The Department of Children and Families licensed nearly 1,400 new foster care homes last year.
There are now more than 4,800 providers statewide, caring for roughly 10,000 kids at any given time.
The net number of new foster parents is 211.
Each year, more foster families are needed as others end up adopting children or have other changes in their life situation making them no longer able to do the job.
DCF spokesperson Michelle Glady says foster kids who are in state care through no fault of their own need families to bring stability to their lives.
“Children need to learn from positive role models. A foster parent can really be a champion in that child’s life. They can really teach a child what it’s like to be in a healthy home environment, in a way that a child may not be able to experience with their own family.”
The number of Florida children in the state's foster-care system has reached its highest level since 2008 -- driven by both a spike in the number of kids being removed from their homes and a drop in the number being discharged after a stint in foster care.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, you can contact DCF at www.myFLfamilies.com/fosteringsuccess.