FOSTER CARE STATISTICS

FOSTER CARE STATISTICS


Currently, there are approximately 513,000 children in foster care in the United States. It's estimated that 114,000 are eligible for adoption.

In 2005, about 51,000 children were adopted from foster care.

68% of parents who adopt from foster care are married couples, 27% are single females, 2% are unmarried couples, and 3% are single males.

Median age of child in foster care: 10.6 years.

Race/ethnicity of children in foster care: 41% Caucasian, 32% African-American, 18% Hispanic, and 1% Asian; 8% other.

The average child in foster care goes through three different placements and stays in the system for nearly 29 months.

Each year, about 20,000 children age out of foster care.