Foster Care Statistics 2018 - Child Welfare
NUMBERS AND TRENDS MAY 2020Foster CareStatistics 2018This factsheet provides the most recent nationalstatistical estimates for children and youth infoster care from Federal fiscal year (FY) 2018 andprovides earlier data from FY 2008 to allow forsome estimate of trends over time. Data wereobtained from the Adoption and Foster CareAnalysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), whichcollects information on (1) all children in fostercare for whom State child welfare agencies haveresponsibility for placement, care, or supervisionand (2) all children who are adopted with publicchild welfare agency involvement. The datapresented for FY 2018 are from The AFCARSReport: Preliminary FY 2018 Estimates as ofAugust 22, 2019 (26) (U.S. Department of Healthand Human Services [HHS], 2019), available -26. Data presented for FY 2008 are fromThe AFCARS Report: Preliminary FY 2008 Estimatesas of October 2009 (16) (HHS, 2012), allowing for anexamination of trends over a period of 11 years. The2008 report is available at arsreport16.pdf.WHAT'S INSIDEChildren in, entering, and exiting carePlacement settingsCase plan goalsOutcomesLength of stayAgeRace and ethnicityGenderAdditional informationReferencesChildren's Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov1
AFCARS uses the definition of foster care found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), where itis defined as "24-hour substitute care for children outside their own homes."1 Foster care settingsinclude, but are not limited to, nonrelative foster family homes, relative foster homes (whetherpayments are being made or not), group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, andpreadoptive homes.Within each section of this report, data estimates are presented for the three timeframes detailedbelow: Point in Time refers to information about the population of children in foster care on a given day:September 30, the end of the Federal FY. Entries refers to information about children entering foster care during a given timeframe:October 1 through September 30 (i.e., the Federal FY). Exits refers to information about children exiting foster care during a given timeframe: October 1through September 30 (i.e., the Federal FY).Children who exit and reenter multiple times in a year are counted only once. Due to rounding ofthe original AFCARS source data and to missing data, some percentages do not add up to 100percent, or the estimated numbers do not add up to the total number in the category.Key Findings On September 30, 2018, there were an estimated 437,283 children in foster care (exhibit 1). On September 30, 2018, nearly one-third of these children (32 percent) were in relative homes,and nearly half (46 percent) were in nonrelative foster family homes (exhibit 2). On September 30, 2018, about half (56 percent) had a case goal of reunification with theirparents or primary caretakers (exhibit 3). About half (49 percent) of the children who left foster care in FY 2018 were discharged to bereunited with their parents or primary caretakers (exhibit 4). Close to half of the children (43 percent) who left foster care in FY 2018 were in care for less than1 year (exhibit 5).Title 45, Volume 4, Part 1355, Section 57. The CFR citation can be accessed online n’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov2
CHILDREN IN, ENTERING, AND EXITING CAREThese numbers give a broad picture of the number of children in foster care during FY 2018: Point in Time. On September 30, 2018, there were an estimated 437,283 children in foster care. Entries. During FY 2018, 262,956 children entered foster care. Exits. During FY 2018, 250,103 children exited foster care. Trends. The number of children in foster care on September 30, 2018, (437,283) remains lowerthan those in care on the same day in 2008 (463,000). Additionally, compared to FY 2017, FY 2018saw a decrease in these numbers from 441,071 in 2017 to 437,283 in 2018 (see exhibit 1).Exhibit 1: Numbers of Children In, Entering, and Exiting Foster CareFY 2008 and FY 2018463,000Point in 30FY 2008FY 201850,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000 400,000 450,000 500,000Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov3
PLACEMENT SETTINGSChildren in foster care live in a variety of placement settings and may move among or betweensettings while in care. For example, a child may move from a group home to a relative foster home.Point in Time. The estimated 437,283 children in foster care on September 30, 2018, were in thefollowing types of placements: 46 percent in nonrelative foster family homes 32 percent in relative foster family homes 6 percent in institutions 5 percent on trial home visits (situations in which the State retains supervision of a child, the childreturns home on a trial basis for an unspecified period of time, and after 6 months the child isconsidered discharged from foster care) 4 percent in group homes 4 percent in preadoptive homes 2 percent in supervised independent living 1 percent had run awayTrends. Percentages for placement settings on September 30 changed slightly between FY 2008and FY 2018, with a notable increase in the use of placements with relatives and a decrease inplacements in group homes and institutions (see exhibit 2).Exhibit 2: Placement Settings for Children in Foster Careon September 30 in FY 2008 and FY 201847%46%Nonrelative Foster Family Homes24%Relative Foster HomesInstitutions6%32%10%5%5%Trial Home Visits6%4%Group Homes4%4%Preadoptive HomesFY 2008FY 20181%2%Supervised Independent Living0%10%20%30%40%50%Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov4
CASE PLAN GOALSThe preferred goal for children in care is permanency with caring parents. Case plan goals refer tothe goals for permanent placement that are reported to AFCARS.2Point in Time. The estimated 437,283 children in foster care on September 30, 2018, had thefollowing case plan goals: 56 percent had a goal of reunification with parent(s) or principal caretaker(s). 27 percent had a goal of adoption. 5 percent had not yet had a case plan goal established. 4 percent had a goal of emancipation.3 4 percent had a goal of guardianship. 3 percent had a goal of living with other relative(s). 2 percent had a goal of long-term foster care.Trends. From FY 2008 to FY 2018, the percentage of children with case plans of reunificationexperienced the largest increase, while the largest decrease was in the percentage of children withcase plans of long-term foster care (see exhibit 3).Exhibit 3: Permanency Goals for Children in Foster Careon September 30 in FY 2008 and FY 201849%Reunification24%AdoptionLive With Other Relative(s)4%3%Guardianship4%4%Long Term Foster Care27%8%2%6%4%EmancipationFY 2008FY 20185%5%Goal Not Yet Established0%56%10%20%30%40%50%60%For more information about State requirements for children's permanency goals, see Child Welfare Information Gateway'sCase Planning for Families Involved With Child Welfare Agencies at spolicies/statutes/caseplanning.3Emancipation refers to both the emancipation of minors (i.e., youth below the age of majority) and youth who age out offoster care between 18 and 21, depending on State policy.2Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov5
OUTCOMESThe outcome statistics for children leaving foster care largely reflect the percentages for thepermanency goals, especially for reunification and adoption.Exits. Of the estimated 250,103 children who exited foster care during FY 2018: 49 percent were reunited with parent(s) or primary caretaker(s). 25 percent were adopted. 11 percent went to live with a guardian. 7 percent were emancipated. 7 percent went to live with another relative. 1 percent had other outcomes.4Trends. From FY 2008 to FY 2018, there were increases in the percentages of children who left thesystem for adoption and guardianship. There were decreases in the percentages of children who leftthe system to reunite with their parents or primary caregivers or live with other relatives or who leftwith other outcomes (see exhibit 4).Exhibit 4: Outcomes for Children Exiting Foster Care in FY 2008 and FY 201852%Reunification49%19%Adoption25%Living With on7%FY 2008FY 20183%Other Outcomes1%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%Other outcomes include being transferred to another agency, running away, and death. The majority of these children weretransferred.4Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov6
LENGTH OF STAYLength of stay in foster care refers to the amount of time between entering and exiting foster care.Exits. Of the estimated 250,103 children who exited foster care during FY 2018, the median amountof time spent in care was 14.7 months.5 The following are the lengths of time in care: 9 percent in care less than 1 month 34 percent in care for 1 to 11 months 30 percent in care for 12 to 23 months 15 percent in care for 24 to 35 months 10 percent in care for 3 to 4 years 3 percent in care for 5 or more yearsTrends. For children exiting foster care, the median amount of time spent in care increased from FY2008 (13.3 months) to FY 2018 (14.7 months). Additionally, when comparing those two periods, thelargest increase in percentages were for children in care for 12 to 23 months. The largest decreasesin percentage were for children in care for less than 1 month and children in care for 5 or more years(see exhibit 5).Exhibit 5: Length of Stay for Children Exiting Foster Care in FY 2008 and FY 201813% 1 Month9%33%34%1–11 Months24%12–23 Months30%12%24–35 Months15%10%10%3–4 YearsFY 2008FY 20187%5 Years3%0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%The median refers to the number in the middle when all numbers are placed in order. In this case, it means that an equalnumber of children were in care for durations shorter and longer than 14.7 months.5Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov7
AGEChildren can enter foster care from infancy up to age 18 years (and sometimes older).6 The medianage of children in, entering, and exiting foster care follows: Point in Time. The median age of the children in foster care on September 30, 2018, was 7.6 years. Entries. The median age of children entering foster care during FY 2018 was 6.1 years. Exits. The median age of children exiting foster care during FY 2018 was 7.5 years. Trends. From FY 2008 to FY 2018, the median age decreased for each of the three timeframes (seeexhibit 6).Exhibit 6: Median Age in Years of Children In, Entering, and Exiting Foster Carein FY 2008 and FY 20189.8Point inTime7.67.3Entries6.19.0ExitsFY 20087.5-2.04.06.08.0FY 201810.012.0Some States allow children to remain in foster care to age 19, 20, or 21. The Fostering Connections to Success andIncreasing Adoptions Act of 2008 gave States the option to extend title IV-E assistance to youth ages 18 to 21, with certainstipulations. For more information, visit Information Gateway at �s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov8
RACE AND ETHNICITYAFCARS tracks children's race or ethnicity.Point in Time. The following are the races and ethnicities of the estimated 437,283 children in fostercare on September 30, 2018: 44 percent were White. 23 percent were Black or African-American. 21 percent were Hispanic (of any race). 10 percent were other races or multiracial.7 1 percent were unknown or unable to be determined.Trends. The percentage of Black or African American children in care on September 30 decreasedbetween FY 2008 and FY 2018, while the percentages of White children, Hispanic children, andchildren of other races or multiracial children increased (see exhibit 7).Exhibit 7: Race and Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care onSeptember 30 2008 and 3%20%Hispanic21%8%Other Races/Multiracial10%FY 2008FY 20182%Unknown/Unable to determine1%0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%"Other races or multiracial" includes American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, andtwo or more races.7Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov9
Entries. The following are the races and ethnicities of the estimated 262,956 children who enteredfoster care during FY 2018: 47 percent were White. 21 percent were Black or African-American. 20 percent were Hispanic. 10 percent were other races or multiracial. 2 percent were unknown or unable to be determined.Trends. From FY 2008 to FY 2018, the percentages of Black or African American children enteringfoster care as well as for those whose race or ethnicity was unknown or unable to be determineddecreased, while the percentages of White children and children of other races or multiracialchildren entering foster care increased. The percentage of Hispanic children remained the same (seeexhibit 8).Exhibit 8: Race and Ethnicity of Children Entering Foster Carein FY 2008 and FY 1%20%Hispanic20%8%Other Races/Multiracial10%FY 2008FY 20183%Unknown/Unable to ’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov10
Exits. The following are the races and ethnicities of the estimated 250,103 children who exited fostercare during FY 2018: 46 percent were White. 21 percent were Black or African-American. 21 percent were Hispanic (of any race). 10 percent were other races or multiracial. 1 percent were unknown or unable to be determined.Trends. From FY 2008 to FY 2018, the percentages of Black or African American children andchildren of unknown race or whose race was unable to be determined who exited foster caredecreased, while the percentages of White children, Hispanic children, and children of other racesor multiracial children exiting foster care increased (see exhibit 9).Exhibit 9: Race and Ethnicity of Children Exiting Foster Carein FY 2008 and FY /Non-Hispanic21%8%Other Races/Multiracial10%FY 2008FY 20182%1%Unknown/Unable to RS numbers have consistently shown a slightly greater percentage of boys than girls in foster care: Point in Time. Of the estimated 437,283 children in foster care on September 30, 2018, 52 percentwere male, and 48 percent were female. Trends. The proportion of males to females in foster care on September 30 were slightly different,changing from 53 percent male and 47 percent female in FY 2008 to 52 percent male and 48percent female FY 2018.Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov11
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFor more detailed information on AFCARS, visit the Children's Bureau's website .AFCARS reports are available online at y/statistics-research/afcars.The following are additional resources for information about children in the child welfare system: To find out more about the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in foster care in yourState, refer to Child Welfare Outcomes (CWO), an annual report published by the Children's Bureau.These reports, as well as the CWO data site, are available from the Children's Bureau website ogy/statistics-research/cwo. To find out more about child maltreatment, including information about victims and perpetrators,read Child Maltreatment, an annual report based on States' reports to the National Child Abuseand Neglect Data System. Access the reports through the Children's Bureau website CESU.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012). The AFCARS report: Preliminary FY 2008estimates as of October 2009 (16). Retrieved from 6U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2019). The AFCARS report: Preliminary FY 2018estimates as of August 22, 2019 (26). Retrieved from 6SUGGESTED CITATION:Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2020). Foster care statistics 2018. Washington, DC: U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’sBureau.U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesAdministration for Children and FamiliesAdministration on Children, Youth and FamiliesChildren’s BureauThis material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare InformationGateway. This publication is available online at r/.Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov12
These numbers give a broad picture of the number of children in foster care during FY 2018: Point in Time. On September 30, 2018, there were an estimated 437,283 children in foster care. Entries. During FY 2018, 262,956 children entered foster care. Exits. During FY 2018, 250,103 children exited foster care. Trends.
Introduction The Central California Welfare Directors established the Central California foster care ad hoc committee during November 2001 to examine and develop recommendations on special care children and youth in foster care.The phrase special care children and youth was coined by the Central California foster care ad hoc committee to describe foster children whose
SERVICES FOSTER CARE FOSTER FAMILY AGENCY FOR CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS This is the Foster Care Placement Services Master Contract for Intensive Services Foster Care Foster Family Agency (hereinafter referred to as "Contract"). This Contract is made and entered into this 1st day of _, 2019 by and between
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families. Foster care is intended to be a partnership of all parties involved including the Department, families, children, foster parents, courts, private agencies, and other entities. Foster care for children has been evolving for centuries. By the mid-1800s, family foster care emerged as an effort to rescue children whose parents were
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