Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced that 14 states and the District of Columbia have joined a new bipartisan initiative aimed at increasing the number of licensed foster homes across the country.
The program, known as “A Home for Every Child,” focuses on improving the ratio of foster homes to children in care—a metric officials say will serve as a central benchmark for system performance. Nationwide, there are currently 57 licensed foster homes for every 100 children in care, highlighting a significant shortfall the initiative seeks to address.
Participating states include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Rhode Island, along with Washington, D.C. Oklahoma was the first to join the initiative in February and the first to receive federal approval for its updated Program Improvement Plan (PIP). Several other states, including Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kentucky, have also secured approval for revised plans.
Federal officials say the initiative represents a shift in how child welfare systems are evaluated and supported. Rather than relying on lengthy and often complex PIPs, states will now work with ACF to develop targeted, outcome-focused metrics tailored to their systems.
“The ratio of homes to children functions as a north star, not a checkbox,” said ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams, noting that improvements in placement availability must also be paired with better permanency outcomes, increased kinship placements, and expanded prevention services.
Delaware officials also emphasized the importance of reform efforts tied to the initiative, particularly in expanding kinship care options. “Our department is eager to implement reforms that will serve the needs of children and families first,” said Steven Yeatman, secretary of Delaware’s Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.
Launched in November, the initiative supports a broader federal directive to strengthen foster care systems and improve outcomes for children transitioning to adulthood. As part of that effort, ACF plans to release a national public scorecard in the coming months, allowing for the first-time comparison of key foster care metrics across states.
Federal officials say the goal is not only to expand foster home capacity, but also to ensure children are placed in stable, supportive environments while reducing reliance on temporary or unstable placements.
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The foster care in Oregon is an ABSOLUTE DISGRACE! From unaccompanied children in motels, to shipping them to Utah to a facility that was closed down by the state for sexually abusing children to actually losing them in the system. This program is a huge FRAUD LIKE ENTITY LIKE THE ONE’S SEEN IN MINNEAPOLIS AND CALIFORNIA. THIS IS SHOOTING OUT HUGE RED FLAGS!