When children are removed from their biological families to foster care the resulting trauma often contributes to challenging behaviors and failed placements. Children who eventually go through many foster placements frequently become homeless or otherwise experience serious difficulties as adults.
Quality child care however helps support children who are dealing with this separation. Foster children who receive child care are 61% less likely to have a disrupted placement in any given year, 80% for preschool children (Meloy, Phillips). Availability of child care also makes foster placements easier to find since today most foster parents work.
Hennepin County understands these benefits and has funded child care placements for approximately 300 foster children with local tax dollars. They plan to add more children this year with new state funds approved in 2017.