Improving foster care for vulnerable children

Improving foster care for vulnerable children Deborah Winders Davis outlines the complexity of foster care issues in the U.S. and the importance of tailored interventions to support families and children. Over 500,000 children were in foster care in the United States in 2023, with 60% of those being under the age of ten. (1) While foster care placement is a worldwide issue, comparisons are difficult across different countries due to differences in definitions, policies, and programs. (2, 3) Although it is not clear if the counting strategies are similar, just for illustration, the following rates per 1000 children have recently been reported in the following high- income countries: Australia (8), Canada (8.24), England (6.7), and the United States (4.2). (4-7) Philosophies of care also differ in terms of whether it is more beneficial to keep children out of group residential homes or to improve the quality of care within those settings. (2, 3)