Securing Child Safety, Well-being, and Permanency Through Placement Stability in Foster Care

Placement instability is harming children in foster care. Nationally, two-thirds of children who are in foster care for more than a year experience three or more placements. While placement stability is often considered a well-being issue, it also raises safety concerns, especially in the context of rapid placement moves. Aside from the problems experienced before entering out-ofhome care, placement instability increases the risk of poor health, educational, and social-emotional outcomes. The recently enacted Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act requires states to enhance efforts to find permanent homes for children and ensure fewer disruptions in medical care and schooling. States will not be able to meet the stability requirements stipulated in Fostering Connections and secure better outcomes for children unless policies and practices to promote placement stability are strengthened.