How do we make foster kids more “wantable” for adoption?
September 30, 2009 by Adoption Information and Laws
Filed under Fostering & Orphanages
Can you answer Looney Tunes’s question about Adoption?:
How do we improve the “stereotype?”
What physically can be done?
How do we improve the “stereotype?”
What physically can be done?
What is lacking that people don’t think about foster care adoption??
I personally HATE those pictures with written descriptions about the children, but what-other options are available?
Thoughts?
International Adoption Kazakhstan
Adoption Feedback: I would suggest if the children have any anger issues to make sure that they see a therapist to work out their issues. I would also focus on what good qualities the child has. Some adults are scared that they can not handle all the daily tasks of raising foster children, and others are scared of getting hurt emotionally.
Adoption Feedback: I think if more people spent time with foster children and families their opinions would be canged. It is natural to fear the unknown. Knowledge is power. Seeing and hearing what wonder can be found in all children would hopefully open up some hearts and homes.
Adoption Feedback: Dear Looney Tunes,
How about some commericals from famous or sucessful people who were adopted out of foster care or aged out of foster care. Hearing some positive successful stories of foster care children would help on the web or where ever, imho:)
Adoption Feedback: That’s a great question.
I am strongly considering adopting one day, rather than have biological children. The only thing that holds me back is the fear that this child would be very angry or hostile, or not open to the idea of a new family- I know this is a stereotype but it scares me none the less!!
I think it would be great if more people planned to get to know foster children, to see for themselves what they are like. I know personally I’m going to get to know the child I adopt before I adopt them, and not just walk in with a preconsieved notion of who I want and just pick them out like a puppy or something.
Adoption Feedback: Wow, this question is a doozie. I also hate the pics, they are so invasive of these children’s privacy.
I wish there were an easy answer to this. I like the idea someone else presented about a public service message from former foster children. We have to find a way to get rid of the “difficult” or “damaged” image – that seems to put so many people off from foster-adopt.
Better long-term support and follow-up for foster families would help. If people knew they would truly be supported they would be more inclined to get involved (not just cash, but on going medical, educational, and development services).
I think mentoring / support group activities with other foster families could also be very helpful.
ETA: To truly get people to look into foster-adopt we also need to remove any and all financial assisance or tax credis for private or agency adoptions. Any financial assistance programs should be limited to ONLY adoptions from the public foster care system (and only apply to cases where TPR has already been firmly established).
Adoption Feedback: Well I was Adopted at the age of 8 I was almost 9 Years old! My foster parents had us go every where with them and they would tell everything great about us and tell people we were up for adoption. We had so many people wanting my brother and I. They even went as fare as telling our teachers that we were up for adoption. We did get adopted into there family there daughter adopted both of us! So don’t stress out about it too badly I’m sure it will be fine! Good luck with everything and I really hope my story helps you and lets you have some hope!
Adoption Feedback: There is so much of the information taught that could be done online, and if the courses were more available, and if the education about it were easier, then the kids could be placed easier.
Our private adoption of our son was so easy, and then I turned around and enrolled in the foster care education courses, and waited for 9 months before they began, then they take away so much family time (8 hours a day for several Saturdays).
Our area has an adoption picnic, where the kids are treated to fun and games, things like face painting, karaoke, ball games, relay races, and more. Possible adoptive families, who are checked out before they are allowed to visit, come to the picnic (no cell phones, and no cameras), and then they have opportunities to interact with the kids. Several vendors had booths, and proceeds from their rent paid for part of the picnic, and a lot of people volunteered. Several kids have been placed through these picnics in this way. The kids and adults are told what can be asked, and the foster parents stick pretty close to the kids. Things like identifying information, other than first name, their town where they live, and if they have siblings cannot be asked.
Adoption Feedback: I like the idea about a show on former foster children.
How about a grass roots effort starting with local churches? The pastor/preacher could set aside a part of the sermon to talk about the local children in need of permanent homes. Or perhaps the village hall could include an article in it’s newsletter about local children available for adoption through foster care. Or perhaps the local library could sponsor an evening on adopting through foster care.
The foster care system could place “ads” on adoption websites or change the “ads” they already have here on Y!A so they actually catch a person’s attention.
I know it sounds awful to “market” children, but big corporations learned a long time ago that advertising works. The foster care network needs to advertise.
The Center for Missing & Exploited Children has done a good job getting children’s faces out to the public through milk cartons and postcards and TV. Couldn’t DCFS try to do the same?
Adoption Feedback: I don’t think it is about making the kids “wantable” it is more about finding families who “want”. There are just not that many quality families to choose from given the number of foster kids who are in custody and then those who are available for adoption.
More targeted recruitment needs to happen. Such as targeting groups who would be interested in older children, disabled children, etc. Recruitment for older kids may be successful at sporting events for kids, families for disabled kids……not sure, but someone could fill that slot and get in there and recruit.
Also, I think in every state there needs to be gatherings of approved families who convene and are “introduced” to children via written reports, pictures, videos, and the child’s worker. These children do not need to be the perfect little white babies……(I am being a smart a$$), only those children who do not have a high likelihood of being placed with out greater intervention and creativity at finding that family who will adopt them- no holds barred.
It is my belief that ALL CHILDREN ARE ADOPTABLE…….it is just a matter of finding THAT FAMILY.
Adoption Feedback: I have written about 6 times in this little box, I erase and write and erase and write because I want a clue and don’t have one I suppose! I was also told from an agency that “Love” doesn’t cure all..No it may not but it sure as heck helps!
I feel very in adequate as I wanted to send this off with Ideas, dreams, and hope! Instead I think those who have been in it know best how to change it! I will read and learn and continue to hope.
Adoption Feedback: I think we have to ask the question: Why is poverty causing so many mothers to surrender their children and so many children to be taken away from parents and put into foster care?
When “welfare reform” stamped out many benefits that enabled single parents and poor families to raise their children, the number of children in foster care rose and is still rising. Same with infants being surrendered.
“Feed my child or pay the rent” is the dilemma.
From :
” Local adoption agencies say hard economic times are affecting adoptions. They say there are more children being given up for adoption … ‘At this point we’re seeing an increase, not huge, but an increase of relinquishments. … . Because of the economy, they’re not able to financially care for the child’,”
Why not support a universal guaranteed income program for families? To ensure that no child loses their family due to poverty. After all, if a mom is forced to surrender a child due to poverty, it is clear evidence of a human rights abuse.
Adoption Feedback: There needs to be an extensive add campaign as there is in my county. They have former foster, current adoptive and adoptive families on the radio and TV trying to dispel the myths about foster kids. There are adds on buses etc. and they have increased the awareness of foster children. Sadly the the pictures are necessary and helpful.
Adoption Feedback: show their private
Adoption Feedback: LT,
From what you have said in your answers there are some major differences between your fostering system than the Aust model.
Most adoptions take place when a child is between 6months and 2years old. I dunno entirely why but from what i have seen that’s the case. Older children are rarely adopted. Not because people don’t want them its because the government cannot simply can’t take away parents rights no matter the circumstances. The bio mother (at least) has to relinquish the child, and then the depts take their time because adoptions and fostering don’t communicate very well. (masses of red tap once the child have been made a ward of the state. (in permanent foster care until 18 years old.)
If it wasn’t almost impossible more Aust couples would adopt older children from local foster care I’m sure of it.
We couldn’t because of our age. Even in our thirties they preferred you to be older for a child over three years old. Go figure.
Edit; Something thought of later, the only profile book on kids that i have seen that are waiting to be adopted are special needs kids. (while we were in the adoption pool, we attended seminars to keep up to date and learn about raising adopted children.) The depts seem to treat this area differently. It was so sad to see it read about them and know your not suitable to raise them. (I grew up with a cousin that had special needs, I know whats involved, and we didn’t have the finances to adopt a special needs child and give them what they need.)
Adoption Feedback: i hate telling you how to “make kids more wantable” butteach them to be polite and well behaved, and try to make the look cute, and make the potential parents feel bad for them
Adoption Feedback: Yeah, the adoption profiles are kinda rough. I hate these kids being on display, but I don’t have another solution. Have you seen the Heart Gallery? A little girl we tried to adopt is on there. The pictures are professionally done and absolutely beautiful. But I still get what you are saying about the pics and profiles. Heart Gallery is a step up though.