Figure 1. Age of foster caregiver.

It is a bar graph that shows percentage of foster caregivers in the NSCAW sample by age range. The horizontal axis shows the age-range labels for five bars: 18 to 29 years, 30 to 39 years, 40 to 49 years, 50 to 59 years, and 60 years and above.The vertical axis is labeled “Percent.”

The first bar shows that 8 percent of foster caregivers were 18 to 29 years old. The second bar shows that 29 percent were 30 to 39 years old. The third bar shows that 32 percent were 40 to 49 years old. The fourth bar shows that 19 percent were 50 to 59 years old. The fifth bar shows that 11 percent were 60 years old or older. (back to Figure 1)

Figure 2. Current caregiver by age and setting.

It is a bar graph that shows the percentage of each type of setting in the NSCAW sample by age range of the caregivers. The horizontal axis shows caregiver age-range labels for five sets of bars: 18 to 29 years, 30 to 39 years, 40 to 49 years, 50 to 59 years, and 60 years and above.Each set comprises three bars; a legend indicates that the first bar in each set represents a non-kin foster care setting; the second, a kinship foster care setting; the third, a group care setting. The vertical axis is labeled “Percent” and refers to percentage of caregivers of a given age in each setting.

In the first set, the first bar shows that 4 percent of non-kin foster care settings had caregivers aged 18 to 29 years. The second bar in this set shows that 1 percent of kinship foster settings had caregivers aged 18 to 29 years. The third bar shows that 39 percent of group care settings had caregivers aged 18 to 29 years.

In the second set, the first bar shows that 24 percent of non-kin foster care settings had caregivers aged 30 to 39 years. The second bar in this set shows that 24 percent of kinship foster settings had caregivers aged 30 to 39 years. The third bar shows that 37 percent of group care settings had caregivers aged 30 to 39 years.

In the third set, the first bar shows that 36 percent of non-kin foster care settings had caregivers aged 40 to 49 years. The second bar in this set shows that 34 percent of kinship foster settings had caregivers aged 40 to 49 years. The third bar shows that 14 percent of group care settings had caregivers aged 40 to 49 years.

In the fourth set, the first bar shows that 25 percent of non-kin foster care settings had caregivers aged 50 to 59 years. The second bar in this set shows that 21 percent of kinship foster settings had caregivers aged 50 to 59 years. The third bar shows that 6  percent of group care settings had caregivers aged 50 to 59 years.

In the fifth set, the first bar shows that 11 percent of non-kin foster care settings had caregivers aged 60 years or older. The second bar in this set shows that 20 percent of kinship foster settings had caregivers aged 60 years or older. The third bar shows that 3  percent of group care settings had caregivers aged 60 years or older. (back to Figure 2)

Figure 3. Ethnicity and race of foster caregivers.

It is a bar graph that shows the percentage of foster caregivers in the NSCAW sample by race/ethnicity. The horizontal axis is labeled with four race/ethnicity categories: African American, non-Hispanic; white, non-Hispanic; Hispanic, and other. The vertical axis is labeled “Percent.” The first bar shows that 42 percent of foster caregivers were African American, non-Hispanic. The second bar shows that 36 percent were white, non-Hispanic. The third bar shows that 15 percent were Hispanic. The fourth bar shows that 7 percent were “Other.” (back to Figure 3)

Figure 4. Education of foster caregivers.

It is a bar graph that shows the percentage of foster caregivers in the NSCAW sample by level of education attained. The horizontal axis is labeled with five education levels: no degree; high school/GED; associate, vocational, technical; bachelor’s degree or higher; and other. The vertical axis is labeled “Percent.” The first bar shows that 19 percent of foster caregivers had no degree. The second bar shows that 37 percent had a high school education or GED. The third bar shows that 24 percent had an associate degree or had vocational or technical education. The fourth bar shows that 14 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher degree. The fifth bar shows that 5 percent were categorized as “Other.” (back to Figure 4)

Figure 5. Number of years of experience as foster parents, kin and non-kin foster caregivers.

It is a bar graph that shows percentage of kinship and percentage of non-kin foster caregivers in the NSCAW sample for each of six ranges of years of experience as a foster caregiver. The horizontal axis is labeled with the six ranges of years of experience as a foster caregiver: less than 1 year, 1 year, 2 years, 3 to 5 years, 6 to 10 years, and 10 or more years. The vertical axis is labeled “Percent.” A legend indicates that the first bar in each of the six sets of bars represents non-kin foster caregivers and that the second bar in each set represents kinship foster caregivers.

In the first set, the first bar shows that 11 percent of non-kin foster caregivers had less than 1 year of experience as a foster caregiver. The second bar in this set shows that 8 percent of kinship foster caregivers had less than a year of experience as a foster caregiver.

In the second set, the first bar shows that 10 percent of non-kin foster caregivers had one year of experience as a foster caregiver. The second bar in this set shows that 45 percent of kinship foster caregivers had one year of experience as a foster caregiver.

In the third set, the first bar shows that 13 percent of non-kin foster caregivers had 2 years of experience as a foster caregiver. The second bar in this set shows that 19 percent of kinship foster caregivers had 2 years of experience as a foster caregiver.

In the fourth set, the first bar shows that 27 percent of non-kin foster caregivers had 3 to 5 years of experience as a foster caregiver. The second bar in this set shows that 15 percent of kinship foster caregivers had 3 to 5 years of experience as a foster caregiver.

In the fifth set, the first bar shows that 24 percent of non-kin foster caregivers had 6 to 10 years of experience as a foster caregiver. The second bar in this set shows that 5 percent of kinship foster caregivers had 6 to 10 years of experience as a foster caregiver.

In the sixth set, the first bar shows that 14 percent of non-kin foster caregivers had 10 or more years of experience as a foster caregiver. The second bar in this set shows that 6 percent of kinship foster caregivers had 10 or more years of experience as a foster caregiver. (back to Figure 5)

Figure 6. Children’s perceptions of their foster family by setting.

It is a bar graph that compares non-kin foster caregivers, kinship foster caregivers, and group caregivers in terms of whether children in the NSCAW sample liked the people they were living with and whether they felt like part of the family. The horizontal axis shows the following labels for two sets of bars with three bars each: “Like who they are living with” and “Feel like part of the family.” The vertical axis is labeled “Percent.” A legend shows that the first bar in each set represents non-kin foster care; the second, kinship foster care; the third, group care.

In the first set, the first bar shows that 91 percent of children in non-kin foster care liked the people they were living with. The second bar shows that 97 percent of children in kinship foster care liked the people they were living with. The third bar shows that 73 percent of children in group care liked the people they were living with.

In the second set, the first bar shows that 90 percent of children in non-kin foster care felt like part of the family. The second bar shows that 95 percent of children in kinship foster care felt like part of the family. The third bar shows that 96 percent of children in group care felt like part of the family. (back to Figure 6)

Figure 7. Children's Placement Preferences.

It is a bar graph that shows how foster children older than age 6 responded to a question about where they would prefer to live in the future. The horizontal axis shows the following labels for five bars: "Biological Mother," "Biological Father,", "Current Foster Parent," "Grandmother," and "Aunts or Uncles." The vertical axis is labeled "Percent."

The first bar shows that 48 percent of children in foster care would prefer to live with their biological mother. The second bar shows that 19 percent of children foster care would prefer to live with their biological father. The third bar shows that 16 percent of children in foster care would prefer to live with their current foster parent. The fourth bar shows that 12 percent of children in foster care would prefer to live with a grandmother. The fifth bar shows that 13 percent of children in foster care would prefer to live with an aunt or uncle. (back to Figure 7 )