Kids Count Data Center

Definitions: The number of children and youth from birth up to age 20 in the foster care system by race or Hispanic origin. Most states allow children to remain in the foster care system until their 18th birthday, though some 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. Percent estimates of children in each race/Hispanic group are based on the total ages 0 to 20 in foster care. Youth are categorized as being in foster care if they entered prior to the end of the current fiscal year and have not been discharged from their latest foster care spell by the end of the current fiscal year. Race or Hispanic origin are mutually exclusive categories. Children who are of Hispanic origin are not classified as any other race. National estimates include Puerto Rico. More...

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.

Footnotes: Updated April 2013.
N.A. - Not available.