For many years, in much of the world, parents who could not take care of their biological child placed them in state run orphanages. These state run orphanages range in resources from underfunded to moderately funded. Some orphanages keep children till their later teen years and others consider children as young as 14 old enough to be considered adults. The statistics regarding children who grow up in orphanages are bleak. Children with multiple caregivers develop attachment struggles. Other children lack access to medical and nutritional resources. Abuse and neglect are common. International adoption has often been considered the solution for children growing up in these orphanages. However, out of thousands and thousands children living in orphanages, only a small percentage of children even become eligible for adoption. Out of these, an even smaller percentage are adopted. Adoption is costly, and brings many unknowns.

However, we have seen many organizations working to provide another option….family style foster care. Abandoned, and at risk, children are able to grow up in foster care homes designed like a family, with consistent caregivers. This allows kids to stay in their country of birth. Some maintaining contact with their biological families. Asia’s Hope, Lifesong, Love Without Boundaries all provide family based foster care options.

The factors we consider when partnering financially with these organizations are the consistency of ‘parents’, and whether children have access to resources that will help them grow and develop. As a result, we have seen that kids growing up in these environments are very successful. Family based care less expensive than international adoption and we are finding is is the best option for many kids!

Photo @ Asia’s Hope