The foster care financing system’s allocation of federal funds shortchanges children in need of loving, permanent families, according to this new report from the NCFA, a research, education and advocacy nonprofit that promotes ethical adoption practices. Among the report’s findings:
- While 22 percent of children in foster care are waiting to be adopted, only 1.3 percent of federal child welfare funds are spent on adoptive and foster parent recruitment and training services.
- In 2005, a record 24,407 youths aged out of the foster care system, having never been with a permanent family.
- Nearly 25 percent of foster families quit each year, and up to 50 percent of foster families quit within one year of their first placement. They often cite a lack of agency support and poor caseworker communication as reasons for quitting.
Free, 15 pages. (703) 299-6633, www.adoptioncouncil.org/resources/documents/AdoptionAdvocateVol6.pdf.
