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.
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| Lancaster County | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 | |
| Berks County | 3.4 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.7 | |
| Chester County | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |
| Cumberland County | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 1.7 | |
| Dauphin County | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 5.8 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 4.2 | |
| Lebanon County | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.6 | |
| York County | 2.8 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 2.7 |
Notes: Rates are per 1,000 youth under 18.
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 11,630 | 10,898 | 9,849 | 9,793 | 9,306 | 10,364 | 10,387 | 10,567 | 10,781 | 10,095 | 9,448 | 7,286 | 7,316 | 7,307 |
| Lancaster County | 251 | 254 | 184 | 206 | 188 | 287 | 229 | 305 | 275 | 228 | 99 | 139 | 160 | |
| Berks County | 337 | 405 | 368 | 444 | 400 | 409 | 410 | 366 | 358 | 301 | 165 | 123 | 158 | |
| Chester County | 120 | 63 | 76 | 54 | 90 | 82 | 77 | 90 | 71 | 71 | 24 | 20 | 29 | |
| Cumberland County | 128 | 85 | 92 | 119 | 156 | 132 | 145 | 189 | 157 | 189 | 118 | 119 | 91 | |
| Dauphin County | 252 | 255 | 228 | 157 | 173 | 222 | 359 | 322 | 302 | 227 | 176 | 199 | 269 | |
| Lebanon County | 64 | 59 | 64 | 41 | 44 | 67 | 45 | 31 | 52 | 51 | 55 | 67 | 53 | |
| York County | 291 | 194 | 216 | 260 | 308 | 302 | 321 | 378 | 321 | 328 | 275 | 305 | 273 |
| INDICATORS | TREND |
|---|
