How many children that are put up for adoption or go into foster care actually get a loving family?
It’s not that high. I was in foster care, I know… really, I do, and these people who are saying things like “90%” and higher have no idea what they’re talking about. Historically, the number of children in foster care has increased, while the proportion of children in foster care who are free for adoption has remained constant. In 1977, as in 1997, approximately 20% of the children in foster care were available for adoption. Of the children who were free for adoption in 1977, 50% were in adoptive placements… that’s half of 20% –10%. Of the children free for adoption in December, 1982, 34% were in adoptive placements. Thus, by December 1982, 33,000 children were waiting to be placed for adoption. (Maza, 1983) Based on current AFCARS estimates released January 2000, there are approximately 520,000 children currently in foster care in the United States. Of these, 117,000 are eligible for adoption. (US HHS, 2000) Here, I’m looking up things for you.
