Sharp rise in the number of children in foster care means more kids at risk

Sharp rise in the number of children in foster care means more kids at risk

The disturbing headlines and heartbreaking stories of children failed by foster care continue to fill newspapers and websites. The tragedies are also likely to become even more common if the strain on America’s foster care system isn’t alleviated, as the number of children in foster care in the U.S. rose sharply, for the first time in nearly a decade. According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) annual report, the foster care population in Fiscal Year 2014 rose to 415,129 children from just under 401,000 children in Fiscal Year 2013.