There are currently 3,921 children in the Montana foster care system. Sadly, there are only 396 licensed foster homes in the state. Over the last 10 years in Montana the number of kids in foster care has doubled, shocking a system that was unprepared to adequately care for such a large number of children.
For many the numbers are startling. The truth is the number of kids in foster care is growing exponentially across the country due to parental drug use, abuse, and neglect. In Montana, budget reductions resulting in limited resources for vulnerable children and families are only further complicating the matter.
Due to the lack of homes in Montana, many of the children in foster care will end up in group homes or shelters. Nationally, 58,000 children are placed in institutions. In Montana, more than 1 in 9 foster children are living in hospitals, group homes, or shelter care.
The average child in foster care will have two or more placements within their first year of being in the system. The longer a child is in care, the higher the likelihood of them experiencing multiple placements. Each time a child moves they lose friends, social supports, and often need to change schools. Due to the lack of homes, it is not uncommon for a child to move hundreds of miles away to find placement.
Every child deserves a safe, stable, and loving childhood. Contact us today through our website or by calling 1-877-458-7022 to learn more about opening your home to a child in need.
