National Foster Care Statistics
The following statistics are from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data submitted for fiscal year 2009, 10/1/2008 through 9/30/2009. This is the most current AFCARS reporting data available on the foster care system. The complete Foster Care Statistics report is available at www.acf.hhs.gov.KEY FINDINGS
* On September 30, 2009, there were an estimated 423,773 children in foster care.
* Almost a quarter (24%) were in relative homes, and nearly half (48%) were in non-relative foster family homes.
* Over half (49%) had a goal of reunification with their families.
* The majority of children (51%) left the system to be reunited with their families.
* Close to half of the children (46%) who left foster care in FY 2009 were in care for less than one year.
* Average age of children in foster care on September 30, 2009: 9.6 years.
Of the estimated 255,418 children who entered foster care during FY 2009:
* 40% were white/non-Hispanic
* 30% were black/non-Hispanic
* 20% were Hispanic
* 10% were other races or multiracial
* 53% were male
* 47% were female
* Mean age was 7.9 years; median age: 7.1 years
During FY 2009, an estimated 276,266 exited foster care. Of them:
* 51% were reunited with parent(s) or primary caregiver(s)
* 20% were adopted
* 15% went to live with a relative or guardian
* 11% were emancipated
* 3% had other outcomes, including being transferred to another agency, running away, and death.
* They had spent an average of 22 months (median: 13.7 months) in foster care.
* About 46% had been in care for less than a year and 7% had been in care for five or more years.
There were 114,556 children waiting to be adopted on September 30, 2009. They were:
* 53% male
* 47% female
* 38% white
* 30% black
* 22% Hispanic
* 10% Other
* Average age was 8.1 (median age: 7.5)
* 54% were living in a non-relative foster home
* 22% were living in a relative foster home
* 14% were living in a pre-adoptive home