Facts about Children  in Foster Care in Nebraska

Total:  5,148 children were in the foster care system in Nebraska on September 30, 2003.  Most Children are placed temporarily in foster care due to parental abuse or neglect.

Age:  Average Age:  11.3 years
          3%  were less than one year old
          21% were 1-5 years old
          12% were 6-10 years old

Gender:   Male:  54%      Female:  46%

Length of Stay:  The average length of stay for children in care on September 30, 2003 was 21 months.

Reunification:  71% of the young people leaving the system in FY 2003 were reunified with their birth parents or primary caregivers.

Foster Homes:  In 2002, there was a total of 4,273 licensed non-relative foster homes in Nebraska.  On September 30, 2003, 15% of youth living in out-of-home care were residing with their relatives.

Adoption:  Of children with state agency involvement adopted in FY 2003, 51% were adopted by their non-relative foster parents and 20% were adopted by relatives.


Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data submitted for the FY 2003, 10/1/02 through 9/30/03.

U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000.  American Factfinder.  http://factfinder.census.gov

 Child Welfare League of America- National Data Analysis System http://ndas.cwla.org