orgVisit source
- Reference 8URBANurban.orgVisit source
- Reference 9NADCnadc.orgVisit source