The Facts

• In 2023, more than 527,000 children passed through the U.S. foster care system.
• On average, 4.5 children per 1,000 in the U.S. are in foster care.
• The leading reason children enter care is neglect — accounting for roughly one-third of all cases nationwide.

 

Kansas

• Approximately 6,000 youth are currently in foster care in Kansas.
• About 3,000 children enter foster care each year.
• Kansas has one of the highest foster care entry rates in the nation — around 4.36 per 1,000 children (compared to 2.37 nationally).
• About 35% of removals are related to neglect (lack of supervision, physical neglect, or medical neglect).

 

Missouri

• On any given day, more than 12,000–13,000 children are in foster care in Missouri.
• Each year, roughly 19,500 children are served by the foster care system across the state.
• The majority of removals are due to neglect, parental substance abuse, or unsafe home environments.

 

National Context

• More than half a million children experience foster care in the U.S. each year.
• Nearly 20,000 youth age out of the system annually without permanent family connections.
• The first 48 hours in care are the most vulnerable — many arrive with nothing but the clothes they are wearing.

 

Care Package Inbounds Response

Care Package Inbound (CPI) was created to restore dignity and hope to teens in foster care. We provide age- and gender-specific backpacks filled with essentials like clothing, pajamas, toiletries, a journal, a blanket, and a comfort item. Since founding, CPI has delivered more than 1,600 backpacks to youth across Kansas City and beyond — each one a message that they are seen, valued, and not alone.

 

What To Know

• In Kansas, children enter foster care at nearly twice the national average — our work meets a critical need.
• Missouri serves nearly 20,000 youth annually, underscoring the scale of opportunity for impact.
• Neglect and instability remain the most common reasons for removal — Care Package Inbound provides immediate comfort during those first difficult days.
• Every backpack gives a teen dignity, belonging, and the belief that their story matters.