Lighting the path for every child through data and empathy.
FosterData.org exists to bridge the gap between cold statistics and the human lives they represent. We believe that informed communities are the foundation of a better foster care system.
A Ledger for the Lost
FosterData.org wasn't born in a boardroom. It was born in the quiet hours of research, realization, and frustration. We saw a system where data was siloed, outcomes were opaque, and the public was largely unaware of the local realities of the foster care crisis.
We began as a small project to aggregate state-level reports into a single, accessible broadsheet. Today, we are a growing collective of data scientists, former foster youth, and advocates dedicated to transparency.
Why we built FosterData.
We started FosterData because the data existed — buried in PDFs, scattered across state agencies, locked behind jargon. AFCARS reports, DFPS data books, legislative analyses — all public, all critical, and all nearly impossible for the average person to find and understand.
In 2024, we began aggregating state and federal foster care data into clear, accessible stories. Today we track reports from DFPS, the Children's Bureau, and state agencies nationwide — translating numbers into narratives that advocates, policymakers, and families can actually use.
— The FosterData Team
“Data is just a heartbeat in digital form.”
Federal and state agencies — AFCARS, DFPS, ACF, and more.
Government publications distilled into accessible articles and data stories.
Children in U.S. foster care whose data we work to make visible.
Join the movement for clarity.
Whether you are a researcher, a prospective foster parent, or an ally, your engagement makes the ledger stronger.