The report (PDF)and data visualization below present national estimates related to children who experience time in foster care and who are adopted from the foster care system, relative to each Federal Fiscal Year shown. As states are permitted to resubmit AFCARS data, estimates may change over time. This reflects all AFCARS data received as of June 23, 2020 related to AFCARS reporting periods through September 30, 2019. The national dataset (XLSX)and state data tables (XLSX) are available for download as well. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

This document presents state data—by race and ethnicity—for foster care entry rates and disproportionality rates in fiscal year 2020.

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In 2022, about 368,530 children in the United States were living in foster care. This is a sharp decrease from the previous year, when about 407,318 children were living in foster care nationwide.

Postponement of the Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews

The Children's Bureau has indefinitely postponed the Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the PDF link to the schedule below is a link to a letter announcing the postponement sent on April 10, 2020, from Associate Commissioner Jerry Milner to child welfare leaders.

Letter from Associate Commissioner Jerry Milner

Browse All COVID-19 Resources

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Json representation of the metrics No. of Children in Relative Foster Care for 2020

In 2021, there were 168,063 white children in foster care in the United States. This is compared to 86,645 Black or African American children and 85,215 Hispanic children who were in foster care.

Foster care in the United States

Foster care is where minors are taken care of in different institutions, such as a group home or private home of a caregiver certified by the state (called a foster parent). The procedure for becoming a foster parent in the United States varies from state to state. It is up to the state to determine the process; however it is overseen by the Department of Child Protective Services. It is sometimes seen as a precursor to adoption, which is different from fostering a child. There are many barriers to fostering and adopting children, such as high costs and long wait times, which can discourage people from doing it.

Who are foster children?

The number of children in foster care in the United States has decreased slightly since 2011. When looked at by age, most of the children in foster care in 2020 were one year old, and slightly more male children were in foster care than female children. Most of the children in foster care were placed into non-relative foster family homes, and in most cases, the primary goal of foster care is to reunify children with their parents or primary caregivers.

Json representation of the metrics No. of Children in Foster Care General with an Allocated Social Worker for 2020 Preview Download CSV CSV representation of the metrics No. of Children in Foster Care General with an Allocated Social Worker 2020 for 2020

This report describes the results of the subsequent primary review of Ohio’s Title IV-E foster care program.

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Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there was a 13 percent increase in the number of dogs and a seven percent increase in the number of cats in foster care in the United States between March 13, 2020 and September 11, 2020, compared to the same time period in the previous year.

This Report to Congress provides information on the performance of states on seven national outcome categories and also includes data on contextual factors and findings of analyses conducted across states.

Note: The PDF is best viewed in Chrome or Firefox. If using Internet Explorer (IE), please right click the link, save the file, and view it locally.

Appendix A: Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105—89)

Appendix B: Child Welfare Outcomes Report: Outcomes and Measures

Appendix C: Caseworker Visits

Appendix D: Child Welfare Outcomes Report: Data Sources and Elements

Appendix E: Child Maltreatment 2020: Summary of Key Findings

Appendix F: The AFCARS Report 28: FY 2020 Estimates

Appendix G: Data-Quality Criteria

Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

This document is supplementary material to the primary review of Ohio's Title IV-E foster care program.

Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

The report (PDF)and data visualization below present national estimates related to children who experience time in foster care and who are adopted from the foster care system, relative to each Federal Fiscal Year shown. As states are permitted to resubmit AFCARS data, estimates may change over time. This reflects all AFCARS data received as of June 23, 2020 related to AFCARS reporting periods through September 30, 2019. The national dataset (XLSX)and state data tables (XLSX) are available for download as well. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

Performance metrics for by year No. of Children in Foster Care General in a Private Placement

This document provides a summary of Child Welfare Outcomes 2020 Report to Congress.

Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

This Report to Congress provides information on the performance of states on seven national outcome categories and also includes data on contextual factors and findings of analyses conducted across states.

Note: The PDF is best viewed in Chrome or Firefox. If using Internet Explorer (IE), please right click the link, save the file, and view it locally.

Appendix A: Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105—89)

Appendix B: Child Welfare Outcomes Report: Outcomes and Measures

Appendix C: Caseworker Visits

Appendix D: Child Welfare Outcomes Report: Data Sources and Elements

Appendix E: Child Maltreatment 2020: Summary of Key Findings

Appendix F: The AFCARS Report 28: FY 2020 Estimates

Appendix G: Data-Quality Criteria

Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

Performance metrics for by year No. of Children in Relative Foster Care with an Allocated Social Worker

This report presents results from a national research study, which was conducted by Child Welfare Information Gateway with funding from the Children’s Bureau, to better understand how child welfare professionals who work in state and local child welfare agencies, with tribes, and in courts access information and use technology to inform their practice.

Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

This letter to child welfare leaders announces an updated postponement of the Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews and National Youth in Transition Database Reviews due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This letter extends the postponement announced in the March 18, 2020, letter. Browse All COVID-19 Resources Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

In 2022, about 108,877 children in the United States were waiting to be adopted. This is a decrease from a high of 133,682 children who were waiting to be adopted nationwide in 2007.

Performance metrics for by year No. of Children in Foster Care General