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.

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.

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."

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 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.

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.

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Family Extension Foster Care Inc.

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Foster Care Solutions

This dataset shows the monthly count of new and completed investigations conducted by Child Welfare Services, broken down by type and outcome. The dataset includes statistics for both traditional Investigation Responses and for Alternative Responses. An Alternative Response is intended to increase engagement and service usage through a collaborative partnership with families in cases where there is no Child Protective Services history and the referral suggests low risk of harm to the child. A completed Investigation Response can have one of three outcomes: (1) allegation indicated -- credible evidence found which has not been satisfactorily refuted; (2) allegation ruled out – credible evidence found that the abuse did not occur; and (3) allegation unsubstantiated – insufficient evidence found to support a finding of indicated or ruled out abuse. This dataset is updated quarterly.

In the United States, most children who exited foster care, about half, exited due to reunification with their parents or primary caregivers. In 2022, about 91,115 children exited foster care in this manner. A further 52,985 children exited the foster care system through adoption.

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Foster Care Alumni of America

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of New England Foster Care Association

Provide statistics for foster homes for drug detection dogs and volunteer applications for socialization training.

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Diversion Adolescent Foster Care

Market Size statistics on the Adoption & Child Welfare Services industry in the US

The adoption and child welfare industry has experienced overall growth even during the pandemic years, as increased stress-related service needs boosted demand and federal funding boosted revenues. While some service providers relied on private donations, corporate profit was strong in 2021. Technology adoption enabled remote delivery of services and expanded market reach, which helped reduce costs and enhance efficiency. Online matching platforms, VR training systems and case management software are examples of how technology has reduced costs and differentiated services to incentivize niche entry into underserved markets. And because of the strong growth in the number of establishments meeting demand and ample funding support during the pandemic, industry-wide revenue is expected to climb at a CAGR of 4.3% to $30.5 billion through 2025, with revenue growth inching up an estimated 1.7% in 2025 alone. The diversity of services offered and the unique characteristics of funding lead to disparate growth in services. Revenue for many establishments depends on the combination of government funding and private donations, which change with economic and government policy fluctuations, while demographic and social stressors impact the need for services. The disconnect between payors and clients creates an imbalance of funding and demand, adding to revenue volatility. Regional factors impact the provision of services and shortfalls. While demand in some states is growing because of increasing population, the long lead time to entry has led to a shortfall in provision.

Reorganizing key agencies under the new Administration for a Healthy America will bring some volatility to the industry. Government funding, crucial to more than half of industry revenue, faces volatility as restructuring could disrupt services, staffing and program effectiveness. This realignment offers potential efficiency gains through improved collaboration, but details about governance and resources remain in flux. Because of the uncertain impact of federal changes, private funding and state initiatives are vital for near-term future revenue growth. For-profit providers can leverage technology to reduce costs and capitalize on economies of scale, entering markets where nonprofits dominate. Telehealth innovations and online platforms lead to a broader reach and service efficiency, intensifying competition. As demand increases in rapidly growing states, nonprofit providers should streamline operations and secure diverse funding sources to meet community needs effectively. But despite numerous policy, technology and demographic shifts, industry revenue is forecast to climb at a slower CAGR of 1.2% through 2030 to total $32.5 billion with profit holding steady at a slim 3.1%.

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Sanctuary Foster Care Services