Are We Winning in Foster Care?
The foster care system stands at a critical juncture, with recent statistics revealing a surprising decline in the number of children under its wing. This trend prompts a pressing question: Are we witnessing a genuine improvement in family stability and child welfare, or are these numbers a facade, masking deeper systemic issues? This article delves into the intricacies of the foster care system, challenging the apparent success and urging a community-wide reassessment of our approach to safeguarding vulnerable children.
The Current State of Foster Care
As of 2023, there were 31,475 kids in and out of foster care during the year. These figures include kinship placements, rather than just pure foster children (children who are not placed with a relative). That number is 18,812, which is down from 29,818 in 2020.
That seems like great news, having a 63% reduction in the number of foster children in the state. But are we winning?
Analyzing the Drop: Positive Change or Concealed Crisis?
The answer to that depends on the reasons the numbers are going down. While a reduction in foster numbers initially appears as a victory, a deeper examination raises critical concerns.
Is it because of societal change, where communities are positively impacted and men and women are supported through their hardships? Or is it because Texas lost a 10-year lawsuit with the federal government over foster care, and to create the illusion of success, they have fudged the numbers?
It is not cynical to point to the latter reason. One way the numbers have been fudged to create an illusion of success was by lowering the threshold for removals. For example, in 2021 marijuana possession was removed from the list of qualifying reasons to investigate a child’s safety.
How is that connected? We have 11k fewer kids in the foster system year to year because police and CPS were no longer able to investigate with probable cause due to marijuana possession, which often led to finding harder drugs and bigger issues.
Here is another thing: removals have gone down, but that does not mean the number of kids being abused and neglected (the reasons for removal) is going down. In 2023, There were 163,855 investigations opened by DFPS. Of those, 37,264 cases were judged “reason to believe” that neglect and abuse had occurred. In other words, children were confirmed harmed by their families in 37,264 cases. But only 18,812 were removed.
In light of these numbers, a 63% reduction in removals doesn’t seem like a true victory. Kids still need help. Their families still need help. No amount of number manipulation can fix it.
How do we win?
We win when every child has a home. The state is not the answer, Christ is. At 1HOPE we are unapologetic about that. Christ equips his church to be on mission to make disciples, including the kids who have been taken from their homes due to neglect and abuse. And not just of the kids, but their parents too when possible. The church is committed to praying "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done" for everyone of these kids.
Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can help. Here are four ways you can help children in foster care:
Pray: Pray for more open homes, for our state officials to have wisdom, and for God’s will to be done.
Donate: Help us and our families carry on the work of this ministry! You can donate any amount here.
Volunteer: We have a ton of ways you can help, from delivering diapers, writing notes of encouragement, and more. Email ServeSA@1hopeforkids.org or ServeNB@1hopeforkids.org.
Foster: Prayerfully consider if God is calling your family to open its home to a child in need. Click here to learn more!