q and a

I am just answering some questions today with material that anyone could google and find out for themselves. When people ask us these questions (usually incredulously) I like to be able to respond in love and with information that will educate them.

Q: Why are choosing foster care for your adoption? (Usually followed by, "do you know what you are getting in to?")

A: 
  • Currently, there are approximately 425,000 children in foster care in the United States. It's estimated that 115,000 are eligible for adoption.
  • In 2009, about 57,466 children were adopted from foster care.
  • Median age of child in foster care: 8.1 years.
  • Race/ethnicity of children in foster care: 38% Caucasian, 30% African-American, 22% Hispanic, 10% other.
  • The average child in foster care goes through three different placements and stays in the system for about 30 months.
Q: Why do you want a sibling group? (Usually followed by "One at a time is the way God designed it for a reason!")

A:
  • Siblings have a shared—often difficult—past and can provide a support system that no one else can. 
  • Brothers and sisters can help reduce the negative effects from the loss and separation of their parents.
  • Separating siblings puts each child at greater risk of emotional disturbances and difficulties in school. 
  • For some children, separation from siblings may cause greater stress than separation from their own parents, particularly those children whose parents were absent both physically and emotionally.
  • Siblings miss each other. Most adults who were adopted as older children return to agencies to search, not for their birthparents, but for siblings. 
  • Keeping siblings together improves their self-esteem. 
  • Siblings prefer to be together. 
All of these statistics were found at Adoptive Families.      

6 comments:

  1. Preach it, sister girl. We would really like a sibling group as well.

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  2. Our home study is being sent to a case worker for a sibling group. Now just waiting.
    http://foster2forever.blogspot.com

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  3. Heather! Thanks for taking a look at my blog! I am so looking forward to following your journey. I am so happy that you have chosen foster children to adopt. We got so many weird looks when we told people we were adopting these children. Bless you and your husband. I pray for good Christian families all the time for these kids. They need an extraordinary love...and you have it!! Didn't mean to write a book!! haha

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  4. so fantastic that you have such ready answers and you are prepared to answer in love. sometimes people can be so nosy and rude so i love that you happily answer them. can't wait to see who your littles will be!

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  5. The comments that come with these questions make me angry! Why do people assume they know it all! And if Christians don't care of these kids who will!

    And people have twins/multiples naturally, so "God planning one at a time" does not always ring true.

    Great post with great info!

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  6. I love this post!! Great answers!

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