Getting Older

Between 1997 and 2002, the number of Illinois children in foster care dropped from 50,727 to 23,203. But foster children now tend to be older, and many have serious emotional or behavioral problems, experts say.


Notes: Figures are based on the number of children in foster care in June 1997 and December 2002.
Source: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services; analyzed by The Chicago Reporter