The state of foster care in the United States: 7 takeaways

The latest report on foster care statistics showed that the number of children in foster care decreased. What else can we learn? 

Every year, the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) releases a report that includes dozens of statistics on Adoption and Foster Care in the U.S. It includes data from all 50 states and covers everything from the number of children entering the child welfare system to their demographics and with whom they are placed. 

This spring, after a long wait, the report that spans October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022, was released. The good news: the number of youth in foster care has decreased, as has the number of children entering foster care. The bad news: there has also been a decrease in the number of foster homes. What does it all mean? 

We dove into the AFCARS report and other reports to assess the current state of the foster care system in the U.S. and are sharing our takeaways. 

Takeaway 1: The number of youth in the foster care system has decreased 

At the end of September 2021, there were 391,651 children in the U.S. foster care system. The number fell to under 364,000 the following year, and is reported to be just above 355,000 as recently as spring 2024. 

The movement to keep children with their families – and out of placement in institutions and group homes – is working. Children have been entering the foster care system at lower numbers since those numbers peaked in 2016. 

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) of 2018 prioritized keeping families together. It reduced funding towards congregate care/group facilities and redirects it towards prevention services or placement of youth with loved ones (kinship care) or reducing the time a youth can spend in congregate care facilities.  

 Which means…

Takeaway 2: Congregate care facilities are closing in the U.S.   

What is congregate care? If you’re unfamiliar, congregate care refers to residential treatment centers, emergency shelters, in-patient hospitals and residential childcare communities. Over the last 10 years, since the major push to end the use of congregate care, 25% of facilities have closed. 

Some facilities have a negative history. Issues with education, emotional/behavioral problems, and a disproportionate number of Black youth placed in these settings are just a few of the issues that have led to the need for reform like the FFPSA. Adults who grew up in foster care and have been through the congregate care system have been outspoken about the need for changes. 

Takeaway 3: Foster home numbers are continuing to decline 

The fact that the number of children in foster care is dropping is great news. It seems that more families are getting the assistance they need to overcome obstacles and stay together. 

But when that doesn’t happen, and removal is necessary, the options for placement are dwindling. According to The Imprint, there are under 200,000 licensed foster homes in the United States*. This has led to an alarming number of reports of children sleeping in offices while waiting for placement. 

The tragedy of this is two-fold. Youth are being retraumatized after removal by sleeping in workplaces. In an effort to get them placed, congregate care settings or foster homes farther from their location become options based on urgency, further disrupting the child’s life by changing schools and communities. 

Luckily, there has been a growing trend of decreasing the amount of time it takes to get certified for kinship placement In addition, kinship certifications are trending upward.

Takeaway 4: It’s becoming easier for loved ones to become Kinship caregivers 

There are two different kinds of kinship care: traditional kinship and fictive kin. When a blood relative takes custody of a youth that is removed from their home, it’s considered a kinship placement. When a non-blood relative that is close to the youth (a family friend, teacher or coach) takes a child in, it’s called a fictive kinship placement. 

There are two positive developments concerning kinship care. Traditional kinship placements have long been seen as the best option for placement if a child is removed. 

Government agencies are currently putting more resources into the search for kinship caregivers over non-familial placements.This article includes a map that shows how different counties in New York State have excelled at kinship placement. 

Secondly, there has been a push to broaden the recognition of fictive kinship for placement and resources. As states have been recognizing the importance that fictive kinship plays in finding homes for children, funding has increased to support these parents and the youth they foster. 

However…

Takeaway 5: Hidden foster care in the U.S. is still an unknown

What is hidden foster care? Hidden foster care, or informal kinship is an informal removal of a child from their home to a loved one after investigation. 

While this process seems like it could be beneficial, there are significant disadvantages, namely the lack of support offered in hidden foster care cases. For example, a youth who is removed from an abusive or neglectful household is not offered counseling to deal with their trauma. 

There are also no plans to make sure reunification is safe. The fact is, because the number of children in hidden foster care homes are not federally required to be tracked, we don’t know exactly how many youth this affects.

Takeaway 6: The disproportionate number of Black children in foster care is rising slightly 

In 2000, the percentage of Black children in foster care reached its peak at 39%. In fact, Black children are 50% more likely to enter the foster care system than their White peers with the same risk factors.

Takeaway 7: Despite public perception, kids are not being removed from their homes at any fault of their own 

How do we define foster care and the youth that are placed in the foster care system? Unfortunately, there is still some stigma surrounding these children.

But the fact is, for the most part, children are removed from their homes through no fault of their own. Over 60% of removals involve some sort of neglect, followed by parental drug abuse (33%).  

Only 8% of removals involve a youth’s behavior, and 2% have a substance abuse component. That means a child’s actions account for a smaller percentage than the top five circumstances associated with a child’s removal. 

What does the future hold for youth in foster care? 

As with all statistics, numbers can be interpreted differently and cherry-picked to create a narrative. But the fact still remains that the number of kids in foster care exceeds the number of safe and loving homes available to them. 

Cayuga Centers is committed to finding, training, and supporting foster parents in the communities that we serve. Our foster parent recruiters and licensors spend countless hours finding qualified foster parents (kinship or otherwise) to make sure that youth in our care are placed in a home that matches their needs. 

Providing care for traumatized youth has its challenges, but we firmly believe that all youth deserve a safe and loving home and the opportunity to have a bright future. Our children are our future and we can all make a difference.

If you would like to make a difference in the life of a foster child, contact us today to learn more about Treatment Family Foster Care. Not ready to foster? No problem. Think about being an Ambassador, donate or share a social media post (or this blog) to bring attention to the need for foster parents.    

*Texas did not provide The Imprint with 2023 numbers, but its 2022 data was used.