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FOSTER CARE STATISTICS |
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Currently, there are approximately 425,000 children in foster care in the United States. It's estimated that 115,000 are eligible for adoption. |
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In 2009, about 57,466 children were adopted from foster care. |
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69% of parents who adopt from foster care are married couples, 31% are single-parent families. |
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Median age of child in foster care: 8.1 years. |
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Race/ethnicity of children in foster care: 38% Caucasian, 30% African-American, 22% Hispanic, 10% other. |
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The average child in foster care goes through three different placements and stays in the system for about 30 months. |
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Each year, about 26,000 children age out of foster care. |
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ARTICLES ON FOSTER ADOPTION AND FOST/ADOPTION |
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A Child to Love
In honor of National Adoption Month, this November, AF takes an inside look at adopting a child from the foster care system. Four families share their foster adoption journeys, and celebrity fost-adopt mom Nia Vardalos talks one-on-one with Adoptive Families editors.
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A Delicate Balance
In this excerpt from her moving memoir, Another Mother, Sarah Gerstenzang relates her often painful, yet life-affirming journey as mother to a waiting child.
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New Hope for Kids in Foster Care, by Madelyn Freundlich
Thanks to changes in the law, more parents are taking another look at foster adoption.
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Special Delivery, by Kate McKee Robertson
At first, we envisioned welcoming a baby into our home. But we soon discovered that adopting older children was right for us.
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Keeping Our Children Connected, by Linda M.
We've worked hard to establish and maintain contact with the families that came before us.
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Keys to Easing Adjustment, by Jayne Schooler
They do not want to be different from their peers. Giving them the skill to answer intrusive and embarrassing questions is critical.
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Fostering Love, by Rosemary Shulman
The emotional risks were daunting. But foster adoption was still the best option for me.
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The Day That Glowed as Bright as the Sun, by Justin James Laing
A 10-year-old recalls the day a foster family became a forever family for him and his sister.
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Changing My Name to Mom, by Annie Kassof
As she prepares for the adoption of her third child, the author knows it is not just she who must be ready, but also the 9-year-old girl she's fallen in love with.
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When One Parent Is Rejected, by Mary Hopkins-Best
How to cope when a newly adopted toddler rejects you.
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Brotherly (and Sisterly) Love, by María R. Gómez
When the courts place children in foster care, siblings have only each other to turn to and count on.
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Helping Your Child Say Goodbye, by Kathy Sullivan
Strong connections to the past will allow your child to embrace the future.
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Why Choose Fost/adoption?
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ARTICLES ON OLDER CHILD ADOPTION |
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Special Delivery, by Kate McKee Robertson
At first, we envisioned welcoming a baby into our home. But we soon discovered that adopting older children was right for us.
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What We Wish We Had Known, by Judy and Sara Myerson
A mom and her daughter share lessons learned about older child adoptions.
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Beyond the Barriers, by Mary M. Johnston
What we have learned about older child adoptions.
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When Food Becomes a Battleground, by Barbara Holtan
Parents must realize that a child who rejects food isn't rejecting them.
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Helping Your Child Say Goodbye, by Kathy Sullivan
Strong connections to the past will allow your child to embrace the future.
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A Healthy Attachment, by JoAnne Solchany, Ph.D., R.N.
Whatever your child's history, responsive parenting is key to a secure, loving relationship.
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ARTICLES ON FOSTER PARENTING |
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Guarding Tess: A Father's Story, by Timothy S. McCarty
I learned that the ultimate gift of love comes not from the receiver, but from the giver.
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The Legalities of Foster Care, by Judith Sperling-Newton and Jason R. Smith
Legal Q & A.
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BOOKS FOR PARENTS |
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A Guidebook for Raising Foster Children, by Susan McNair Blatt, M.D. |
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Nobody's Children: Abuse and Neglect, Foster Drift, and the Adoption Alternative, by Elizabeth Bartholet |
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Telling The Truth To Your Adopted Or Foster Child: Making Sense Of The Past, by Betsy Keefer and Jayne E. Schooler |
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Parenting the Hurt Child: Helping Adoptive Families Heal And Grow, by Gregory Keck and Regina M. Kupecky |
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The Lost Children of Wilder: The Epic Struggle to Change Foster Care, by Nina Bernstein |
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BOOKS FOR KIDS AND TEENS |
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Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis |
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Parents Wanted, by George Harrar |
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Grover G. Graham and Me, by Mary Quattlebaum |
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The Ocean Within, by V. M. Caldwell |
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The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson |
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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FOSTER CARE AND FOST/ADOPTION, VISIT: |
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North American Council on Adoptable Children |
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AdoptUSKids |
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The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption |
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National Foster Parent Association |
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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OLDER-CHILD ADOPTION, VISIT: |
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You Gotta Believe! |
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Older Child Adoption |
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