On September 30, 2017, there were an estimated 442,995 children in foster care. On September 30, 2017, nearly one-third of these children (32 percent) were in relative homes, and nearly half (45 percent) were in nonrelative foster family homes. (Title 45, volume 4, part 1355, section 57. The CFR citation can be accessed online at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2012-title45-vol4/pdf/CFR2012-title45-vol4-part1355.pdf). Of the estimated 247,631 children who exited foster care during FY 2017: 49 percent were reunited with parent(s) or primary caretaker(s). 24 percent were adopted. 8 percent were emancipated. 10 percent went to live with a guardian. 7 percent went to live with another relative. 2 percent had other outcomes.  From FY 2007 to FY 2017, there were increases in the percentages of children who left the system for adoption and guardianship. There were decreases in the percentages of children who left the system to reunite with their parents or primary caregivers or live with other relatives or who left with other outcomes.

Of the estimated 247,631 children who exited foster care during FY 2017, the median amount of time spent in care was 14.3 months. The following are the lengths of time in care:  9 percent in care less than 1 month; 34 percent in care for 1 to 11 months; 30 percent in care for 12 to 23 months; 15 percent in care for 24 to 35 months; 9 percent in care for 3 to 4 years;  4 percent in care for 5 or more years.  For children exiting foster care, the median amount of time spent in care increased from FY 2007 (12.6 months) to FY 2017 (14.3 months). Additionally, when comparing those two periods, the largest increase in percentages were for children in care for 12 to 23 months. The largest decreases in percentage were for children in care for less than 1 month and children in care for 5 or more years. Children can enter foster care from infancy up to age 18 years (and sometimes older). The median age of the children in foster care on September 30, 2017, was 7.7 years. The median age of children entering foster care during FY 2017 was 6.1 years. The median age of children exiting foster care during FY 2017 was 7.8 years. From FY 2007 to FY 2017, the median age decreased for each of the three timeframes. (Child Welfare Information Gateway. This publication is available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/foster/).