Path to Reunification…Every case plan is different
but may consist of the following:

• Counseling
• Parent Education Classes
• Drug Treatment & Testing
• Comply with Court Orders
• Follow Attorney Advice
• Attend all Programs and Services

(LA County DCFS)

How Many Children Are in Foster Care?

• There are over 390,000 children in foster care. (Child Welfare Information Gateway)
• This number shifts significantly over the years — in 2018, it was as high as 437,000 children. (Statista)
• Of those, the average age is around eight years old. (AdoptUSKids)
• Genders are almost evenly split — 51% are boys, and 49% are girls. (AFCARS Report)
• However, children in care come from many different age groups. They can be anywhere from infants to young adults at 20 years old. (Kids Count Data Center)

Foster Care Statistics: Demographics

Foster care helps children from all demographics lead a fulfilling life full of love and care. Here are some foster care statistics concerning race and demographics courtesy of the AFCARS Report:

• 22% of foster children are Hispanic
• 2% are American Indian or Alaskan Native
• 1% are Asian
• 22% are Black or African American
• 43% are White
• 8% are mixed

How Long Do Foster Children Remain in Foster Care?

The goal of foster care is to reunite children with their families, if possible. If not, then foster care adoption is the next solution. Here are some stats on the length of foster care provided by the AFCARS Report:

• 4% stay for less than a month
• 19% stay for 1-5 months
• 19% stay for 6-11 months
• 14% stay for 12-17 months
• 12% stay for 18-23 months
• 9% stay for 24-29 months
• 6% stay for 30-35 months
• 12% stay for 3-4 years
• 6% stay for 5 years or more
• On average, children stay in foster care for just over 21 months

Foster Care is a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents (Administration for Children & Families)

Reunifying Families

Reunification is the most common goal for children in foster care. When children are separated from their families, the first goal is to reunify them when it is safe enough to do so. To support the reunification process, child welfare agencies should implement trauma-informed, family-centered approaches that build on family strengths and actively engage parents, youth, and kin— including maternal and paternal relatives and fictive kin—as experts on their own lives.

(Child Welfare Information Gateway)