IMPROVING

FOSTER CARE

Are Older Youth

an ISSUE ?

Fragile Families NETWORK 2014

Picture from http://blog.heritage.org/2013/03/20/house-makes-case-for-improving-foster-care-and-adoption/

Are older youth an ISSUE? Has foster care become a “trap door” rather than an

opportunity to provide safe, stable homes for abused

children of all ages?

Fragile Families NETWORK 2014

Older Children

▪ Between 1987 and 1997 there was a surge in the number of children placed into the child welfare system.

▪ The Adoption Incentives Program was created under the Adoptions and Safe Family Act (ASFA) to provide states with a financial incentives to increase adoptions.

▪ After passage of the ASFA, adoptions of younger children surpassed those of older children who were labeled “unadoptable” label because of their age and/or special needs.

Fragile Families NETWORK 2014

Aging Out of Care

More than 26,000 children aged out of the foster care system in 2011.

▪ 20% did not have a high school diploma or GED

▪ Youth who aged out of care were food stamp participants

- 68% girls - 42% boys

Kelly Rosati of Focus on the Family

Fragile Families NETWORK 2014

Adoption

More than 81 million Americans have

considered adoption.

If 500 adults adopted, every waiting child in foster care would have a permanent family.

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Fragile Families NETWORK 2014

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Model

Child Focused Recruitment Strategy

The focus is on understanding each

child’s history, experiences and needs

in order to find an appropriate adoptive family.

To learn more about this model, visit: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/about-foster-care-

adoption/research/the-model/Fragile Families NETWORK 2014