In the face of a lingering recession, many would-be parents who would like to adopt a child are becoming foster parents instead, taking in often hard-to-place kids.
The reason, apparently, is rooted in economics. Private adoptions can cost around $20,000, and many countries that previously allowed Americans to adopt their children either have stopped or restricted access. Guatemala and Vietnam, for instance, both recently stopped taking adoption applications from would-be parents in the United States.
But fostering children here–arrangements that can often lead to formal adoption–is typically free for parents, because the states generally pick up the cost and sometimes even offer subsidies. Most of these children–129,000 are available for adoption–are older (the median age is 8), and many have emotional or physical issues. (USA Today)
