County-specific title

NC PATH data We are in the process of integrating the new NCPATH foster care data into prior datasets. Until this is complete, current foster care data frequencies reported here will be lower than the true frequencies. This note will be removed when the integration is complete.

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Demographics: Count of children aged <19 years in previous 5 years

Experiences of children in foster care

Pattern of initial placement

From To Number of children Adoptive home Emergency Shelter/Temporary Placement Foster home Therapeutic Home Group Home, Residential Group Home, Treatment Hospital Jail/Detention Facility Missing Data Non-relative/Court Approved Other Parent/Guardian Relative Runaway
2025 July Partial Year 4,068 1 291 1,330 43 139 25 348 18 10 438 83 98 1,228 16
2024 July 2025 June 4,493 11 220 1,437 47 160 24 367 37 39 594 104 92 1,348 13
2023 July 2024 June 4,359 19 120 1,486 27 156 28 356 40 17 552 66 100 1,375 17
2022 July 2023 June 4,426 5 24 1,671 31 150 13 341 27 24 526 43 91 1,458 22
2021 July 2022 June 4,332 7 15 1,632 39 196 26 296 33 17 473 42 106 1,424 26
2020 July 2021 June 4,542 3 31 1,731 41 250 37 303 22 15 344 37 125 1,573 30
2019 July 2020 June 4,633 7 51 1,872 64 249 36 269 41 32 428 41 118 1,396 29
2018 July 2019 June 4,986 4 50 2,011 76 276 33 304 37 54 335 42 118 1,616 30
2017 July 2018 June 5,015 2 79 1,962 116 263 45 270 33 57 356 42 123 1,647 20
2016 July 2017 June 5,517 9 74 2,021 116 280 45 310 47 2 361 41 156 2,024 31
2015 July 2016 June 5,199 15 70 1,883 87 347 44 244 36 5 323 32 149 1,929 35
2014 July 2015 June 5,109 4 69 2,066 127 266 47 270 44 4 294 33 128 1,711 46
2013 July 2014 June 5,105 7 91 2,095 132 233 47 204 64 9 337 39 160 1,659 28
2012 July 2013 June 4,702 9 99 1,920 166 274 29 197 57 3 192 19 172 1,547 18
2011 July 2012 June 4,452 16 62 1,918 134 268 48 180 57 3 209 18 143 1,381 15
2010 July 2011 June 4,585 13 63 1,948 159 215 32 183 57 2 247 11 138 1,489 28
2009 July 2010 June 4,459 25 62 1,966 159 209 43 158 48 5 227 22 173 1,333 29
2008 July 2009 June 4,587 22 93 1,978 147 251 65 196 72 5 268 27 162 1,276 25
2007 July 2008 June 4,914 7 120 2,230 131 268 64 237 80 7 273 31 175 1,248 43
2006 July 2007 June 5,715 30 126 2,443 154 316 55 259 88 7 279 55 216 1,608 79
2005 July 2006 June 5,988 36 148 2,766 132 293 68 233 78 5 291 39 265 1,588 46
2004 July 2005 June 5,959 38 188 2,550 145 345 100 223 80 2 320 42 274 1,594 58
2003 July 2004 June 5,520 39 211 2,367 107 365 66 206 90 4 246 39 234 1,503 43
2002 July 2003 June 5,243 37 179 2,481 56 298 55 183 73 1 281 29 333 1,206 31
2001 July 2002 June 5,135 33 224 2,476 69 296 49 176 82 90 197 27 230 1,158 28
2000 July 2001 June 4,901 24 215 2,349 45 304 38 134 64 190 227 33 221 1,029 28
1999 July 2000 June 5,151 31 184 2,392 50 300 41 129 70 342 244 14 272 1,061 21
1998 July 1999 June 5,259 51 243 2,276 37 267 42 117 48 506 237 27 318 1,080 10
1997 July 1998 June 5,299 22 230 2,429 33 275 49 111 32 519 173 54 304 1,047 21


Citations- The suggested way to cite this website is as follows: Duncan, D. F., Stewart, C. J., Seminara, G., Malley, K. M. D., Reives, W., Francis, A., & Guest, S. (2026). Creating Indicators for Child Welfare. Retrieved [month day, year], from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Social Work. https://cip.ssw.unc.edu/ or https://creatingindicators.ssw.unc.edu