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.

The dataset contains demographic and case characteristics of children in foster care each month. The dataset includes the children’s sex, age, race, goal and average time spent in foster care in Norfolk. The data is from Virginia’s Online Automated Services Information System (OASIS). OASIS is a comprehensive system that tracks the day-to-day activities performed by social workers statewide and is the official case record system for foster care and adoption cases in Virginia.

This dataset details the work accomplished by staff at the Norfolk Department of Human Services with the goal of finding safe, permanent homes for children in Norfolk’s foster care system. This dataset is updated monthly.

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.

Statistics on youth in foster care reported in compliance with Local Law 145 amended by City Council. Cells with one to five youth are not shown to protect anonymity.

According to a survey conducted in 2021, 71 percent of Americans said that they were considering becoming a foster parent in the United States because they wanted to help a child in need. A further 53 percent said that they were considering fostering a child because they were aware of the need for foster care parents.

In 2022, about 25,338 children under one-year-old in the United States were living in foster care. In that same year, about 20,163 children aged 16 years old were living in foster care nationwide.

The AFCARS Trends Chart tracks children in Foster Care from FY 2002 through the most recent year. A table of data and a graphic depiction of trends are shown for children in care on the first day of the year, entries to foster care, exits, children waiting to be adopted, children adopted, children with terminations of parental rights, and total children served in foster care.

1. Scope and object of statistics: All child welfare projects based on the Child and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act are included in the statistics.2. Standard time for statistics: The dynamic data is based on the facts from January to March for the first quarter, April to June for the second quarter, July to September for the third quarter, and October to December for the fourth quarter. Static data is based on the facts at the end of March, June, September, and December.3. Classification standards: Divided according to the "number of foster families," "number of foster children and youth," and "foster care expenses."4. For detailed information and descriptions, please refer to the "Taichung City Government Statistics Network Information - Query of Public Office Statistics Plans for Various Agencies."

Data table showing children in foster care by their CD of origin and median time from placement to date of data pull for each CD. Sources: CCRS, Connections Prepared By: ACS/DPPM /ORA/JACWR

Users can request data and reports related, but not limited to child abuse, neglect, foster care, and child well-being. Background The National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect collects data on the well-being of children. The archive is a project of the Family Life Development Center, Department of Human Ecology at Cornell University. The archive collects data sets from the The National Survey of Child Health and Well-being, The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System, The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, and other data related to child abuse, neglect, victimization, m altreatment, sexual abuse, homelessness, and safety. User functionality Users can access abstracts of data sets which discuss the time period and logistics of collecting the data. There are different requirements for accessing different data sets. All requirements are clearly outlined. All data sets must be ordered through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect. Application materials must be mailed to the archive for access permission. Requirements for access vary by amount of personal information included in the data set. Data Notes The chief investigator, the years of data collection and a description of the data set is available on the website for every data set. The website does not convey when new data sets will be added.

The Performance Dashboard (formerly Performance Outcomes System) datasets are developed in line with legislative mandates to improve outcomes and inform decision making regarding individuals receiving Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS). The Dashboard gathers information relevant to specific mental health outcomes and provides useful summary reports for ongoing quality improvement and to support decision making. Please note: the Excel file Performance Dashboard has been discontinued and replaced with the SMHS Performance Dashboards found on Behavioral Health Reporting (ca.gov).

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.

In 2021, about 206,812 children in the United States entered into foster care in that year. This is a decrease from the previous year, when 216,842 children across the country entered into foster care.

The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) is a federally mandated data collection system intended to provide case specific information on all children covered by the protections of Title IV-B/E of the Social Security Act (Section 427). Under the Final 1993 AFCARS’ rule, states are required to collect and submit data on all children who are under the responsiblity of the title IV-B/IV-E agency for placement, care, or supervision. Units of Response: Children in Foster Care Type of Data: Administrative Tribal Data: Unavailable Periodicity: Semiannual Demographic Indicators: Disability;Geographic Areas;Sex SORN: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/14/2016-29366/adoption-and-foster-care-analysis-and-reporting-system Data Use Agreement: https://www.ndacan.acf.hhs.gov/datasets/order_forms/termsofuseagreement.pdf Data Use Agreement Location: https://www.ndacan.acf.hhs.gov/datasets/order_forms/termsofuseagreement.pdf Granularity: Individual Spatial: United States Geocoding: FIPS Code

Reduce the foster care entry rate from 6.3 per 1,000 in 2013 to 4.9 per 1,000 by 2019 by increasing the number of children who remain safely in their own homes.

The purpose of this data set is to provide information on the total number of admissions, discharges, and children in foster care, the type of care, and total Child Protective Services (CPS) reports indicated during period.

In 2021, the majority of children living in foster care in the United States were living in foster homes. In that year, about 171,627 children were living in a foster family home with people to whom they were not related.

In 2021, there were slightly more boys in foster care in the United States than girls. In that year, about 191,037 children in foster care were female, representing a little less than half of the total children in foster care.

In 2022, around 18,144 children in California who were the victims of child abuse were in foster care, the most out of any state. Florida, Texas, Illinois, and Indiana rounded out the five leading states for children in foster care in that year.

During the fiscal year of 2021, 27,912 children who were adopted in the United States with public agency involvement were adopted by their foster parents. In that same year, a further 5,018 children were adopted by a non-relative.