(Posted 2025 January)
In a groundbreaking report, “Americans’ Views of U.S. Foster Care: Elevating Black Americans’ Perspectives and Experiences,” Kidsave and Gallup collaborated to examine how the American public — especially Black Americans — views the foster care system and adoption from foster care. Safe and stable homes are essential for all children in foster care; however, the need is even greater for Black children.
According to the report, Black youth make up a disproportionate number of children in U.S. foster care. Despite representing only 14% of children in the U.S., 22% of children in foster care are Black. Black children are also less likely than their counterparts in other racial groups to find a permanent home through adoption.
The study results reveal many interesting insights into barriers that are hindering foster parent recruitment nationally. Understanding public opinions can help agencies like Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption, our partners and advocates to improve our communication with potential foster parents. Check out some of these perceptions and attitudes:
- Over half of Americans surveyed have considered providing foster care but the majority (68%) are unsure if they are eligible.
- Almost two-thirds of Americans say they know little (43%) or nothing (20%) about foster care.
- Those surveyed frequently cited issues such as the high cost of living, lack of available housing, and limited funding for public foster care as barriers to foster care or adoption.
- Black Americans are more knowledgeable about foster care than other groups and think more about fostering and adopting, but many Black adults are deterred by their perceived racial bias in the system and lowered confidence in key aspects of the system.
- Barriers to adoption include concerns about parenting a child who may have trauma, and a lack of personal experience or connections to those with experience in foster care.
One thing is clear, the more Americans know about the foster care system, the more positive their perceptions of it. So, it is vitally important to continue providing information in a variety of ways to make the facts about foster care more widely known. This can only serve to further public knowledge and understanding of how the foster care and adoption system works, the supports in place to help foster parents, and the reasons more diverse foster parents are needed to lean in and provide care for the vulnerable children in our community.
Check out the report for more details and possible solutions at Gallup-Kidsave Perceptions of Foster Care and Adoption.
This article posting is part of the Foster Family News monthly newsletter designed to keep foster parents informed about all the new and notable happenings in Fairfax County.
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