DIRK KEMPTHORNE – Governor OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR KARL B. KURTZ – Director 450 West State Street, 10th Floor P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0036 PHONE 208-334-5625 FAX 208-334-0668

FACT SHEET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tom Shanahan Nov. 1, 2003 (208) 334-0668

The Facts About TOTAL • About 1 million children in the United States live with adoptive . • Nationally, the total number of adoptions in 1992 (the most recent year for which data is available) was 126,951, a 7-percent increase from 1987’s 118,449. • In Idaho, the total number of all adoptions in 1991 (the most recent year for which data is available) was 362, nearly three times greater than 1988’s 126. • Between 2 percent and 4 percent of U.S. include an adopted . HUGE The majority of Americans are personally affected by adoption. A 1997 survey found that 6 IMPACT in 10 Americans have had personal experience with adoption, meaning that they themselves, a member, or a close friend was adopted, had adopted a child, or had placed a child for adoption. TYPES OF There are several types of adoptive placements: ADOPTIONS • Public Agencies – Placements via government agencies (such as the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare) or their contractors account for 15-20 percent of all adoptions. • Private Agencies – Placements via nonprofit and for-profit agencies, as well as independent placements (doctors, attorneys, etc.), accounted for nearly 40 percent of all adoptions in 1992 (the most recent year for which data is available). • and Stepparent – Combined, placements in relatives’ homes or the of one birthparent (respectively) accounted for 42 percent of all adoptions in 1992. • International – Placements of children who are citizens of a foreign nation accounted for 5 percent of all adoptions in 1992. • Transracial – Placements of children with an adoptive family of another race account for 8 percent of all U.S. adoptions (including international adoptions). ADOPTION • Between 1988 and 1997, Idaho adoption filings increased by 13 percent from 929 to 1,052, TRENDS respectively. • In 1999, Idaho had the nation’s highest percentage increase in the rate of adoption of children from . Adoptions of Idaho foster children nearly doubled from 57 in 1998 to 107 in 1999, while similar adoptions increased by only 26 percent nationwide. • Adoptions of Idaho children in foster care more than doubled between 1995 and 2001 from 44 to 110, respectively. Foster care adoptions declined in fiscal year 2002 to 92 because many families postponed finalization to take advantage of federal tax credit changes that began Jan. 23, 2003. The changes allow a flat $10,000 credit for adoptive families. • International adoptions in the U.S. more than doubled between 1992 and 1997 from 6,536 to 13,620, respectively. (more)

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PUBLIC • About 20 percent of children in foster care nationwide – roughly 113,000 kids – are ADOPTION awaiting adoptive placement. STATISTICS • In 1999, 46,000 children were adopted from the public foster care system nationwide, an increase of nearly 26 percent from 1998’s 36,000 children. • Returning home was not an option for about 100,000 of the children in the foster care system nationwide in 1995, yet only 20,000 were adopted that year. • Of the 122,000 children nationwide who exited foster care during the first half of 1999, 16 percent were adopted. (Of those who were not adopted, 59 percent were reunified, 12 percent went to a legal guardian or a relative, 8 percent were emancipated, and 5 percent had other outcomes.) PLACEMENT • Among children who are adopted through Idaho’s Foster Care Adoption Program, SETTINGS 80 percent of them are adopted by their foster families, 7 percent are adopted by relatives, and 13 percent are adopted by unrelated families. • Nationwide, 64 percent of children adopted from foster care in 1999 were adopted by foster parents, 16 percent by relatives, 20 percent by people unrelated to them, and less than 1 percent by stepparents. (Relatives who were also foster parents were counted as relatives.) THE WAIT • As of March 31, 2000, approximately 134,000 children nationwide were waiting to be adopted. • Nationwide, the median wait for foster children awaiting adoption on Sept. 30, 1999, was 36 months, and the average wait was 44 months. Fully one-quarter of these children had been waiting 60 months or more. • Nationwide, of those foster children who were legally free and awaiting adoption in 1990, about 19 percent had been waiting for adoption less than 6 months; 12 percent had been waiting 6-12 months; 21 percent had been waiting 1-2 years; and 46 percent had been waiting 2 years or longer. • Idaho is recruiting for about 35 foster children awaiting adoption. SPECIAL Of foster children who were legally free and waiting adoption in 2001, 98 percent had one or NEEDS more special needs or risk factors for special needs. Idaho’s definition of “special needs” includes: • A child who has a physical, mental, emotional, or medical disability or is at risk of developing such disability based on known information regarding the birthparents or child’s history; • A child whose age makes it difficult to find an adoptive home; • A child who is a member of a group that must not be placed apart; and • A child who has established such close emotional ties with a foster family that a replacement is likely to be as traumatic to the child as removal from a birthparent.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, please contact Meri Brennan at (208) 334-5697.

www.idahochild.org

DIRK KEMPTHORNE – Governor OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR KARL B. KURTZ – Director 450 West State Street, 10th Floor P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0036 PHONE 208-334-5625 FAX 208-334-0668

FACT SHEET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tom Shanahan Nov. 1, 2003 (208) 334-0668

The Facts About Foster Care PROVIDERS • The number of licensed foster-family homes in Idaho fluctuates between 800 and 1,000 based on a number of variables. • Nationwide, the number of licensed, certified, and approved foster-family (non-relative) homes continues to decline, shrinking 3 percent since 1986 from 146,000 to 142,000 in 2000. • Idaho has a shortage of foster families that can take sibling groups, as well as a deficit of Native American and Hispanic foster homes. CHILDREN The need for foster care is growing dramatically: IN CARE • In the last decade, the number of Idaho children placed in foster care has more than tripled from 747 in state fiscal year 1993 to 2,382 in 2003. • Nationwide, the number of children in foster care reached 565,000 in 2001, which is more than twice as many as in 1987 (280,000). Each year, nearly 300,000 U.S. children enter foster care. CAUSES Children are placed in foster care when their own families are unable to provide them with the safety and protection they need; some of the reasons for removing children from their families include: • Sexual or physical abuse; • Neglect; • Abandonment; and • Other serious family problems. DURATION Usually foster care is needed for a temporary period of time while the issues within the child’s family are addressed. Of the 2,008 children who entered Idaho’s Foster Care Program in 2000, 86 percent were reunited with their parents or caretakers within 12 months. MOTIVES Some of the reasons cited by people who choose to become foster parents are: • Helping children; • Giving back to the community; • Possibility of becoming an adoptive ; and • Love for children. (more)

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ADOPTION • Idaho’s Adoption Program is experiencing increased demand. In the last seven years, the number of children adopted through Idaho’s foster care program has increased from 44 in 1995 to 110 in 2001. Adoptions declined in 2002 to 92 because many families postponed finalization to take advantage of federal tax credit changes that began Jan. 23, 2003. • Idaho is recruiting for about 35 foster children awaiting adoption. • Among the children who are adopted through the State’s Foster Care Adoption Program, 80 percent are adopted by their foster families, 7 percent are adopted by relatives, and 13 percent are adopted by unrelated families. IDAHO The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare operates the Idaho CareLine, a toll-free CARELINE telephone information and referral resource of health and human services. Operators answer nearly 50,000 calls annually, about 3 percent of which relate to foster care and adoption. The Idaho CareLine – 1-800-926-2588 – is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain time. The Department also operates a separate foster care hotline – 866-4ID-KIDS (866-443-5437). CALENDAR • May is National Foster Care Month. • May is also Idaho Foster Parent Appreciation Month. • November is National Adoption Month. • Nov. 22, 2003 is National Adoption Day.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, please contact Mickey Harmer at (208) 334-5695.

www.idahochild.org

DIRK KEMPTHORNE – Governor OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR KARL B. KURTZ – Director 450 West State Street, 10th Floor P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0036 PHONE 208-334-5625 FAX 208-334-0668

FACT SHEET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tom Shanahan Nov. 1, 2003 (208) 334-0668

The Facts About Foster Kids GROWING The need for foster care is growing dramatically: NUMBERS • In the last decade, the number of Idaho children placed in foster care has more than tripled from 747 in state fiscal year 1993 to 2,382 in 2003. • Nationwide, the number of children in foster care reached 565,000 in 2001, which is more than twice as many as in 1987 (280,000). Each year, nearly 300,000 U.S. children enter foster care. AGES Foster children range in age from infants to 18 years old (in some instances, foster children can remain in care until age 21): • The average age of Idaho foster children is about 9.5 years. • Nationwide, the average age is 10.1 years. Of U.S. foster children, 4 percent are under 1 year old, 25 percent are ages 1-5, 26 percent are ages 6-10, 28 percent are ages 11-15, 16 percent are ages 16-18, and 2 percent are 19 or older. GENDER The ratio of boys to in foster care is roughly half and half: • In Idaho, 52 percent of foster children are boys and 48 percent are girls. • Likewise, 52 percent of U.S. foster children are boys and 48 percent are girls. ETHNICITY • In Idaho, white children constitute 77 percent of the foster care population, Hispanic children represent 12 percent, Alaskan Native/American Indian children account for 9 percent, and black children make up the remaining 2 percent; children of Asian/Pacific Islander descent and children whose ethnicity was unable to be determined each represented less than 1 percent. • Nationwide, black children make up 39 percent of the foster care population, followed by white children at 34 percent, Hispanic children at 17 percent, Native American/Alaskan Native children at 2 percent, and Asian/Pacific Islander at 1 percent; the ethnicity of 7 percent of U.S. foster children is unknown. Keeping siblings together can be problematic. While the majority of children in out-of-home care nationwide have siblings, agencies succeed in keeping siblings together as little as 25 percent of the time. (more)

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PLACEMENT Nationally, 47 percent are placed in non-relative foster family homes, 26 percent are placed SETTINGS in foster family homes headed by a blood relative, 10 percent are placed in institutions, 8 percent are placed in group homes, 4 percent of foster children are placed in pre-adoptive homes, 3 percent are placed in trial home visits, and 1 percent are runaways

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, please contact Mickey Harmer at (208) 334-5695.

www.idahochild.org

DIRK KEMPTHORNE – Governor OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR KARL B. KURTZ – Director 450 West State Street, 10th Floor P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0036 PHONE 208-334-5625 FAX 208-334-0668

FACT SHEET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tom Shanahan Nov. 1, 2003 (208) 334-0668

The Facts About Foster Parents NUMBERS • The number of licensed foster family homes in Idaho fluctuates between 800 and 1,000 based on a number of variables. • Nationwide, the number of licensed, certified, and approved foster-family (non-relative) homes continues to decline, shrinking 3 percent since 1986 from 146,000 to 142,000 in 2000. • Idaho has a shortage of foster families that can take sibling groups, as well as a deficit of Native American and Hispanic foster homes. MOTIVES Some of the reasons cited by people who choose to become foster parents are: • Helping children; • Giving back to the community; • Possibility of becoming an adoptive parent; and • Love for children. AGE Age requirements may vary from state to state but in Idaho applicants need to be at least 21 years of age. FAMILY • Most U.S. foster families have a female caregiver present and consist of a married, STRUCTURE two-parent . • An estimated 25 percent to 50 percent of foster parents nationwide are single. INCOME • Nearly two-thirds of foster parents – 59 percent – work outside of the home, and only one-third of foster are full-time homemakers. • Idaho’s basic monthly maintenance rates paid to foster families – which does not include clothing, educational fees, Christmas and birthday funds, and daycare reimbursement – are $261 for children ages 0-5, $286 for children ages 6-12, and $410 for children ages 13-18. • The average U.S. monthly basic maintenance payment from 1998-2001 was $382 for 2-year-old foster children, $401for 9-year-olds, and $461for 16-year-olds. • The average U.S. monthly expenditure on children for -and- families in 2000 was $728 for 2-year-old children, $746 for 9-year-olds, and $822 for 16-year-olds.

EDUCATION U.S. foster parents are usually high school graduates with some college education. (more)

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PROCESS The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare requires that every family providing foster care to children in the Department’s custody have a valid Child Care License. This ensures that the foster family and their home meet the required standards for the care and safety of children. Foster families undergo an extensive evaluation of their suitability, the safety of their home environment, and the skills to meet the needs of abused and neglected children.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, please contact Mickey Harmer at (208) 334-5695.

www.idahochild.org

DIRK KEMPTHORNE – Governor OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR KARL B. KURTZ – Director 450 West State Street, 10th Floor P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0036 PHONE 208-334-5625 FAX 208-334-0668

STORY IDEAS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tom Shanahan Nov. 1, 2003 (208) 334-0668

Newspaper Editorial Support is Critical to Recruiting Foster & Adoptive Families Nationwide, the number of children in foster care has increased dramatically while the number of foster care providers has declined. While the number of foster care providers has actually increased in Idaho, more are still needed – especially for Native American and Hispanic kids, as well as children with special needs. The news media can play a pivotal role in recruiting new foster and adoptive parents to ensure every child in Idaho has a safe and secure home. KEY DATES • November – National Adoption Month • Nov. 22, 2003 – National Adoption Day • January-March 2004 – The Idaho State Legislature convenes • May – National Foster Care Month and Idaho Foster Parent Appreciation Month OP/ED PIECES • Campaign Update – Publish news about the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s latest efforts recruit and retain foster and adoptive parents, including a revamped web site (accessible via www.idahochild.org), new public service announcements, and outreach to municipal governments, large employers, and the faith community. • Annual Observances – Take advantage of National Adoption Month (November) and National Foster Care Month (May) to once again encourage your readers to become foster and adoptive parents. • Legislative Initiatives – Encourage state legislators to better address the needs of foster children and foster and adoptive families. • Issues – Explore monthly maintenance payment rates, the stability of placements, maintaining cultural ties, etc. IN-DEPTH • The State of Foster Care – Many of your readers would be interested to learn more about the FEATURES challenges facing foster care providers in Idaho and throughout the nation. • Success Stories – Run stories about successful foster and adoptive families in your community. • Heroes – Print stories about people in your community who play a key role in foster care (social workers, activists, businesses that go the extra mile for employees who are foster and adoptive parents, elected officials who advance foster care and adoption issues, Health and Welfare staff, etc.). • How To – Write a story about the process of becoming foster and adoptive parents. Develop a sidebar regarding the same to accompany subsequent stories about foster and adoptive care.

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