Indiana Foster Care Statistics: 30 Key Insights

When you become a foster parent, you provide a beacon of hope for children facing challenging circumstances across Indiana. 

Foster care is a haven where young lives can be nurtured, supported, and allowed to flourish. Without the dedication of foster families, many of these children might struggle to reach their full potential in adulthood.

Understanding the landscape of foster care in Indiana through statistics highlights its importance. These statistics also equip caregivers, organizations, and potential foster parents with valuable insights. 

These numbers tell a story of challenges, resilience, and the profound impact of opening one's heart and home.

As Erin Page-Brown, a former foster and adoptive parent, beautifully expresses:

"It is so worth it. I think for most people, there is a lot of fear surrounding heartbreak and loss, and grief. For me, my main message is that all of it is worth it."

Learn more about Erin's story in this video!

Erin's words resonate with the essence of foster care — a journey that, while not without its difficulties, offers immeasurable rewards.

Let's explore these figures to see how they portray our challenges and the incredible difference foster care makes in young lives across the Hoosier State.

How Many Children Are in Foster Care in Indiana?

It’s important to understand just how many children are in care in the state. 

These children deserve a chance to grow, thrive, and live a fulfilling life!

• There are around 11,547 children in care in the state of Indiana.
• Despite having this many children in care, there are only around 4,531 licensed foster homes. The need for foster parents in Indiana is always growing! 
• Kinship care is also important in Indiana. In 2022, it was estimated that 51,548 grandparents in Indiana were responsible for their grandchildren.
• For every one child being raised by kin inside the foster care system, there are nine being raised by kin outside of the system.

Demographics of Children in Care in Indiana 

• Of the 11,547 children in care in Indiana, around 58.5% of them are under ten years old.
• On the other hand, 24.3% are 13 years and older — there’s always a need for fostering teens in care!
• Marion County has the most children in care, while Union County has the fewest. 
• Of every child in a household in Indiana:
  • 81.9% are the biological children of their guardians
  • 7.1% are grandchildren
  • 4.6% are stepchildren
  • 2.4% are adopted
  • 2.3% are children in care
  • 1.7% are other relatives

What is the Average Length of Stay For Children in Care in Indiana?

The ultimate goal of foster care is to reunite a child in care with their parents whenever possible. 

However, like every other state, this isn’t always the case:

• The median stay in foster care in Indiana is about 14.9 months.
• About 57.1% of children in care in Indiana are reunited with their biological families.
• Reunification happens in less than 12 months 53.5% of the time.
• On the other hand, 2.2% of children in care wait over 48 months.
• 22.7% of children in care are reentering foster care.

Adoption from Foster Care Statistics in Indiana

If a child in care cannot be reunited with their biological parents, they need a forever home.

That’s where adopting from foster care can be the lifeline they need! 

• 24.3% of children in care are adopted.
• Of those who are adopted, 48.6% take longer than three years to find a forever home.
• On the other hand, just 1.3% of children adopted find a home in less than a year. 
• Of the children in care waiting for homes with disabilities or other therapeutic needs, 39.3% are adopted into new homes.

Foster Care Education Statistics in Indiana

Getting a good education is important for kids in foster care. It’s their ticket to creating a future they can be proud of! 

Unfortunately, education is something that kids in care often struggle with. Here are some stats in Indiana that highlight just how important it is for foster parents to prioritize education:

• 55% of foster children in the state graduated from high school compared to 87% of all students.
• Only 11% of students in foster care were likely to earn an honors diploma.
• Students in foster care are twice as likely to be in special education classes.
• Children in care are around 2.5 times more likely to be suspended.
• They are three times more likely to be held back a grade.
• Students in foster care are four times more likely to be expelled.
• In the IREAD-3 assessment (for the third grade), 77% of students in foster care passed compared to 87% of all students.
•  ISTEP+ Math passing rates were five times lower for foster students (7% compared to 35%).

Want to Change a Child's Life but Not Sure Where to Start?

These statistics paint a vivid picture of the importance of foster parents.

If you’re ready to make a difference, why not get answers to all of your questions?

For all the information you need contact a Mentor Foster Care location in the state:

• Mentor Foster Care in Indianapolis
• Mentor Foster Care in Merrillville
• Mentor Foster Care in Terre Haute

References for stats:

1. https://www.in.gov/sboe/files/SBOE-Materials-Foster-Youth-2020-education-outcomes-report.pdf
2. https://worldmetrics.org/indiana-foster-care-statistics/
3. https://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite/byState/indiana 
4. https://www.cwla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Indiana-Fact-Sheet-2022.pdf
5. https://www.in.gov/dcs/files/PI_Length_Of_Stay_Out_Of_Home_Placement_7-22.pdf
6. https://pcain.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-IYI-KIDS-COUNT-Data.pdf 
7. https://cafo.org/foster-care-statistics/