Photographer: Rhanda Crum (TX)

Tonight, somewhere in America, a child will fall asleep wondering where they belong.

Another will pack their belongings into a trash bag. Another will age out of the system without ever hearing the words, “you’ll always have a home here.” Another will wait. And in 2026, while foster care systems across the country continue facing staffing shortages, financial strain, placement crises, and caregiver burnout, more than 330,000 children remain in foster care nationwide. Experts estimate that nearly half of all children in foster care have some form of disability, developmental delay, chronic medical condition, or significant mental health need, making the demand for specialized foster families, advocates, and support systems more urgent than ever. But behind every statistic is a real person and a life that deserves more than being placed somewhere with a bed.