U.S. Foster Care Statistics 2023

Every child should grow up with the care and protection of a family.

But that’s sadly not the reality for hundreds of thousands of children in the United States.

Regardless of the circumstances that separate families temporarily or permanently, relational trauma renders children vulnerable to more trauma and negatively impacts their development.

Read on to learn about the state of foster care in the United States - and why your voice belongs in the conversation.

logo-mark

How many children are in foster care in the U.S. in 2023?

While it’s challenging to know the exact number of youth in foster care, The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) estimates there are 391,000 children in the system in their most recent report in 2021.

According to their reports, the number of youth in foster care in the United States has remained relatively stable over the past decade, with 392,000 reported children in care in 2012. The number rose in the mid-2010s, peaking at 437,000 in 2017 and 2018.

Which states have the most children in foster care?

The most populated states have the highest number of foster care placements. As of 2021, California has the highest number of foster care placements with 47,871 children currently in care, followed by Texas and Florida with 28,042 and 23,507, respectively.

But other states like Minnesota, Illinois, Arizona and Missouri have a higher ratio of foster care placements to the state population. While Illinois has about 10 million fewer inhabitants than Florida, the two states share a similar number of placements.

Children in Out-of-Home PlacementsLicensed Foster Homes
Alabama5,3412,340
Alaska2,8281,190
Arizona14,8902,936
Arkansas4,5001,668
California47,87137,870
Colorado4,2481,846
Connecticut3,4882,644
Delaware444397
Florida23,5079,202
Georgia10,5044,744
Hawaii1,4181,158
Idaho1,6011,200
Illinois21,0868,690
Indiana13,3294,897
Iowa4,1442,306
Kansas7,0852,436
Kentucky8,3695,434
Louisiana3,3011,777
Maine2,2021,806
Maryland3,6352,018
Massachusetts9,1915,519
Michigan9,5295,109
Minnesota6,8704,177
Mississippi3,5401,839
Missouri13,1945,007
Montana3,0831,298
Nebraska3,8351,649
Nevada4,1831,183
New Hampshire1,091614
New Jersey3,1882,964
New Mexico1,8411,116
New York14,65710,925
North Carolina10,7105,436
North Dakota1,5101,036
Ohio15,4497,639
Oklahoma7,4684,560
Oregon5,2693,244
Pennsylvania13,66412,880
Rhode Island1,8231,001
South Carolina3,9441,181
South Dakota1,647822
Tennessee9,2274,986
Texas28,04210,424
Utah2,1191,314
Vermont1,0541,094
Virginia4,9772,503
Washington8,8944,552
West Virginia7,1523,286
Wisconsin6,7714,028
Wyoming836471

How many children are in foster care in my county?

Statistics can feel overwhelming, but the first step to solving a problem is understanding the problem. That’s why More Than Enough, CAFO’s initiative dedicated to foster care, provides national and local data - so you can know the state of foster care in your county.

Enter your county’s name to find out how many children are currently in out-of-home placements and how many are waiting to be adopted. You can also see the number of licensed foster homes in your area and the number of family preservation cases.

Statistics About Children Entering Foster Care

What is the average age of youth in foster care?

Children can enter the foster care system as early as infancy and up until age 18, and in some cases even older. In 2021, AFCARS reported that the average age of a child in foster care was 8. More than half of children were under 10 years old, with 7% less than one year old, and 27% were teenagers.

Foster care statistics by gender

In that same report, AFCARS found that in 2021, 51% of children in foster care were male and 49% were female. The ratio between males and females has remained consistent since 2009, when 53% of children placed were male.

The racial disproportionality in foster care

Historically, children of color have been disproportionately represented in the foster care system. According to a 2011 study, 1 in 17 kids enter foster care. But for Black children, the placement rate increases to 1 in 9 and 1 in 7 for Native American children.

Child Trends found that “American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) children are overrepresented in foster care in nearly every state when comparing their percentages in the foster care and total child populations.”

According to a Child Welfare Information Gateway and Children’s Bureau report, children of color are not only overrepresented in suspected maltreatment but they also “experience disparate treatment once they are involved with child welfare.” Across data sets, they found that Black children on average spend longer in foster care, are less likely to reunite with their birth families and are less likely to benefit from services.

Statistics About Children Exiting Foster Care

What is the average length of stay in foster care?

Children can exit foster care for various reasons, including family reunification, adoption, guardianships, or aging out of the system. According to AFCARS, the average youth in foster care in 2021 spent nearly two years in the system, and 47% of exits that year were due to reunification. 

How many children are adopted out of foster care each year?

In 2021, adoption accounted for 25% of foster care exits, translating to 53,546 adoptions. Since 2012, the number has fluctuated between 50,000 and 66,200 adoptions yearly. 

What is the average age of children waiting to be adopted in the foster care system?

Not every child exits foster care through adoption, but in 2021, the average age of a child waiting to be adopted was 7 ½. 36% of children waiting for adoption that year were under 5 years old. 

What are the reunification rates with birth families?

According to the Children’s Bureau, “Relational permanency is fundamental to the well-being of children and youth in foster care.” The goal of foster care should always be the preservation and reunification of birth families when possible, and up to half of children in foster care do reunite with their primary caregivers. 

In 2021, 47% of youth in foster care (100,004) reunited with their parents or primary caregivers. National Reunification Month, observed in June, promotes the partnership between foster and birth parents in hopes of even more children safely reuniting with their families.

How many children age out of foster care?

While 18 was previously the traditional age when foster services stopped, states can now extend foster care for youth until the age of 21. In 2021, 9% of youth (19,130) exited foster care through emancipation. Over time there has been a decrease in the rate of emancipation, from 11% in 2009

What are the major factors contributing to changes in the number of children in the foster care system?

In 2021, neglect was the top reason children were removed from their homes, accounting for 63% of placement cases. Parental drug abuse (36%), “caretaker inability to cope” (14%) and physical abuse (12%) were the next three most common causes for removal. 

Foster care should be a short-term solution to permanent family reunification but can often lead to years of placement changes for children unable to exit safely. In 2021, 17% of children in foster care spent two to three years in the system. And 17% were there even longer. 

The number of children in foster care fluctuates yearly; data alone doesn’t always paint the complete picture of child welfare. In 2020, reports of abuse and the number of children in foster care dropped.

On the surface, it might sound like a success; however, the more likely reason behind the decrease was a lack of access to mandatory reporters, like teachers, who would notice and report neglect.   

 

According to the National Council for Adoption, “It is important to remember that an increase or decrease in the number of children entering foster care should not be our measure of success. Rather, our goal should be to reduce child maltreatment rates, reduce time spent outside permanent family care, and reduce timeframes and numbers of children awaiting adoption.”

So, what can be done?

The data can paint a bleak picture of the child welfare system in the United States. But we are not without hope. CAFO exists to strengthen, equip and unite Christians who advocate on behalf of vulnerable children. Whether you’ve been an advocate your whole life or just learning about the foster care system, you belong in this conversation - and we have the tools to help you take your next step.

For You and Your Family

There are currently 391,000 children in foster care in the United States. But only 208,823 licensed foster homes. Whether you decide to become a foster parent yourself or think your gifts are best suited to another vital role, you can help close that gap. Here are three resources to help you move from lamentation to action: 

For Churches

At CAFO, we firmly believe that churches should be on the front lines of foster care and adoption. Whether your church is just beginning or has been engaged in foster care for a long time, we’re here to help your congregation take its next steps. Get started with these resources: 

  • The Pure Religion Project: Access resources to help your church live out its calling to care for vulnerable children and families while growing closer to Jesus.
  • The Fostering Church Podcast: Listen to this limited-series podcast designed to help grow your church’s foster care ministry—no matter where you are on the journey. 
  • Everyone Can Do Something: Read this strategic field guide designed to help your church rally around caring for vulnerable children and families.

For Organizations

Nonprofits and organizations are key partners in child advocacy. Explore the following resources for fostering local partnerships and strengthening your existing community work. 

  • The More Than Enough Podcast: Explore the people, ideas, and tools in foster care that will help your community work together to fill the biggest gaps in caring for children and families.
  • Development + Discipleship Initiative: Grow your work through free fundraising teaching and coaching grounded in a theology of God’s abundance.
  • Justice + the Inner Life Podcast: Discover the habits and disciplines of a spiritual life that keep us steadfast and vibrant in the long, hard work of justice and mercy.

For Your Community

If you have dreams of transforming your community’s approach to foster care, you’re in the right place. We’ve created tools to help you effectively communicate a clear vision of more than enough alongside others in your community. Get started with these resources: 

  • Until There’s More Than Enough: Explore principles and practices that will help advocates, churches, and organizations in your community work together to provide more than enough.
  • The More Than Enough Starter Guide: Access communications tools that will help you cast a vision of more than enough, mobilizing your community around the box top.
  • The Foster Movement Podcast: Listen to the voices and expertise of former foster youth as they share their perspective on what foster care can and should look like in our communities.

Stay connected with news and stories of impact in your inbox

English