Just the Facts Please

Understanding the statistics, myths and facts about adoption

On National Adoption Day, 2003 - Saturday, November 22 - an unprecedented number of courts across the country will open their doors to finalize the adoptions of hundreds of children from foster care and to celebrate and honor all families that adopt. Hundreds of children, parents, judges, volunteer lawyers, adoption professionals and child advocates will come together on this day and more than 1,000 adoptions of children from foster care will be finalized.

A coalition of national partners - The Alliance for Children's Rights, Casey Family Services, Children's Action Network, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Freddie Mac Foundation, and Target Corporation - are sponsoring National Adoption Day to draw special attention to foster children waiting for families and to celebrate all loving families who adopt.

Needs and Numbers
There are approximately 542,000 foster care children in the United States, and 126,000 of them are available for adoption. A recent national survey showed that four in 10 American adults have considered adoption. That translates into more than 81.5 million Americans. If only one out of 500 Americans adopted out of the foster care system, these children would have homes. Since 1987, the number of children in foster care has nearly doubled, and the average time a child remains in foster care has lengthened to nearly three years. Each year, approximately 20,000 children in foster care will age out of the system without ever being placed with a permanent family.

Myths & Facts
MYTH: All foster care children have some kind of physical, mental or emotional handicap; that's why they are classified as "special needs."
FACT: The term "special needs" is somewhat misleading, because it can mean that the child is older, a minority, or requires placement with his or her siblings. While some children are dealing with physical or emotional concerns, just like other children, they need the nurturing and support that a permanent family can provide. Many foster children are in the "system" because their birth parents weren't protective and nurturing caretakers Ñ not because the children did anything wrong.

MYTH: There's too much red tape and bureaucracy involved in adopting a child from foster care.
FACT: Congress has streamlined the foster care adoption process through enactment of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. This law ensures that children in foster care, who cannot be reunited with their birth parents, are freed for adoption and placed with permanent families as quickly as possible.

MYTH: There are not enough loving families available who want to adopt a foster child.
FACT: Many prospective adoptive parents may initially want to adopt an infant, often because they are unaware that there are older children who also need families. When they learn about an older child available for adoption, they often "fall in love" and realize the enormous impact they can have on that child's life. Older children can share their feelings about joining a new family, helping to make the adoption and transition process successful.

MYTH: Adoptive parents must be a 2003 version of Ozzie and Harriet.
FACT: Prospective adoptive parents do not have to be rich, married, own a home, or be of a certain race or age to become an adoptive parent. (One-third of adoptions from foster care are by single parents.) Patience, a good sense of humor, a love of children, and the commitment to be a good parent are the most important characteristics.

MYTH: Adopting a child from foster care is expensive.
FACT: Many prospective parents do not know that adopting children from foster care is virtually free, while private or international adoptions can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $30,000 or more. A growing number of companies and government agencies offer adoption assistance as part of their employee benefit packages, including time off for maternity/paternity leave, financial incentives and other benefits. In addition, Congress has made federal tax credits available for foster care adoptions to help offset required fees, court costs, legal and travel expenses. In June 2001, the President signed a revised adoption tax credit, which took effect in January 2003, to increase the amount of the credit to $10,000 for all adoptive families. Benefits such as these are enabling more families to adopt foster children into their homes. More information is available in the IRS Publication 968 "Tax Benefits for Adoption," which can be obtained by calling 1-800-829-3676 or visiting www.irs.ustreas.gov.

MYTH: Families don't receive support after the adoption is finalized.
FACT: Financial assistance does not end with the child's placement or adoption. The vast majority of children adopted from foster care are eligible for federal or state subsidies that help offset both short- and long-term costs associated with post-adoption adjustments. Such benefits (which vary by state) commonly include monthly cash subsidies, medical assistance and social services. More information about federal and state subsidy programs is available from the National Adoption Assistance Training, Resource, and Information Network helpline at (800) 470-6665.

MYTH: Children in foster care have too much "baggage."
FACT: This is perhaps the biggest myth of all. Foster children Ñ just like any children Ñ have enormous potential to thrive given love, patience and a stable environment. Just ask U.S. Senator Ben "Nighthorse" Campbell, Minnesota Viking Dante Culpepper, Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, or Miss USA 2000 Lynette Cole. They were all once foster children who were adopted by caring adults.

MYTH: It's too difficult to find information on how to adopt.
FACT: There are resources available to help potential parents take the first step towards adopting out of foster care. For more information, log on to nationaladoptionday.com, davethomasfoundation.org, adoptUSkids.org, or call (800) TO-ADOPT.