Children And Education
Rate of Foster Care Admissions

Maintaining


Rate of Foster Care Admissions

What does this measure?

The annual number of children under age 18 placed in the care of the local Department of Social Services, expressed as a rate per 1,000 youths under 18. Children admitted to foster care may be cared for in congregate care facilities, foster boarding homes, approved relative homes or a supervised independent living program.

Why is this important?

This is an indicator of families' inability to care for their children in a healthy and/or safe environment.

How does our county compare?

In 2022, 1.3 children per 1,000 in Lancaster County were admitted to foster care, lower than the state rate of 2.8. Since 2009, Lancaster has consistently hovered below the state rate.

Among surrounding counties, Lancaster had the second lowest rate in 2022, above Chester County at 0.2. The counties with the highest rates of foster care admissions in 2022 were Dauphin (4.2) and York (2.7).

Notes about the data

Capacity limitations and changes in policy (for example, an emphasis on keeping families together) may affect placement decisions and be reflected in a lower rate of children entering foster care. County-level data is not available for 2019.

Rate of Foster Care Admissions
20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Pennsylvania4.13.93.63.63.43.83.93.94.03.83.62.82.82.8
Lancaster County1.92.01.41.61.52.21.82.42.11.80.81.11.3
Berks County3.44.13.84.64.24.34.33.93.83.21.81.31.7
Chester County1.00.50.60.40.70.70.60.80.60.60.20.20.2
Cumberland County2.61.71.92.43.22.72.93.83.13.72.32.21.7
Dauphin County4.04.13.72.62.83.65.85.24.93.62.83.14.2
Lebanon County2.11.92.11.31.42.11.41.01.61.61.72.11.6
York County2.81.92.12.63.13.13.33.83.23.32.83.12.7

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Notes: Rates are per 1,000 youth under 18.




Number of Foster Care Admissions
20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Pennsylvania11,63010,8989,8499,7939,30610,36410,38710,56710,78110,0959,4487,2867,3167,307
Lancaster County25125418420618828722930527522899139160
Berks County337405368444400409410366358301165123158
Chester County120637654908277907171242029
Cumberland County128859211915613214518915718911811991
Dauphin County252255228157173222359322302227176199269
Lebanon County64596441446745315251556753
York County291194216260308302321378321328275305273

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services




INDICATORS TREND
Prekindergarten Participation Increasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
Per-Student Spending Maintaining
Students Receiving Special Education Services Increasing
Rate of Foster Care Admissions Maintaining
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Plans of High School Graduates Not Applicable
Enrollment in Local Colleges Decreasing
College Graduation Rates Decreasing
Brain Drain/Gain Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Charitable Giving Maintaining
Voter Registration Rate Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Age of Housing Stock Not Applicable
Violent Crime Rate Maintaining
Incarceration Rate Decreasing
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population Density Increasing
Air Quality Decreasing
Water Use Decreasing
Waterways Impaired by Pollution Not Applicable
Change in Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age and Gender Not Applicable
Population by Age Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector Not Applicable
Sector Share of Total Jobs Not Applicable
Workers by Occupation Not Applicable
Change in Labor Force Maintaining
People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 Increasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Employer Size Not Applicable
Change in Number of Businesses by Sector Increasing
Change in Total Agricultural Sales Increasing
Spending for Local Government Maintaining
Spending for School Districts Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty Decreasing
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Decreasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Veterans Living in Poverty Maintaining
Working Poor Decreasing
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch Increasing
Median Home Value Maintaining
Occupied Housing Units Maintaining
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Rent Maintaining
Cost of Renting Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Health Status Decreasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Adults Who are Overweight or Obese Not Applicable
Mortality Rates Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Increasing
Fatal Drug Overdoses Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Households With Internet Access Increasing
High-Tech Jobs Increasing
STEM Graduates Increasing
Science and Engineering Research and Development Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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