June 22, 2026 - ITASCA, IL--More than half of children who enter foster care are younger than 5 years old, and many face serious developmental challenges that are not addressed during the early years of life, according to a policy statement released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The policy statement, “Developmental Challenges of Young Children in Foster Care,” and an accompanying clinical report update previous AAP recommendations and are published in the July 2026 Pediatrics (published online June 22). The update reflects advances in the understanding of both prenatal and postnatal environmental influences on early brain development, a window of time when early intervention can improve health outcomes. The AAP observes that young children in foster care are far more likely than their peers to experience developmental delays, often driven by factors like prenatal substance exposure, neglect, trauma, disrupted caregiving, poverty and racism. Stable, nurturing relationships with responsive adults are critical to protecting brain development, according to research. The AAP recommends that foster care:
- Prioritize safety while supporting attachment and long‑term permanency.
- Ensure that all children entering foster care receive timely screenings for delays and access to early intervention.
- Ensure all children entering foster care are screened for prenatal alcohol and other substance exposures.
- Ensure all children entering foster care are screened for past traumatic exposures.Provide a strong medical home that coordinates care among pediatricians, foster parents, biological parents, child welfare agencies and courts.
- Enable broader system changes, including better data sharing, investment in early intervention, stronger kinship support, and policies that address poverty and racism to prevent unnecessary foster care placements and improve outcomes for children.
The AAP Council on Foster Care, Adoption and Kinship Care and Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics wrote the policy statement and clinical report. All AAP policies are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics. To request a copy of the embargoed policy statement and clinical report, contact AAP Public Affairs.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
