Arkansas Foster Care Census Up 28% From 2014

As of December 31, 2014, there were 875 children in foster care throughout the state of Arkansas. The number of children in care rose each quarter for the next year and a half. As of June 30, 2016, that number was up to 4,957 children — and counting. The state reports that as of September 2016, 5,178 children were in foster care.

The statistics were reported in quarterly reports released by the Division of Children and Family Services within the Arkansas Department of Human Services. The reports are written by researchers with Hornby Zeller Associates. The most recent report . . .