Myths & Misperceptions

Americans do not fully understand U.S. foster care adoption.

Misperception	Reality
While foster care adoption is seen as less expensive than private infant or international adoption, it is still considered to be expensive.	In fact, foster care adoption is often at little or no expense. Click here for further information on the costs to adopt.
Two-thirds of those considering adoption fear the biological parent will take the child back.	In fact, once parental rights are terminated, the parents have no further recourse for gaining custody of the child(ren).
45 percent of Americans erroneously believe children enter foster care because of juvenile delinquency.	Children enter the foster care system through no fault of their own, as victims of neglect, abandonment or abuse.

Americans underestimate the families who are capable of
adopting from foster care.

Belief	Fact
Less than half of Americans believe that a single parent raising an adoptive child definitely can provide a healthy environment.	In fact, as the number of two-parent families decline, an increasing number of children live in single-parent families (28% in 2006).1
Only a third of Americans believe that same-sex parents raising an adoptive child definitely can provide a healthy environment.	In fact, virtually every valid study has concluded that children of gays and lesbians adjust positively and their families function well with their children’s outcomes comparable to those of heterosexuals.2
Only 37 percent think a person over the age of 55 can definitely provide a healthy and loving environment for a child.	In fact, 23 percent of adopted children live with an adoptive parent 55 years or older.

View more groundbreaking research.

Unless stated otherwise, all statistics are from the National Foster Care Adoption Attitudes Survey, commissioned by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and conducted by Harris Interactive, November 2007. Learn more.

¹Source: www.childtrendsdatabank.org
²Source: www.adoptioninstitute.org