The Facts about Children and Foster Care

The Raw Numbers

• During 2006, an estimated 905,000 children were determined to be victims of abuse or neglect in the United States.
• An estimated 1,530 children died due to abuse or neglect in the United States.
• 514,000 children were in foster care in the United States in 2006.
• Of those, approximately 52,000 were adopted out of the foster care system.
• 115,000 children were still waiting to be adopted at that time.

Mental Health

• The US Department of Health & Human Services estimates that 75-80% of children who need mental health services do not receive them.
• More than 80% of children in foster care have developmental, emotional, or behavioral problems.
• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among teens and young adults.
• In the year 2000, 3,994 youth aged 15-24 committed suicide. That's one every 2 hours.

Other Statistics

• In 2003, families with children accounted for 40% of the overall homeless population in 25 major US cities.
• In 2001, the US Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 47% of the homeless population in the US had aged out of the fostere care system.
• In 2001, 13% of Americans ages 18-24 did not get a high school diploma or pass an equivalency test
• TODAY, over a half a million children remain in foster care. . .

Statistics reported from the US Department of Health & Human Services as of January 2007, as well as AFCARS, CWLA and PEW.