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Number of foster children on rise
Georgia one of 5 states struggling with increase
foster
This July 15, 2014 file photo shows a photograph of Eric Dean, with a broken arm, placed on folders of exhibits and documents presented in court in Glenwood, Minn., relating to the May 2014 trial of Amanda Peltier in the death of her 4-year-old stepson, Eric. In 2014, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune ran an in-depth story reporting how Eric's plight drew little scrutiny despite 15 separate abuse reports being lodged with social workers. In response, Gov. Mark Dayton ordered closer oversight of child-protection decisions and formed a task force that recommended dozens of steps to place more emphasis on child safety. - photo by Associated Press
NEW YORK — The number of U.S. children in foster care is climbing after a sustained decline, but just five states account for nearly two-thirds of the recent increase. Reasons range from creation of a new child-abuse hotline to widespread outrage over the deaths of children who'd been repeatedly abused. Addictions among parents are another major factor.The most dramatic increase has been in Georgia, where the foster-care population skyrocketed from about 7,600 in September 2013 to 13,266 last month.
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