Re-entry Rate by State

What the FY2022 Re-entry Rate Data Reveals

Across all 51 reporting states and the District of Columbia, re-entry rate averaged 8.0% in FY2022. The best-performing state — Vermont — recorded 6.1%, while the weakest result was 10.2%. For this metric, lower values indicate stronger outcomes for children and families, because % re-entering foster care within 12 months of exit. The gap between best and worst — 4.1% — shows how much practice, policy, and funding differ across jurisdictions even under the same federal AFCARS reporting framework.

Re-entry Rate is one of eight core performance indicators PlainFoster tracks from the federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). States submit this data annually to the Administration for Children and Families. The FY2022 reporting cycle covers the federal fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. State-level variation reflects differences in caseload sizes, caseworker staffing ratios, availability of family support and kinship resources, court system throughput, and state statutory definitions of reunification, adoption, and permanency. No single metric captures child welfare performance in isolation — PlainFoster combines reunification, adoption, aging out, placement stability, length of stay, re-entry, timely permanency, and maltreatment recurrence into each state's letter grade.

When reading the rankings table below, bear in mind that states operating under consent decrees, recent legislative reforms, or significant caseload shifts may show year-over-year changes that don't reflect long-term trends. A state ranking high on reunification may rank lower on placement stability, and vice versa — trade-offs are common in child welfare policy. Percentages express the share of applicable children or cases meeting the criterion. This data is informational and does not substitute for child welfare agency consultation, state caseworker guidance, or legal advice in specific foster care situations. Use it to understand how your state compares and where federal and state-level improvement efforts are most needed.