Insights for Lasting Change
Accurate research and national data to inform child welfare and family preservation.
Data That Drives Change
Meaningful reform begins with accurate information. The Coalition for Family Integrity provides a central research hub that brings together trusted national data, policy analysis, and educational resources focused on child welfare and family preservation.
Our goal is to make complex information easier to understand so advocates, professionals, and communities can make informed decisions that protect children and strengthen families.
Why Research Matters
Children and families are often impacted by systems that are not fully understood by the public. Research helps reveal the connection between family separation, placement instability, homelessness, and trafficking risk.
By sharing reliable data, the coalition supports stronger awareness and more effective long-term solutions.
Key Data Sources
AFCARS Data Dashboard
Federal data on foster care entries, placement changes, and permanency outcomes.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/research-data-technology/statistics-research/afcars
Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count
State-by-state data measuring child well-being across the United States.
Casey Family Programs Research Library
Evidence-based research supporting family-centered child welfare reform.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
National resources on prevention, policy, and family support services.
Safe House Project & Team Protectors
Educational resources focused on trafficking prevention and vulnerable youth.
Children’s Bureau AFCARS Information
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
U.S. Marshals Service – Human Trafficking Program
Child Welfare Information Gateway – Runaway & Homeless Youth Resources
Policy Analysis
The coalition reviews national research and policy trends to help identify where systems can improve.
These insights support conversations around prevention, accountability, and family preservation.
Topics include:
Children in Foster Care
343,077 children were living in foster care in the United States at the end of FY2023.
Source: AFCARS – U.S. Administration for Children and Families.
Annual Entries Into Foster Care
Approximately 170,000 children enter foster care each year.
Source: Children’s Bureau AFCARS Data.
Placement Instability
Among youth who remain in foster care two years or longer, about 59% experience three or more placements.
Placement instability is associated with trauma, educational disruption, homelessness risk, and exploitation vulnerability.
Source: Casey Family Programs.
Foster Care Outcomes
Among children exiting foster care: 45% reunify with parents, 27% are adopted, 11% enter guardianship, and 8% age out without permanency.
Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation – Kids Count.
Missing Foster Youth
Federal reporting indicates that approximately 1% of youth in foster care are reported missing at any given time.
Source: Children’s Bureau AFCARS.
Classification of Missing Foster Youth
When children disappear from foster care, about 94% are classified as 'runaways' rather than abducted children.
This classification can influence urgency of response and investigative resources.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Trafficking Among Runaway Foster Youth
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimates that approximately 1 in 5 children who run away from foster care are likely victims of sex trafficking.
Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Trafficking Victims With Child Welfare Histories
Law enforcement investigations frequently find that a majority of identified child trafficking victims have prior involvement with the child welfare system, including youth currently in foster care or who have aged out.
Source: U.S. Marshals Service and federal anti‑trafficking task force investigations.
Homeless Youth and Trafficking Risk
Research estimates that 30–40% of homeless youth experience trafficking or survival sex, and many homeless youth have histories in the foster care system.
Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway.
Turning Research Into Action
Data alone does not create change. By connecting research with advocacy, the Coalition for Family Integrity helps communities better understand the issues affecting children and families and supports efforts that lead to meaningful reform.