The number of children in Russell County who have been placed in foster care has taken a significant jump in recent years, according to a new report.
New data released from Kentucky Youth Advocates shows from 2019-2021, Russell County had a rate of 77.1 per 1,000 children placed into foster care.
That’s a significant jump from years 2014-2016 when that rate was 35.9 per 1,000.
Looking at where that stacks up with other Kentucky counties, only 20 counties in Kentucky have a higher rate.
Looking at neighboring counties, Casey County has one of the lowest rates in the state at 18.3 per 1,000.
Adair County had a rate of 44 per 1,000; Wayne County had a rate of 46.6 per 1,000; and Cumberland County had a rate of 74.3 per 1,000.
Pulaski County was higher than Russell County at 83.3 per 1,000, which was 105th of 120 counties.
Clinton County had the highest rate of neighboring counties at 85.4 per 1,000, which was 106th of 120 counties.
Across the state of Kentucky, the rate of children placed in foster care was 53.7 per 1,000.
