Shortage of foster parents seen as U.S. trend

States are facing shortages of foster parents, despite a nationwide decline in the number of children in need of foster care.

Officials in states including California, Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Florida report having fewer foster homes available than needed. But a study released this month by the Department of Health and Human Services shows that the number of children in foster care has dropped from 460,416 in September of 2008 to 423,773 in 2009 — and is down from about 523,000 in 2002.

READ MORE:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-09-23-fostercare23_ST_N.htm