Twelve Years of Leaving Foster Children Behind: The Long Decline in Federal Support for Abused and Neglected Children (including, Total United States Caseload 1998-2006)

July 1, 2008 Written by John Sciamanna, this document reports that less than half the children who are in foster care are eligible for federal foster care support, and that fewer children in care today are covered by federal support than were covered in 1996. It states that over the past twelve years, the number of children eligible for federal foster care support continues to decrease and cites statistics indicating that in 1998, 55% of the children entering foster care qualified for federal assistance, while by 2006, slightly more than 42% qualified. Information is provided on the history of eroding . . .