JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — New data from the nonprofit Fostering Media Connections shows that the number of licensed foster homes in Florida dropped by 23% from 2023 to 2025.
“The number of kids coming into foster care is going up and then you have the number of foster homes available going down,” said Ashley Meissner, Director of Family Based Treatment at Daniel. “That creates a very significant problem.”
Daniel is a child serving agency that’s been in Jacksonville since 1884.
Meissner said several factors could be contributing to the decrease in licensed foster homes in Florida.
“We really saw a decrease during COVID where people just weren’t wanting more people coming in and out of their homes - which makes sense,” Meissner said. “But rebuilding post-COVID has been very challenging for us.”
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Daniel is trying to recruit new foster families by holding foster parent training classes and educating people about the need.
“Let’s have a conversation about what it would look like to become a foster parent because once we start having a conversation, it becomes less of an idea and more of like, ‘wait a second, I could maybe even do this,’” Meissner said. “The impact is profound.”
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Daniel says some of the benefits to becoming a foster parent is that the medical care for the child is covered, and you receive a stipend to take care of the child.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a foster parent or what services Daniel offers, click here: Mission & Values | Daniel Kids
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