Children in Foster Care
Children in foster care are our family, our friends, our neighbors – our future. They need:
- assurance that they will be safe and secure
- support to heal emotionally and physically
- help in stabilizing their lives and navigating the system
- someone to encourage their talents, hopes and dreams
In St. Louis each year, there are over 3,000 reports of abuse and neglect involving over 5,000 children. Over 1,500 kids from birth to age 21 find themselves in foster care.
Key Statistics on Kids in St. Louis City Foster Care
Types of abuse and neglect – the substantiated abuse and neglect that brought these St. Louis city kids into care:*
- neglect 37%
- physical abuse 44%
- sexual abuse 27%
- other (emotional, medical and educational neglect, etc.) 10%
*Total is greater than 100% – children can be substantiated for more than one category of abuse and neglect.
Placements – where these kids live while in foster care:
- non-relative foster home 40%
- relative foster home 26%
- residential facility 19%
- pre-adoptive home 2%
- other (trial home visits, supervised independent living, institutions, run away, etc.) 13%
Case outcomes – the permanent resolution of closed cases:
- reunited with family 43%
- adopted 25%
- legal guardianship 2%
- other – transfer to another agency or detention, run away, death, etc. 18%
Data Sources:
Foster Care Statistics, February 2009, Child Welfare Information Gateway
The Nation’s Children 2009, Child Welfare League of America
Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division, Child Abuse and Neglect Annual Report Fiscal Year 2008
Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division, Child Abuse and Neglect Calendar Year 2008 Annual Report
