Facts & Figures
On September 30, 2005, there were 511,000 children foster care in the United States. [1] In Ohio, there were 17,442 children in foster care at that point in time. [2]
Each year, an estimated 20,000 young people “age out” of the U.S. foster care system. [3]
In 2006, the average age of a youth in foster care was about 10 years old. [4]
The average length of stay at that time was 28 months, or 2 years and 4 months, in out-of-home care. [5]
Although child abuse and neglect occur at about the same rate in all racial and ethnic populations, 32% of youth in out-of-home care are African American, while African Americans represent only 15% of the youth in the general population. [6]
In 2006, the estimated daily count of detained youth in custody in the juvenile justice system in Ohio was over 4,000. Sixty-one percent (61%) were in custody for the commission of non-violent offenses. [7]
It costs the State of Ohio an average of $184.26 a day, or $67,255.00 a year, to confine a youth in an Ohio Department of Youth Services institution. [8]
Mental health issues affect one in every five young people at any given time. An estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need. [9] In Ohio, this translates to nearly half a million youth with mental health needs, with only about 182,000 of them receiving the care they need. [10]
After adjudication and upon admission to juvenile detention facilities facilities, 73 percent of juveniles reported having mental health problems and 57 percent reported having prior mental health treatment or hospitalization. [11]
Sources
- http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/trends.htm
- http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cwo05/state_data/ohio.htm
- http://www.cwla.org/programs/fostercare/factsheet.htm
- http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/tar/report14.htm
- http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/tar/report14.htm
- http://www.cwla.org/programs/fostercare/factsheet.htm
- Annie E. Casey Foundation. 2008. KIDS COUNT Data Book. Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD.
- http://www.cleveland.com/teentrouble/pdf/kidscount_report.pdf
- http://www1.nmha.org/children/prevent/stats.cfm
- Based on population data from KIDS COUNT Data Book.
- http://www1.nmha.org/children/prevent/stats.cfm
