According to the most current AFCARS (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System Report) Report, released in January 2008, there were approximately 510,000 children in the U. S. in foster care on September 30, 2006. The full report is available online via the Children’s Bureau website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/tar/report14.htm.   

For State-specific information on the number of entries, exits, and children in care on the last day of the Federal fiscal year 2005, please see the table on the Children’s Bureau website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/statistics/entryexit2005.htm. In addition, this table provides comparable data for the years 2000 - 2005.