How long do most placements last?
This is part of a series for Foster Care Awareness Month, where I answer questions submitted via facebook or tumblr about my work as a therapeutic foster parent. Ask your own question here!
This is super impossible to answer, since “foster care” is such a huge umbrella. It could be that the youth were only with a foster family for the weekend, because that’s how long it took mom to get out of jail and find a new place to stay. It could be four years, while the case makes its way through court and various family members are considered for placement.
According to foster care statistics from 2016, of the estimated 250,248 children who exited foster care during FY 2016, the median amount of time spent in care was 13.9 months. The following are the lengths of time in care:
10 percent in care less than 1 month
35 percent in care for 1 to 11 months
28 percent in care for 12 to 23 months
15 percent in care for 24 to 35 months
9 percent in care for 3 to 4 years
4 percent in care for 5 or more years
And you can see more statistics on youth’s ages, time in foster care, etc. from 2017 here.
For therapeutic parenting, placement length is different - most therapeutic placements last 6-18 months.
