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20,000th Child Adopted Through Website Launched by President and Mrs. Bush

Today marks an important milestone for adoption in America. The 20,000th foster child has been adopted after being listed on AdoptUSKids.org, a...

Today marks an important milestone for adoption in America. The 20,000th foster child has been adopted after being listed on AdoptUSKids.org, a national website launched by President and Mrs. Bush in 2002 that links prospective adoptive families with children in need of permanent families and supports states in their efforts to recruit adoptive families.

Funded through a cooperative agreement between the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Adoption Exchange Association, the website contains photos and demographic information on children in the public foster care system.  When a prospective adoptive parent indicates interest in a specific child, AdoptUSKids coordinates a connection with the child’s adoption case worker.  There is no charge for the service.

Out of the 20,000 children adopted after being listed on the website, nearly 75 percent were eight years old or older. Also, 61 percent of the children adopted were of a racial minority, 33 percent were teenagers and almost half had at least one moderate or severe disability.  Analysis of national child welfare data has previously indicated that children in these categories are significantly less likely to be adopted through traditional means. 

At the launch of the program in 2002, President Bush said, “We live in a great country. It's a country full of really loving and decent people. And there's no doubt in my mind, when people hear the call, they will respond to the needs of a lot of our children.” Today, 20,000 children are glad Americans have answered that call.