Change Indicator

Rate of children entering foster care by age group in United States

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Definition and Source

PROVIDER

Definition

The number and rate per 1,000 of children and youth from birth up to age 20 entering the foster care system by age group. Some states allow children to remain in the foster care system until their 18th birthday while other states have age limits that extend a few years beyond this. The current indicator includes children up to age 20 regardless of their state limit.

Rates are based on Census Bureau estimates of the population of children and youth ages 0 to 20 in each state, as of July 1st of the respective year. National estimates do not include Puerto Rico.

Missing age data are excluded from rate and frequency distributions. Children and youth are categorized as entering foster care if they had a valid date for entry into care during a particular fiscal year.

Data Source

Child Trends analysis of data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), made available through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Population data: U.S. Census Bureau. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Single Year of Age and Sex for the United States, States, and Puerto Rico Commonwealth.

Notes

N.A. - Data not available.

Last Updated

June 2024