Currently, nearly 4,000 kids are in foster care in the state of Montana. Sadly, only a small fraction of homes are available for those youth. In the last 10 years, the number of kids in the system has doubled in our state, shocking an infrastructure that was unprepared to adequately absorb such a large influx of children.
For many, the numbers are startling. Truthfully, the amount of kids in foster care are growing exponentially across the nation due to parental drug use, abuse, and neglect. In Montana, budget reductions resulting in limited resources for vulnerable children and families has only further complicated the matter.
Across the nation, a lack of homes has resulted in many foster care children living in group homes or shelters. Currently, more than 58,000 children are placed in institutions. In Montana, more than 1 in 9 foster children are living in hospitals, group homes, or in shelter care.
Sadly, the average child in foster care will have two or more placements within the 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 isn’t uncommon for children to move hundreds of miles away to find placement.
Every child deserves a safe, stable, and loving home. 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.
