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Cumulative risks of foster care placement by age 18 for U.S. children, 2000-2011

Christopher Wildeman1, Natalia Emanuel2

  • 1Department of Sociology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.

Plos One
|March 28, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Up to 5.91% of U.S. children enter foster care before age 18. Native American and Black children face disproportionately higher risks, while risks are similar for boys and girls.

Area of Science:

  • Child Welfare
  • Sociology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Foster care placement is a significant intervention for children facing abuse or neglect.
  • The lifetime prevalence of foster care placement in the U.S. is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the percentage of U.S. children who experience foster care placement between birth and age 18.
  • To examine disparities in foster care placement rates across racial/ethnic groups and sexes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized synthetic cohort life tables.
  • Analyzed data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS).

Main Results:

  • An estimated 5.91% of U.S. children experience foster care placement by age 18.
  • Native American (up to 15.44%) and Black (up to 11.53%) children exhibit significantly higher placement risks.
  • Foster care placement risks were found to be nearly equal between males and females.

Conclusions:

  • Foster care is a common experience for U.S. children, particularly for minority groups.
  • Significant racial and ethnic disparities exist in foster care placement.
  • Gender does not appear to be a significant factor in foster care placement risk.

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