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1996 Adoption trends report
Key trends
- The Children, Adults and Families (CAF was formerly Children's Services
Division) believes a family is the best place for a child to grow. Adoption
statistics from July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1996, emphasize this value:
- Adoption placements totalled 558, up from 523 in 1995.
- The number of adopted children under three years old increased to 172 or
over 30% of total adoptions in 1996.
- The majority of adopted children (64.4%) were placed with relatives or foster
parents.
- 161 minority children were adopted in 1996. About 36% of these children
were placed in homes of the same ethnicity. This underscores the severe need
for minority homes.
- Nearly 95% of adoption placements continued without disruptions. Oregon's
outstanding record of low disruptions compares very favorably to other states,
where disruption rates can be as high as 30%.
Top
Characteristics of adopted children
Special Needs
The majority of the children placed for adoption by CAF are considered "special
needs" children. That means that these children are:
- Six years of age or older.
- Have a physical or emotional disability.
- Part of a sibling group.
- Are part of an ethnic minority.
Age
| less than 3 |
|
172 |
30.8% |
| 3-4 yrs |
|
139 |
24.9% |
| 5-7 yrs |
|
126 |
22.6% |
| 8-10 yrs |
|
72 |
12.9% |
| 11-13 yrs |
|
42 |
7.5% |
| 14 and older |
|
7 |
1.3% |
- CAF placed 172 children under the age of three years in the year ended June
30, 1996, an increase from the year before.
- As children get older, the chances for an adoptive placement drop dramatically,
creating a severe need for adoptive homes for children over age 7.
Sex
- males: 265 (47.5%)
- females:293 (52.5%)
- Children placed in 1996 were about half boys and half girls.
Ethnicity
| White |
397 |
71.1% |
| African-American |
75 |
13.4% |
| Hispanic |
52 |
9.3% |
| Native American |
25 |
4.5% |
| Asian |
5 |
0.9% |
| Multiple Minority |
4 |
0.7% |
- 161 minority children were placed in the year ended June 30, 1996.
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Characteristics of adoptive families
- CAF adoptive homes have a high rate of stability and permanence.
- Nearly 95% of CAF adoptive placements continued without disruption.
- Foster parents became adoptive parents for 226 (40.5%) of children placed.
- 117 (21%) of 1996 adoptive placements were with relatives who were providing
foster care.
- An additional 16 children (2.9%) were placed with relatives who were not
providing foster care.
- 95 (17%) of the children were placed with a single parent.
Valuing culture
- 58 (36.2%) minority children were placed with adoptive parents of the same
race.
- The demand for minority adoptive families is growing. CAF continues its
efforts to recruit minority adoptive families.
Keeping brothers and sisters together
- 335 (60%) children were placed with at least one sibling.
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Geographical characteristics
The 558 children came from...
- Metro Region: 251
- Western Region:138
- Southern Region:117
- Eastern Region: 52
The 558 children went to...
- Metro Region:166
- Western Region:113
- Southern Region:102
- Eastern Region:70
- Another country:1
- Oregon licensed adoption agencies:47
- Other states:59
The 558 children were placed by...
- 80.8% of the children were placed by CAF adoption workers and 19.2% by other
agencies.
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