STATS, FACTS & THiNGS TO KNOW
FOSTER CARE NATIONWIDE
- Annually more than 670,000 children pass through the modern orphan system known as foster care in America. (compact.family)
- On any given day, there are nearly 437,000 children in foster care in the United States. Here in California, there are over 60,000 children in the foster care system. (Children’s Law Center)
- It is estimated more than half of America’s children went to bed last night without saying good night to their biological father. (compact.family)
- 100,000 children and teens whose parental rights have been terminated and who are languishing in foster care waiting, hoping, praying and longing for a forever family (projectzero.org)
- Over half of children in foster care will spend at least 18 months in the system. The average length of stay is 20 months. (lifesong.org)
- 6% of children are placed in care at least once between birth and age 18. Every 2 minutes in the U.S., another child enters foster care. (lifesong.org)
- Approximately 20,000 youth age out of the U.S. foster care system without being adopted each year. (lifesong.org)
- Children in foster care have experienced abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences that can negatively impact their health. In fact, half of all kids in foster care have endured four or more adverse childhood experiences. (Children’s Law Center)
- According to a 2013 study, more than half of child sex trafficking victims recovered domestically are youth from foster care. (www.backyardorphans.org)
- 1 out of 3 youth will become homeless after aging out of the foster care system. (www.backyardorphans.org)
- 61% of all children removed from their homes and placed into the foster care system was the result of parental neglect and 34% due to parental drug abuse: 47% were white, 21% were black or African American, and 20% were Hispanic (of any race). (compact.family)
- Youth in foster care are twice as likely to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder than a war veteran that has experienced active combat. (www.backyardorphans.org)
- 1 out of 2 youth who age out of the foster care system will develop a substance dependence. (www.backyardorphans.org)
FOSTER CARE IN CALIFORNIA
- Nearly one hundred times a day, a child in California is placed in foster care. (Children's Law Center of California)
- There are over 60,000 children in foster care in California alone. (Children's Law Center of California)
FOSTER CARE AND CHURCHES
- While under 40% of Americans attend church services weekly, 65% of foster parents attend church. (Barna Research)
- Research consistently finds religious faith and practice to be highly connected to giving and service of all kinds, including child welfare. (BPC/Harris Polling Data)
- People rooted in deep faith play an indispensable role in child and family welfare, from foster parenting to volunteering as CASAs to supporting biological families. Their voices are critical in efforts toward bipartisan improvements in child welfare. (BPC/Harris Polling Data)
- 3% of practicing Christians in the U.S. are foster parents, and 31% have seriously considered fostering. (lifesong.org)
- The Assemblies of God Foster Care Network hopes to see 20,000 children in U.S. foster care being cared for by our Assemblies of God churches and families. (agfostercare.network).
'LANGUAGE' OF FOSTER CARE
Preservation involves serving biological families to help families stay together or be reunified after removal.
Foster care refers to families who temporarily care for kids who have been removed from their biological family because of abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
Adoption is a permanent placement for kids who cannot be reunited with their biological family.
Aging out refers to youth in the foster care system generally between 18 – 21 years of age who will age out of the foster care system without a permanent home.
FFA stands for Foster Family Agencies. Many foster families work through an FFA to do the work of foster care.