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What happens to California’s “Hard-to-Place” foster children?

19 Dec What happens to California’s “Hard-to-Place” foster children?

Posted at 18:54h in No unwarranted governmental interference, Parents need jury trial rights in California, Promote settlement in our family courts by

Children labeled “hard to place” often end up in state‑run group homes or in foster placements that are unsafe or poorly supervised— including placements made by organizations such as the Giaretto Institute and EMQ. Conditions in these settings became significantly worse during the pandemic. Many children experienced:

  • Loss of stability and sudden moves out of foster homes
  • Disrupted services, therapy, and educational support
  • Emotional and mental strain when milestones like graduation ceremonies were canceled
  • Increased school dropout rates among older foster youth, leaving them more vulnerable to illness, including Covid‑19  

California has the largest foster‑care population in the country, yet the number of children in the system has been steadily declining since 2018, after the Family First Prevention Services Act was enacted. This federal law was designed to push states—including California—to prioritize placing children with extended family whenever possible.

During the pandemic, there was widespread concern that child abuse was going unreported because children were isolated from teachers, relatives, and other mandated reporters. But the data tells a different story. California continues to see a significant decline in foster‑care entries. In 2024, 17,336 children entered the system, while 20,442 exited it.

So what happens to children who are difficult to place in foster care? Ideally, a capable family member is now finally allowed to care for them—something the Family First Prevention Services Act was intended to support from the beginning.