After the passage of the Adoptions and Safe Family Act adoptions increased but not for older children. Is being an older youth an ISSUE?

1. IMPROVING
FOSTER CARE
Are Older Youth
an ISSUE ?
Fragile Families NETWORK 2014
Picture from
http://blog.heritage.o
rg/2013/03/20/house
-makes-case-for-
improving-foster-
care-and-adoption/

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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