I think that the situation surrounding overflow of the foster care system has been blown way out of proportion.
There are currently approximately 74,494,632 people alive in the United Stated who are under 18 years old (Source:
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html). Of these an estimated 500,000 are in the foster care system.
- On September 30, 2006, there were an estimated 510,000 children in foster care.
- Almost a quarter (24 percent) were in relative homes, and nearly half (46 percent) were in nonrelative foster family homes.
- Almost half (49 percent) had a case goal of reunification with their families.
- The percentage of children who left the system to be reunited with their families or placed with relatives remained about the same from 2000 to 2006 (70 percent and 69 percent, respectively).
- Almost half of the children (49 percent) who left foster care in FY 2006 were in care for less than 1 year.
Entries. During FY 2006, 303,000 children entered foster care.
Exits. During FY 2006, 289,000 children exited foster care.
Of the estimated 289,000 children who exited foster care during FY 2006:
- 15 percent had been in care less than 1 month
- 34 percent had been in care for 1 to 11 months
- 23 percent had been in care for 12 to 23 months
- 12 percent had been in care for 24 to 35 months
- 9 percent had been in care for 36 to 59 months
- 7 percent had been in care for 5 or more years
Please keep in mind that this is throughout the entire United States.
Here is my source. There are more comprehensive charts on the page.
Foster Care Statistics