WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a new national initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of foster homes across the country. The program, titled A Home for Every Child, seeks to improve the ratio of licensed foster homes to children in foster care.

According to the press release, the current national average is 57 licensed foster homes for every 100 children in foster care. ACF officials said the shortage has contributed to situations in which children stay in office spaces, older youth are placed in hotels, and siblings are housed separately due to limited availability rather than safety concerns.

The initiative’s goal is for every state to reach a foster-home-to-child ratio greater than 1:1. ACF plans to support states by increasing recruitment of foster families, prioritizing kinship placements, and improving retention of current caregivers. The plan also includes efforts to reduce entries into foster care through preventive services and faster pathways to permanency.

Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams said the initiative is intended to ensure that adequate foster homes are available when children need placement. ACF will use its $11.4 billion annual child-welfare funding to support the effort and will provide states with flexibility and technical assistance to implement local strategies.

The initiative also includes quarterly progress reviews that will track entries into foster care, newly licensed foster homes, and retention rates. Officials said the approach is designed to give states tools to strengthen child-welfare systems and expand housing options for children who require out-of-home care.