Recent studies show that Alabama’s Black Belt region has some of the highest per capita rates of children in foster care in the state.
Close to 6,000 children in Alabama are in foster care as of this month, according to data from the state’s Department of Human Resources.
Counties with the Highest Foster Care Rates (Per Capita)
The top five counties with the highest rates of children in foster care, based on their populations, are:
- Hale County: 48 per 10,000 residents
- Conecuh County: 34 per 10,000 residents
- Perry County: 32 per 10,000 residents
- Cleburne County: 28 per 10,000 residents
- Greene County: 28 per 10,000 residents
Three of the top five counties (Hale, Perry, and Greene) are in the Black Belt, Alabama’s poorest and most rural region.
Broader Trends and Research
Nationwide studies show that poor communities have higher foster care rates, with children of color inordinately impacted.
In 2021, most children in the state entered foster care due to behavioral problems, according to a report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
It is unclear if that is still the case in 2026, but a recent study from the University of Georgia found that neighborhood poverty can negatively impact a child’s behavior, causing misconduct and lower educational achievements.
“This study highlights the persistent challenges faced by children born into poverty and underscores the critical need for social work interventions to support these marginalized children,” the report stated.
Poverty and Neglect
Poverty can also lead to child neglect in some cases, as children are removed from families that are unable to provide their basic needs.
In Alabama, neglect is defined in state law as: “negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child, including but not limited to the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, medical treatment, or supervision.”
Advocates would like to see policies that address some of the root causes of child placement, such as poverty.
Some states have changed their official definitions of neglect to include wording that specifies that impoverished conditions do not necessarily mean neglect.
