Ten Years of Leaving Foster Children Behind

July 2006 Ten Years of Leaving Foster Children Behind Over the past decade, the number of children eligible for federal foster care assistance has decreased at an alarming rate. These are children who have experienced abuse and neglect but do not qualify for federal assistance based on the outdated eligibility requirements. In 1998, well over half of the children entering foster care- 55% by this analysis -qualified for federal assistance. In 2004, 45% qualified- an 18% decline. The impact of this lack of support is felt by tens of thousands of children who have experienced abuse and neglect but do . . .