A Home for Every Child Case Studies: Briefs from Five States with Some of the Highest Home-to-Child Ratio

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) launched A Home for Every Child to help ensure there is at least one available foster home for every child and youth in foster care. Achieving this goal involves more than recruiting foster parents; it also means supporting relatives and other caregivers, helping children reach permanent homes more quickly, and preventing unnecessary entries into foster care. This series of case studies examines five states (Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, and Vermont) that had some of the highest ratios of available foster homes to children in care in 2025. The studies highlight state policies and practices that can help increase foster home availability and reduce the number of children entering foster care.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, these case studies offer insights into how community partnerships and family support services can complement efforts to strengthen family stability and prevent child welfare involvement. Practitioners can explore opportunities to coordinate with child welfare agencies and community organizations, connect families to needed resources, and support caregivers facing financial or other challenges. Learning from these states can help TANF programs identify opportunities to strengthen prevention efforts, support families before crises escalate, and contribute to better outcomes for children and families.