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Foster Care Facts

Currently, there are more than half a million children and youth in our nation's foster care system. More information on these children, why they enter the foster care system, how long they stay, and where they go when they leave, can be found here. This information is available both as a national overview and state-by-state

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National fact sheet on foster care
State by state fact sheets:

Legislation and Legislative Priorities

The federal government, states, and the courts have a shared responsibility to ensure that all children have safe, permanent homes. New legislation introduced in Congress would reform the current over-reliance on foster care at the expense of other services that could keep families safely together or move children more quickly from foster care to permanent families, whether their birth families or a new adoptive family or legal guardian.

Reports, Resources and Information

Access the most recent Kids Are Waiting and partner reports, press releases and issue briefs here, as well as recent press on foster care and child welfare issues.