Who Cares: A National Count of Foster Homes and Families

The number of youth in foster care continued to fall in 2022, according to state data collected by The Imprint for its annual report on foster care capacity.

The number of foster youth, and foster homes, are both declining. By John Kelly Newly released data compiled and analyzed for “Who Cares: A National Count of Foster Homes and Families” finds the number of foster youth in America continues to drop, but the percentage of them who are not identified as white appears to be growing.

Soon central South Dakota’s wind-swept prairies will be home to a new village — one that aims to create a community on the Cheyenne River Reservation for children who would otherwise be sent off the reservation to far-flung foster homes.

The Imprint, a national news site focused on children, youth and families, just released an ambitious data and reporting project looking at where kids go when they’re removed from home. “Who Cares: A National Count of Foster Homes and Families” yielded significant findings about states’ struggles to recruit and retain foster homes, and their increased reliance on relatives and group homes.