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Foster Care Statistics
Numbers and Trends

Author(s):  Child Welfare Information Gateway

Year Published:  2009

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Exhibit 1: Numbers of Children In, Entering, and Exiting Foster Care FY 2000 and FY 2006

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This bar graph presents the numbers of children in, entering, and exiting foster care in fiscal year (FY) 2000 and FY 2006.

In FY 2000, 552,000 children were in foster care. In FY 2006, 510,000 children were in foster care.

In FY 2000, 293,000 children entered foster care. In FY 2006, 303,000 children entered foster care.

In FY 2000, 272,000 children exited foster care. In FY 2006, 289,000 children exited foster care.

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Exhibit 2: Placement Settings for Children in Foster Care on September 30 in 2000 and 2006

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This bar graph presents the percentage of children in foster care in different types of placement settings on September 30 in 2000 and 2006.

On September 30, 2000, 47 percent of children in foster care were in nonrelative foster family homes. On September 30, 2006, 46 percent of children in foster care were in nonrelative foster family homes.

On September 30, 2000, 25 percent of children in foster care were in relative foster homes. On September 30, 2006, 24 percent of children in foster care were in relative foster homes.

On both September 30, 2000, and September 30, 2006, 10 percent of children in foster care were in institutions.

On September 30, 2000, 8 percent of children in foster care were in group homes. On September 30, 2006, 7 percent of children in foster care were in group homes.

On September 30, 2000, 4 percent of children in foster care were in preadoptive homes. On September 30, 2006, 3 percent of children in foster care were in preadoptive homes.

On September 30, 2000, 3 percent of children in foster care were in trial home visits. On September 30, 2006, 5 percent of children in foster care were in trial home visits.

On both September 30, 2000, and September 30, 2006, 2 percent of children in foster care had run away.

On both September 30, 2000, and September 30, 2006, 1 percent of children in foster care were in supervised independent home living.

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Exhibit 3: Outcomes for Children Exiting Foster Care: FY 2000 and FY 2006

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This bar graph presents the percentage of children exiting foster care with different outcomes in fiscal year (FY) 2000 and FY 2006.

In FY 2000, 57 percent of children exiting foster care were reunified. In FY 2006, 53 percent of children exiting foster care were reunified.

On both September 30, 2000, and September 30, 2006, 17 percent of children exiting foster care were adopted.

In FY 2000, 13 percent of children exiting foster care were living with a relative/guardian. In FY 2006, 16 percent of children exiting foster care were living with a relative/guardian.

In FY 2000, 7 percent of children exiting foster care were emancipated. In FY 2006, 9 percent of children exiting foster care were emancipated.

In FY 2000, 5 percent of children exiting foster care had other outcomes. In FY 2006, 4 percent of children exiting foster care had other outcomes.

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Exhibit 4: Length of Stay for Children Exiting Foster Care: FY 2000 and FY 2006

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This bar graph presents the percentage of children in foster care with different lengths of stay when they exited foster care in fiscal year (FY) 2000 and FY 2006.

In FY 2000, 19 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care less than 1 month. In FY 2006, 15 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care less than 1 month.

In FY 2000, 31 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 1 to 11 months. In FY 2006, 34 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 1 to 11 months.

In FY 2000, 19 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 12 to 23 months. In FY 2006, 23 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 12 to 23 months.

In FY 2000, 11 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 24 to 35 months. In FY 2006, 12 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 24 to 35 months.

In FY 2000, 11 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 36 to 59 months. In FY 2006, 9 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 36 to 59 months.

In FY 2000, 10 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 5 or more years. In FY 2006, 7 percent of children exiting foster care had been in foster care for 5 or more years.

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Exhibit 5: Median Age in Years of Children In, Entering, and Exiting Foster Care: FY 2000 and FY 2006

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This bar graph presents median age in years of children in, entering, and exiting foster care in fiscal year (FY) 2000 and FY 2006.

In FY 2000, the median age of children in foster care was 10.4 years old. In FY 2006, the median age of children in foster care was 10.2 years old.

In FY 2000, the median age of children entering foster care was 8.8 years old. In FY 2006, the median age of children entering foster care was 7.5 years old.

In FY 2000, the median age of children exiting foster care was 10.2 years old. In FY 2006, the median age of children exiting foster care was 9.5 years old.

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Exhibit 6: Race and Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care on September 30 in 2000 and 2006

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This bar graph presents the percentage of children in foster care by race and ethnicity on September 30 in 2000 and 2006.

On September 30, 2000, 38 percent of children in foster care were White/Non-Hispanic. On September 30, 2006, 40 percent of children in foster care were White/Non-Hispanic.

On September 30, 2000, 39 percent of children in foster care were Black/Non-Hispanic. On September 30, 2006, 32 percent of children in foster care were Black/Non-Hispanic.

On September 30, 2000, 15 percent of children in foster care were Hispanic. On September 30, 2006, 19 percent of children in foster care were Hispanic.

On September 30, 2000, 8 percent of children in foster care were Other Races/Multiracial. One September 30, 2006, 9 percent of children in foster care were Other Races/Multiracial.

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Exhibit 7: Race and Ethnicity of Children Entering Foster Care: FY 2000 and FY 2006

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This bar graph presents the percentage of children entering foster care by race and ethnicity in fiscal year (FY) 2000 and FY 2006.

In FY 2000, 46 percent of children entering foster care were White/Non-Hispanic. In FY 2006, 45 percent of children entering foster care were White/Non-Hispanic.

In FY 2000, 29 percent of children entering foster care were Black/Non-Hispanic. In FY 2006, 26 percent of children entering foster care were Black/Non-Hispanic.

In FY 2000, 15 percent of children entering foster care were Hispanic. In FY 2006, 19 percent of children entering foster care were Hispanic.

In both FY 2000 and FY 2006, 10 percent of children entering foster care were Other Races/Multiracial.

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Exhibit 8: Race and Ethnicity of Children Exiting Foster Care: FY 2000 and FY 2006

D-link:

This bar graph presents the percentage of children exiting foster care by race and ethnicity in fiscal year (FY) 2000 and FY 2006.

In FY 2000, 45 percent of children exiting foster care were White/Non-Hispanic. In FY 2006, 46 percent of children exiting foster care were White/Non-Hispanic.

In FY 2000, 31 percent of children exiting foster care were Black/Non-Hispanic. In FY 2006, 27 percent of children exiting foster care were Black/Non-Hispanic.

In FY 2000, 15 percent of children exiting foster care were Hispanic. In FY 2006, 18 percent of children exiting foster care were Hispanic.

In FY 2000, 8 percent of children exiting foster care were Other Races/Multiracial. In FY 2006, 9 percent of children exiting foster care were Other Races/Multiracial.

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Updated on October 9, 2009