Wyoming has too many children who are in institutionalized care versus foster care. That’s according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation that says 27 percent of kids in state custody end up in group homes of institutions as opposed to foster parents. The national average is 14 percent.
The report finds that teens in particular are less likely to end up with foster families. The Casey Foundation’s Tracey Feild says there needs to be a fundamental shift in how the state deals with children who are removed from their homes.
“We do our best for children today and into the future when we work to keep them at home whenever possible…safely of course…with their parents or caring relative or foster family.”
The report recommends that Wyoming expand the foster family pool, work to strengthen families, and place time restrictions on the amount of time a child can be institutionalized.