A new Child Trends analysis has found a decrease in the rate of foster care entries, from 3.5 per 1,000 children entering care in 2018 to only 2.9 per 1,000 children entering care in 2021.
The Family First Prevention Services Act was passed in 2018, increasing the child welfare system’s focus on preventing child welfare involvement and keeping families together. The decrease in the rate of foster care entries (Figure 1) may reflect families receiving more prevention services, resulting in fewer children being separated from their parents or other caregivers. While foster care may be needed for some children, it is imperative that children remain with their families if at all possible.