By Sarah C. Threnhauser

The number of children in foster care is rising—there was a 1.5% rise in youth in foster care, from 436,551 in 2016 to 442,995 in 2017 (see Number Of Youth In Foster Care Up 1.5% In A Year; 36% Of New Entries Due To Parental Drug Use). The increase in opioid addiction is one of the key contributors to this rise in out of home placements (see Opioid Clarity? and Opioid Addiction By The Numbers). Children in foster care often have complex support needs, compounded by exposure to trauma (see The Child Mental Health Gap-More Prevalence, Less Treatment, More Opportunity?).…