TODAY 1,400 VIRGINIA CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ARE AWAITING ADOPTION
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Virginia ranks worst in the country
for the percent of children who age
out of foster care without being
adopted. For Virginia’s children, this
means hope for a permanent family
grows dimmer with each birthday.
Rank = 50th/50
Virginia ranks third to last in
the average time it takes to be
adopted—between termination
of parental rights and finalized
adoption. This means Virginia
children wait longer than most to
find their forever families.
Rank = 48th/50
These are children who have already
suffered the trauma of abuse,
neglect, and abandonment. They
need the support of a permanent
family to heal and grow. They want
the security of a family who will be
theirs for life. They deserve the love
only a family can provide.
Virginia’s children deserve better than last place.
Fast Facts
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TEENS AREN’T ADOPTED?
Teens who age out of foster care without being adopted face an uncertain future, and are up against grim statistics.
will be involved in the justice system within 2 years
will be homeless after age 18
will drop out of high school
of girls will become pregnant by age 21
Virginia’s Waiting Children
WHO ARE THEY?
- 54% are boys
- 46% are girls
- 54% are White
- 33% are African-American
- 8% are Hispanic
- 11% are multi-racial
- 33% are under age 5
- 30% are age 13 or older
At A Glance
U.S. WAITING CHILDREN
- 415,129 U.S. children are in foster care
- 107,918 are waiting to be adopted
- Waiting children enter foster care at an average age of 5
- 37% are under age 5
- 32% are over age 10
- 19% are over age 13
- Waiting children have spent an average of 32 months in foster care
- More than 29% have been in foster care for more than 3 years
Information current as of May 2016.
CHSVA.ORG | 800.247.2888
Sources: [Virginia] Virginia Department of Social Services, Adoption Report, “Foster Care Demographic Report for Children with a Goal of Adoption” (4/1/2016); Council on Virginia’s Future, vaperforms.virginia.gov/indicators/healthfamily/fosterCare.php (4/2016); [When Teens Aren’t Adopted] Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (Chapin Hall Center for Children 2005, Casey Family Programs 1998, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago 2005); [U.S.] AFCARS Report. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children’s Bureau
(FY14 as of 7/2015).