What’s Really Happening?
Each year, hundreds of thousands of children in the United States are placed in foster care due to abuse, neglect, or family instability. These children face a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges, and many require specialized care and stable environments to heal and grow.
Unfortunately, the need for foster homes far exceeds the number of available caregivers. Many children—especially older youth, sibling groups, and those with complex trauma—struggle to find placements that meet their needs. This shortage often results in temporary or emergency housing situations, which can be disruptive and delay a child's path toward stability and permanency.
Foster care is more than just providing a roof over a child’s head. It’s about offering safety, consistency, and compassion during one of the most vulnerable times in a young person’s life. With the right placement and support, children in foster care can begin to rebuild their lives and look forward to a brighter future.
Children In Need.
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US Statistics
As of 2025, approximately 390,000 children are in foster care across the United States. These children range in age from infancy to 21 years old, with an average age of about 8 years. The gender distribution is nearly even, with 51% male and 49% female.
Each year, around 20,000 youth age out of the foster care system without a permanent family, facing increased risks of homelessness, unemployment, and other challenges. Additionally, over 108,000 children in foster care are eligible for adoption, waiting an average of nearly three years to find a permanent home.
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Texas Statistics
As of September 30, 2022, Texas had 21,358 children in foster care. Throughout that fiscal year, 9,486 children entered the system, while 16,067 exited, including 4,361 who were adopted. Despite these adoptions, over 10,000 children remained awaiting permanent homes. Notably, there was a 23.8% decrease in the number of children in care between 2021 and 2022, and adoptions from the system also decreased by 6.2% during the same period.
In Bell County, Texas, the foster care system faces significant challenges. According to CASA of Bell & Coryell Counties, over 1,000 children from these counties are currently in foster care, with Bell County having one of the highest per capita rates of reported child abuse in the state. A 2023 report by court-appointed monitors highlighted severe issues in state-rented homes in Belton, Killeen, and Temple, where children without placements were housed in unsafe and unsupervised conditions, leading to incidents of violence, substance abuse, and exploitation. Additionally, only 36% of Bell County children in foster care are placed within the county, indicating a shortage of local foster homes.
