How California reduced foster care without risking kids (Opinion)

How California reduced foster care without risking kids (Opinion)
- March 1, 2026
- Kelley Fong, sociology, explains in this piece for The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee and MSN
-----
"Today, approximately 18,000 fewer California children are in foster care than five years ago — an astonishing 32% drop. In some places, the declines are even steeper: Los Angeles County, for example, has halved its foster care population.
A common trope in child welfare is that foster care reductions come at the expense of child safety. But this is a false choice, not borne out by the evidence. California has made important progress toward correcting its over-reliance on foster care and can continue doing so without endangering children."
Continue reading: https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article314851778.html#storylink=cpy
-----
Would you like to get more involved with the social sciences? Email us at communications@socsci.uci.edu to connect.
Share on:
Related News Items
- Careet RightRepublican lawmakers' plans for foster care don't address the roots of the problem with the system
- Careet RightStudy: No link between foster care entry rates and child maltreatment deaths
- Careet RightTax changes in the federal budget bill are a disaster for many American families
- Careet RightFong and de Barros named 2025 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellows
- Careet RightFong named 2025 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow