Missouri will end the year with more than 1,500 children getting adopted – a similar figure from last year. Amy Martin with the state Children’s Division tells Missourinet certain times of year typically result in increased adoptions.
“We notice an uptick in adoptions at the time that school lets out,” says Martin. “We also notice an uptick in adoptions around the holiday season and we also have a big push in Missouri and across the nation in November for National Adoption Month.”
The state has about 13,000 foster care children among roughly 9,000 foster homes.
“Of the population that remains and cannot be reunified with their family, 75% of those that are adopted will be adopted by relatives or foster parents,” she says.
Martin says kids ages 13 and above have the lowest adoption rates – about 143 this year.
“The children that are in foster care are seven and older that are awaiting adoption,” says Martin. “As you can imagine, younger children have an easier journey to finding a permanent family.”
Martin says part of the reason the 13 and older age group has the lowest adoption rates is because Missouri law requires them to decide whether they want to be adopted. Some want to remain with their relative or foster parent who is caring for them at the time because they feel stable and consider them their family.