Barriers to Adopting Foster Children

Submitted by James Kenny, PhD on Thu, 07/12/2012 - 10:00

In April 2012, Listening to Parents released "Blueprint for Reform- Eliminating Barriers to the Adoption of Children in Foster Care." The report was developed after a group of national adoption and family policy experts (including NACAC board and staff) gathered at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in March 2011. Together, they designed a blueprint for reform and are now working to implement needed changes. 

Recommendations include: 1. :Reward both sending and receiving states for creating interstate adoptions.  2. Establish national standards for home studies and for descriptions of waiting children.  3. Eliminate long-term foster care as a goal.  4. Emphasize funding for post-adoption services. 5. Encourage development of a robust, comprehensive practice model of adoptions from foster care.