Iowa Foster Care Data
FY2022 · ACF AFCARS Report · 4,234 children in care
53.6%
Reunification Rate
#12 nationally
27.4%
Adoption Rate
#14 nationally
6.8%
Aging Out Rate
17.3 mo
Median Length of Stay
5.9
Per 1,000 Children
Iowa's FY2022 Outcomes, in National Context
Iowa earned a B grade for FY2022, driven by a 53.6% reunification rate that sits modestly 3.1 points above the national average (#12 of 51 states). Its adoption rate of 27.4% is narrowly 1.8 points above the national figure.
States Ranked Near Iowa
The closest peers to Iowa's #12 reunification-rate rank.
Performance Metrics
Placement Types
Child Maltreatment, NCANDS 2022
Source: HHS National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System HHS National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System
46,840
Reports
6,234
Victims
8.7
Per 1,000 children
Iowa children returned to a parent or primary caregiver
Children exiting foster care via adoption in Iowa
Youth exiting foster care at age 18+ without permanency
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children are in foster care in Iowa?
4,234 children as of FY2022 -- a per-capita rate of 5.9 per 1,000 children.
What is Iowa's foster care grade?
A B, reflecting a #12-of-51 national rank on reunification (53.6%).
What is the adoption rate in Iowa?
Iowa adopts out 27.4% of exits -- #14 of 51 nationally.
How does Iowa compare to other states on aging out?
6.8% of youth age out without permanency -- 0.8 points below the national rate.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainFoster is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.