The Need
There are 114,000 children in the U.S. foster care system eligible and waiting to be adopted.  These children have lived through loss, neglect and abuse and it is not their fault.

They wait an average of nearly 4 years to be adopted, with 21%  - one out of every five, waiting, just waiting over five years for someone to love them.

Thus, many children languish for years in the foster care system frequently relocated, not belonging to anyone – feeling unloved, isolated, unwanted, undeserving – afraid to reach out to anyone, to trust, to believe in or to plan a future.  If they remain un-adopted, the crushing heartache they experience affects their entire being every moment of every day for the rest of their life. 

Each year, 38,000 of these children “age out” of the system when they reach their eighteenth birthday.  Without financial or emotional support from anyone, many of these young adults struggle to belong and gain a place in society, to become productive citizens of our communities.

Of all youth aging out of the foster care system, national statistics indicate:

·         56% are unemployed and face poverty within two to four years,

·         They represent 70% of all homeless youth,

·         They constitute 88% of incarcerated youth and young adults,

·         40% receive welfare within two to four years,

·         40% do not graduate from high school, and

·         60% of the teenage girls will have a baby within two years.

These aging-out children are walking tragedies, waiting to happen. 

It is estimated that for each “aged-out” child, it costs society over $1 million per child over their lifetime.  So, we can pay for finding permanent homes for these kids now, or we can pay many times more later, as we allow societal problems to perpetuate.

There just is simply no substitute for the unconditional support, guidance and love that families can provide adoptable children.

Adoption is a preventative solution that reaps the best outcomes for the children and our communities for generations to come.

Research indicates that the longer these children languish in the system, the more behavioral and emotional issues they face and the harder it is to place them.

Therefore, it is imperative that these children are matched as quickly as the necessary safeguards allow, with loving families who will provide them with permanent homes.

“When we fail to protect children, we ultimately fail to protect ourselves.” Andrew Vachss

Adopt America Network’s Mission
A non-profit 501(c)(3) charity, Adopt America Network is committed to improving the lives of adoptable children throughout the United States who are in the foster care system by placing them with permanent, loving families.  AAN uses a national network of public agencies, private agencies, and volunteer adoption specialists.