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.

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.

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 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

States report information from two reporting populations: (1) The Served Population which is information on all youth receiving at least one independent living services paid or provided by the Chafee Program agency, and (2) Youth completing the NYTD Survey. States survey youth regarding six outcomes: financial self-sufficiency, experience with homelessness, educational attainment, positive connections with adults, high-risk behaviors, and access to health insurance. States collect outcomes information by conducting a survey of youth in foster care on or around their 17th birthday, also referred to as the baseline population. States will track these youth as they age and conduct a new outcome survey on or around the youth's 19th birthday; and again on or around the youth's 21st birthday, also referred to as the follow-up population. States will collect outcomes information on these older youth at ages 19 or 21 regardless of their foster care status or whether they are still receiving independent living services from the State. Depending on the size of the State's foster care youth population, some States may conduct a random sample of the baseline population of the 17-year-olds that participate in the outcomes survey so that they can follow a smaller group of youth as they age. All States will collect and report outcome information on a new baseline population cohort every three years. Units of Response: Current and former youth in foster care Type of Data: Administrative Tribal Data: No Periodicity: Annual Demographic Indicators: Ethnicity;Race;Sex SORN: Not Applicable Data Use Agreement: https://res1wwwd-o-tndacand-o-tacfd-o-thhsd-o-tgov.vcapture.xyz/datasets/request-dataset.cfm Data Use Agreement Location: https://res1wwwd-o-tndacand-o-tacfd-o-thhsd-o-tgov.vcapture.xyz/datasets/order_forms/termsofuseagreement.pdf Granularity: Individual Spatial: United States Geocoding: FIPS Code

Users can look at annual reports and data related to Adoption and Foster Care, Child Abuse and Neglect, and Child welfare. Background Annual reports and data are collected by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Data on Adoption and Foster Care is presented in two forms; the annual Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and State-by-state Adoption and foster care statistics. Child Abuse and Neglect research is presented in the form of annual Child Maltreatment reports covering a variety of topics. Child Welfare outc omes are presented in annual and multi-year reports to Congress. User functionality Users can choose reports by year. For Adoption and Foster Care Statistics, users can compare gender, race, adoption finalization age, time between TPR and finalization, prior relationship of adoptive parent and child, special needs among children, adoptive family structure, and information about receiving state or federal subsidy among states. AFCARS reports cover a variety of background information about age, length of stay, race, gender, and exiting circumsta nces. Child Maltreatment reports give data in paragraph and limited table form related to abuse and child fatalities. Child Welfare reports discuss foster care, child victims, and adoption statistics in paragraph and table formats. Data Notes For the Adoption and Foster Care Statistics report, data are available from 2003 -2009. State-by-state statistics are available from 2000-2006. Child Abuse and Neglect reports are available from 1995 to 2009. Child welfare reports are available from 1998 -2007.

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.

The National Foster Care & Adoption Directory (formerly the National Adoption Directory) offers adoption and foster care resources by State.

This data explores the DHHS Children's Bureau data on Children in Public Foster Care Waiting to be Adopted. *There is no federal definition for a child waiting to be adopted. For analytical purposes, the definition used in the table above includes children who have a goal of adoption and/or whose parental rights have been terminated. It excludes children 16 years old and older, whose parental rights have been terminated and who have a goal of emancipation. The # of children waiting to be adopted reported by individual States will likely differ somewhat from those in this table because State definitions vary according to State policies and practices. Because this data are being continuously updated and cleaned, the numbers reported here may differ from data reported elsewhere. This has resulted in an increase in the reported size of the waiting population for fiscal years 2002-2006. This change and other minor changes made to the computer program provide a more accurate picture of the size and nature of the "waiting" population at the end of each fiscal year.

This dataset explores Foster Care FY2000 - FY2005 Entries, Exits, and Numbers of Children In Care on the Last Day of Each Federal Fiscal Year. NOTE: This table reflects State data submitted to the Children's Bureau as of March 2007. The table does not include any estimates for individual States. Jurisdictions with insufficient data ("NA") are not included in the total for that year. Pre-2003 Nevada data were generated from various sources, rather than from a statewide child welfare system. NOTE: Ideally, if the number of children in the "in care" count declines, as it did during this period, the number of exits should consistently be greater than the number of entries in that year. However, this does not occur with these data. Underreporting of foster care exits by some States is the major reason for this data quality issue.

Comprehensive dataset containing 1,618 verified Adult foster care service businesses in United States with complete contact information, ratings, reviews, and location data.

Number of children under age 21 in foster care as of July 1 of each year, by race/ethnicity. This is a point-in-time, unduplicated count of children under the supervision of county welfare departments and excludes cases under the supervision of county probation departments, out-of-state agencies, state adoptions district offices, and Indian child welfare departments. The total by race/ethnicity may not add up to total number of children in foster care due to missing values. U.S. totals reflect children in foster care as of Sept. 30 each year. N/A means that data are not available. Data Source: As cited on kidsdata.org, Needell, B., et al. (May 2014). Child Welfare Services Reports forCalifornia, U.C. Berkeley Center for Social Services Research; U.S. data come from Child Trends analysis of Adoption and Foster CareAnalysis and Reporting System data available through the National DataArchive on Child Abuse & Neglect, as cited on KIDS COUNT (May 2014). Retrieved on May 31, 2015.

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.

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.

Number of children under age 21 in foster care as of July 1 of each year, by age group. This is a point-in-time, unduplicated count of children under the supervision of county welfare departments and excludes cases under the supervision of county probation departments, out-of-state agencies, state adoptions district offices, and Indian child welfare departments. The total by age group may not add up to total number of children in foster care due to missing values. U.S. totals reflect children in foster care as of Sept. 30 each year. N/A means that data are not available. Note: Although U.S. data are not available for children ages 1-2 and 3-5, data for children ages 1-5, combined, is available on KIDS COUNT. Data Source: Needell, B., et al. (May 2014). Child Welfare Services Reports for California, U.C. Berkeley Center for Social Services Research; U.S. data come from Child Trends analysis of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System data available through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect, as cited on KIDS COUNT (May 2014). Retrieved on May 31, 2015.

Users can get information related to child welfare in the United States. Background The Child Welfare Information Gateway is part of the Administration of Children and Families. It provides resources and statistics related to child welfare, child abuse, child neglect, adoption and more. Resources are grouped under the following topics: family-centered practice; child abuse and neglect; preventing child abuse and neglect; responding to child abuse and neglect; supporting and preserving families; out-of-home care; achieving and maintaining permanency; and adoption. User Functionality The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a number of resources for users. Users can search for foster care and adoption agencies by state using the National Foster Care and Adoption Directory; search for relevant publications using the Online Catalog and Library Search tools; search for State Statutes; and link to external databases related to child and family well-being, child abuse and neglect, child welfare and foster care, or adoption. Data Notes Years and data sources are clearly identified for each resource.

Number of first entries into foster care for children under age 18. Rates represent a three-year average of data. First entries into foster care are unduplicated counts of children under the supervision of county welfare departments and exclude cases under the supervision of county probation departments, out-of-state agencies, state adoptions district offices, and Indian child welfare departments. For rates, LNE (Low Number Event) refers to data that have been suppressed because there were fewer than 20 first entries. N/A means that data are not available. Needell, B., et al. (May 2014). Child Welfare Services Reports for California, U.C. Berkeley Center for Social Services Research; U.S. data come from Child Trends analysis of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System data available through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse & Neglect, as cited on KIDS COUNT (May 2014). Retrieved May 31, 2015.

Comprehensive dataset containing 32 verified Adult foster care service businesses in Texas, United States with complete contact information, ratings, reviews, and location data.

Excel version of report to City Council required per LL 147