Foster Care and Adoption FAQs and Myths

Fact: There are over 100,000 children who are "legally-free" and available for adoption in America.

Fact: Roughly 50% of children who are fostered go on to be adopted by their foster care parents.

Fact:  In the most recent statistics available, 32% of children adopted from foster care were adopted by single parent households or unmarried couples, which includes lesbian, gay and transgender families.

Fact: The cost of each type of adoption - domestic, international, through foster care - varies significantly, and many adoptions are not as expensive as many believe.  In fact, finalizing an adoption through foster care may cost very little fees. The Child Welfare Information Gateway  breaks down these costs in greater detail here.

Fact: In many cases, your age does not prohibit you from adopting. In some cases, it's the age range between the child and the adoptive parent that matters more.
Specifics vary per state.

Follow up Fact: Currently, 25% of adopted children are living with parents over the age of 55 years old.
In many cases, your age does not prohibit you from adopting.  Specifics vary per state.

Fact: THIS IS A BIG MISCONCEPTION.
Children who are in foster care are there because they were removed from a home where there was neglect, abuse or abandonment.  Children are not placed in foster care because of what they've done. They are placed in foster care because they were not being parented safely or adequately; they are in foster care through no fault of their own. Children in foster care have experienced a wide range of situations - some have just left their home for the first time, others are accompanied by siblings, some have experienced unspeakable abuse, others have developmental or educational delays and yet others have suffered the shock of losing their birth parents or guardians.
There is no one-size-fits-all foster child; they are as varied as humans beings are.

• Here is a long list of common myths debunked, from AdoptUSKids.org
• Here is another great Myths vs Reality list from The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
• Here is an extraordinarily specific document, broken down by state, listing detailed requirements about who may adopt and who may be adopted, from Childwelfare.gov.