Foster Care Facts

• Children in foster care in the U.S.:  408,425
• Children in foster care waiting to be adopted: 107,011
• Average length of stay in continuous foster care of waiting children: 37.3
• Children “aging out” of the foster system annually without being adopted:  Approximately 27,854
• Average age of a child in the foster system:  9.4
• Average age of a child waiting to be adopted:  8 years old.
• Average length of stay in the foster system:  25.3 months
• Number of children whose parental rights were terminated in FY 2010:  64,084
• Approximate number of children adopted from foster care in FY 2010:  52,891
• Number of caring adults it takes to make a life-long difference for a child in the foster system:  1

[Soure:  AFCARS June 2011 Update with numbers as of September 2010; next report available June 2012]

Other Relevant Facts

• Adopting from foster care is affordable. Most child welfare agencies cover the costs of home studies and court fees, and provide post-adoption subsidies. Thousands of employers offer financial reimbursement and paid leave for employees who adopt and Federal and/or state adoption tax credits are available to most families.

• Every child is adoptable. Many children in foster care have special needs. All of them deserve the chance to grow up in a safe, loving, permanent home. Support and other post-adoption resources are available.

• Adopting from foster care is permanent. Once a child is adopted out of foster care, the birth parents cannot attempt to claim them or fight in court for their return. A family formed through foster care adoption is forever.

Source: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System; Department of Health & Human Services (September 2010), with thanks also to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption