National Foster Care Statistics
The following statistics are from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data submitted for the FY 2003, 10/1/2002 through 9/30/2003. This is the most current AFCARS reporting data available on the Foster Care system from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web site.How many children were in foster care on September 30, 2003? 523,000
The average age of children in foster care was 10.2 years old.
The highest percentages of kids in foster care, 154,970, were in the age range of 11 thru 15 years old.
Concerning the length of stay in foster care, the highest percentage (18%) was one to five months. Following closely behind, were 6 to 11 months and then 5 years or more, both at 16%.
The top two case goals of the children in foster care were as follows:
1. Reunify with Parent(s) or Principal Caretakers(s) 48% or 246,650
2. Adoption 20% or 103,460
What was the race/ethnicity of the children in foster care?
AI/AN Non-Hispanic 2% or --10,260
Asian-Non Hispanic 1% or -- 3,280
Black-Non Hispanic 35% or --184,480
Hawaiian/PI-Non Hispanic 0% or --1,540
Hispanic 17% or -- 91,040
White-Non Hispanic 39% or -- 203,920
Unknown/Unable to Determine 3% or --13,360
Two or More-Non Hispanic 3% or --14,310
What was the gender of the children in foster care?
Male 53% or 274,820
Female 48% or 248,150
How many children entered foster care during FY 2003? 297,000
How many children exited foster care during FY 2003? 281,000
How many children were waiting to be adopted on September 30, 2003? 119,000
How old were the children on September 30, 2003? Average age was 8.6
Where were the waiting children living on September 30, 2003? Over 55% were in a foster family home of a non-relative--64,740.
How many children in foster care had their parental rights terminated for all living parents? 68,000
How many children were adopted from the public foster care system in FY 2003? 50,000
How many months did it take after termination of parental rights for the children to be adopted? An average of 16.3 months