As National Foster Care Month comes to a close, we wanted to share the latest statistics from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (MN DHS) about youth in foster care.
According to this report, approximately 12,400 children and young adults experienced out-of-home care during 2021. On an average day, there were approximately 7,700 children and young adults in care, based on preliminary 2021 data. Fewer children were in foster care during 2021, including 2% fewer children entering care and 7% fewer children experiencing care at all compared to 2020.
Research has proven that children thrive in stable, nurturing, permanent homes. Removing children from the people they love and the environments that are familiar to them can be an emotionally traumatizing experience. In an effort to preserve family connections while children were in foster care, MN DHS reported that 62% of those in family foster care on any given day are placed with relatives.
Here are more findings from the 2021 MN DHS Foster Care Report:
How you can support youth in foster care in Minnesota:
- Start your foster care journey through CH/LSS by attending our free Foster Care & Adoption Orientation followed by our more in-depth Foster Care & Adoption Education Classes
- Watch our free educational webinars to learn more about foster parenting, kinship care, and more!
- Read “Supporting Reunification as a Kinship Caregiver“
- Learn about our Foster-A-Teen Program
- Volunteer
Statistics from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (Published May 2022).
Learn More About Our Foster Care & Foster Care Adoption Program
