Our Children
Nationally, over 500,000 children were in foster care each year from 2002-2007. During that same time period, an average of 297,000 children entered the foster care system each year. Trends in Foster Care and Adoption FY 2002-FY 2007, AFCARS Data, U.S. Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/trends.htm.
In 2006, the national average age of children in the foster care system was 10. The average stay in the foster care system wass 28.3 months. The AFCARS Report, Preliminary Estimates of FY 2006 as of January 2008, http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/tar/report14.htm
Facts about Illinois Foster Children*
- In Illinois, approximately 16,000 children currently reside in foster care under the legal guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services.
- On average, Illinois children spend over 2 years in foster care before they reach some permanency, i.e. reunification, guardianship, or adoption.
- Approximately 35% of foster children reunify with their parent(s).
- Approximately 20% of the foster children are adopted by a relative or a relative becomes the child’s legal guardian. Another 20% of foster children are adopted or a non-related person, usually former foster parents, becomes the child’s legal guardian.
- Approximately 15% of children in foster care age out of the system upon turning age 18-21.
- African-American children are almost four times more likely to be removed from their home of origin and placed into foster care. On average, they also spend more time in foster care than children of other races.
- Approximately one-fourth of children in foster care run away at some point during their time in foster care.
- Almost 70% of foster children in Illinois experience mental health issues. Approximately 42% of children in foster care have a combination of physical problems, mental health issues, and developmental delays. Yet, foster children are less likely to receive mental health services through a community mental health center or a medical doctor compared to the general population of children.
- Based on a survey of caregivers, approximately 43% of foster children perform below grade level expected for their age and approximately 36% receive special education services.
*Information obtained from Rolock N. & Testa, M. (2006). Conditions of Children In or At Risk of Foster Care in Illinois, An Assessment of Their Safety, Stability, Continuity, Permanence, and Well-Being, A Report by the Children and Family Research Center, School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.