There are four ways children can leave foster care for permanent homes: Reunification with birth parents, adoption, guardianship and placement with relatives.
Adoption is a legal process that permanently transfers parental responsibility from a child's birth parents to their adoptive parents. After reunification, it is the next most secure permanency option for children in foster care.
In 2017, 24% of children exiting foster care — around 58,200 kids in the United States — were adopted. More than 80% of these children were between the ages of 1 and 10, and more than half — 54% — were between the ages of 1 and 5.
Find state and national data related to adoption for children in foster care on the KIDS COUNT Data Center.
This report outlines the key provisions of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, and is intended as a guide to assist people and agencies who want to implement the new act to help improve the lives of children.
This 55-page guide gives facilitators the script, tools and tips necessary to educate caregivers of children exposed to domestic violence. It packages three hours of training into a thoughtful, comprehensive and no-frills instructional playbook that explores what domestic violence is, how it impacts children and exactly what caregivers can do to help this fragile population heal.
This report illustrates how the Annie E. Casey Foundation collaborated with New York City, Louisiana, Maine and Virginia to identify five levers of change, reduce the use of congregate care and improve other performance indicators. The report also includes data on key improvements in each jurisdiction.
This paper provides the first systematic examination of data regarding children in foster care collected by the U. S. Census Bureau.
This study explores the stories and support systems of 29 individuals who recently exited foster care. Readers will learn how these participants feel about family, what their adult relationships look like and what supports they want, and need, as they navigate life after foster care.
When youths "age out" of foster care programs, they do not possess the skills to thrive on their own. This guide provides suggestions on ways you can invest in foster kids aging out, questions for general discussion and where to find additional information and resources.
This document explains why and how the Casey Foundation set out to improve child welfare systems and practices across the country and what the Foundation learned in the process.
This study by the GAO analyzes the major factors influencing the proportion of African American children in care and the extent to which states and localities have implemented promising strategies. The study also examines was in which federal polices may have influenced African American representation in foster care.
This paper reviews the many programs and activities offered to increase and enhance the life skills of youth in care.
Audience Group
We want vulnerable kids to have a bright future. That’s why we work tirelessly to advance solutions that improve the well-being of kids in America.
