At the outset is an overview of what developmental theory and research has demonstrated about “universals” in child development, beginning with a definition of core concepts in the phenomenon of resilience, followed by descriptions of risk and protective processes that are pervasive across diverse types of life adversities, with large and long-standing effects. This chapter is structured in the following sections. With the goal of systematically addressing inequities, the broad question to address is, “For those children who are at risk for negative outcomes, what can be done-guided by science-based evidence-to expediently and effectively move them toward positive developmental trajectories?” In other words, how can the playing field be leveled so that all children have the best possible opportunity to flourish and thrive in terms of their social-emotional, behavioral adjustment? Read about the support available to adoptive families.The focus of this chapter is on how to best foster children's healthy psychosocial development, emotional adjustment, and physical health using what science has shown about risk and resilience among children and families in high-risk contexts.There are more than 5,000 children photolisted on our website. Read more about the benefits of adopting siblings. Even when siblings have been separated in foster care, the goal is to find them a safe, permanent home where they can grow up together. Research suggests that siblings placed together experience lower risk of failed placements, fewer moves, and many emotional benefits. In an ideal world, the answer would be yes. These teens need support, guidance, and family now and for the rest of their lives.Īre brothers and sisters always adopted together? That is the situation facing thousands of young people who face aging out of foster care alone every year. Imagine being a teenager grappling with the transition into adolescence and independence all alone. Why would I want to adopt an older child? I see a lot of older children in photolistings like the one on AdoptUSKids. Physical, mental, or emotional disabilitiesĪ child with special needs should not be confused with a child who requires special education.Being part of a sibling group needing to be placed together as one unit.Having a particular racial or ethnic background.The term “special needs” simply refers to children who qualify for adoption assistance-ongoing governmental medical and/or financial support after adoption occurs-due to specific factors or conditions such as: I have heard that many children in foster care have “special needs.” What does that mean? Of the 400,000 children in foster care, approximately 117,000 are waiting to be adopted. How many children are awaiting adoption in the United States? Following are our responses to some of the questions that are frequently asked about the children in foster care. Frequently asked questions about children in foster careĪdoptUSKids foster care and adoption resource specialists respond to hundreds of questions about foster care and adoption, and an active community of families is always exchanging information on our Facebook page. Young people talk about how being adopted changed their lives. More than half of the children in foster care will be reunified with their parents or primary caregivers, and nearly one-quarter will be adopted, many by their foster parents.Įach year, approximately 20,000 youth will age out of the foster care system when they turn 18 or 21, or when they finish high school (depending upon the state in which they live.) These children are at increased risk of poor educational outcomes, experiencing homelessness, and being unemployed. The median amount of time that a child spends in foster care is just over a year. Learn about the children in foster care and the qualities of successful families by clicking through our short, interactive modules. In other ways, foster children are no different from children who aren’t in foster care: they are learning and growing, like to play and hang out with friends their age, and need the love and stability a permanent home provides. All of these children have experienced loss and some form of trauma. The average age of a child in foster care is more than 8 years old, and there are slightly more boys than girls.Ĭhildren and youth enter foster care because they have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by their parents or guardians. They range in age from infants to 21 years old (in some states). According to the most recent federal data, there are currently more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States.
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