Custody relinquishment occurs when children enter foster care primarily to access behavioral health or disability services, rather than due to abuse. Parents may do this because services are unavailable or not covered by insurance. Reasons include concerns over the child’s safety at home or feeling they’ve exhausted options. Research estimated that nationwide, about 25,000 children entered foster care this way between February 2017 and February 2019, constituting 5% of entries. Characteristics of these children include ages 3-17, no abuse indication, initial placement in congregate care, and behavioral health or disability factors. In cases resembling relinquishment, most children were aged 13-17, White, and male, with nearly all diagnosed with behavioral health conditions post-entry.
