How many children are in Americas foster care system?
ANSWER As of the end of 1995, an estimated 494,000 children were in foster care, a considerable rise from the estimated 280,000 children in such care at the end of 1986. Most of these children are in foster care because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment by their parents, some are placed through a court order in a child protection case, while others are voluntarily placed by parents unable to provide for them. Placement in foster care, however, does not necessarily guarantee the safety and well-being of children. Foster care systems in many states are currently facing litigation or are under court orders to improve the care of the children in their custody. Many children needing foster care live with grandparents and other relatives. The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that in 1995, 1,466,000 children (who may or may not be officially in the foster care system) lived in households headed by a grandparent with no parent present – a 44 percent increase since 1993, and a 66 percent in
