Study Reveals High Rates of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Among Youth in Foster Care

A recent study revealed concerning findings about the high rates of intellectual and developmental disabilities among youth in the foster care system in the United States. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics, found that the population of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the U.S. foster care system had grown substantially to almost 40,000, which accounted for nearly 9% of the total youth in foster care. The study also highlighted disparities in foster care involvement among youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, emphasizing the urgency of developing targeted interventions and support systems to improve the outcomes of this vulnerable population.