By Emily Marshall, LICSW, LCSW-C
Foster Care Adoption Consortium Director, The Barker Adoption Foundation
During any given year in the United States, between 80,000 and 100,000 children in foster care are waiting for a permanent family or guardian. An even more sobering statistic: 20,000 to 25,000 of them age out of the system annually. That means, they are stepping into adulthood without a legal parent or guardian—and often without any of the supports they need to thrive. These numbers reflect a crisis that not only demands attention but requires action.
What is not often discussed in the child welfare space is the responsibility and opportunity for private adoption agencies to work collaboratively to answer that call. Agencies with child-centered approaches and deep expertise in foster care and adoption have the opportunity to explore a simple but powerful premise: we are stronger together.
The Power of Private Agencies
Private agencies occupy a unique space in the child welfare ecosystem. Unlike public entities, they are not bound by the same bureaucratic constraints, allowing them to pilot innovative programs, share resources more freely, and respond to emerging needs with agility. This flexibility positions them to lead the way in tackling some of the most persistent challenges in foster care.
Among those challenges is the lack of cross-state collaboration. Children are often kept from placements or kinship connections that would positively benefit them simply because of the administrative barriers between states. Opportunities exist to dismantle these barriers, for example, by developing training and infrastructure that support interstate placements and public-private partnerships.
Reimagining Collaboration
One of the most promising avenues for change lies in cross-agency and cross-jurisdiction collaboration. Historically, resource sharing between counties or states has been limited by funding silos and inconsistent policies. When agencies work together—pooling interventions, training platforms, and support services—they can create a more cohesive and effective system for children and families.
Evidence-based models that demonstrate the impact of shared resources are essential. By documenting outcomes and building replicable frameworks, private agencies can help shift the narrative from isolated efforts to collective impact.
Strengthening Families Through Support
Families who adopt from foster care often face complex challenges, especially when caring for older children, sibling groups, or youth with specialized medical needs. The same challenges are present in kinship, especially when a familial relationship is being rekindled or established for the first time. While many resources exist, they are often fragmented or difficult to access. A centralized, well-vetted database of adoption-competent supportive services could be a game-changer, helping families find the right tools at the right time and reducing the risk of disruption.
This kind of infrastructure not only supports families but also strengthens the long-term stability and well-being of children who have spent time in foster care and have experienced trauma and loss.
Raising Awareness, Building Momentum
Despite the scale of the crisis, public awareness remains low. Most adults in the United States are unaware of the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 children who age out of foster care each year without a permanent family or adequate support. Reducing these large numbers requires a societal cultural shift—one that highlights foster care and adoption as issues of national importance.
Private agencies have a critical role to play in advocacy and education, using their platforms to inform, inspire, and mobilize communities. Every adult should know these statistics and feel empowered to be part of the solution.
A Call to Community
While the challenges facing children in foster care are vast, so are the opportunities. By leveraging collaboration, flexibility, creativity, and commitment to child-centered practices, private agencies can lead the way in transforming public awareness and outcomes.
In the coming months, you’ll hear more about The Barker Adoption Foundation’s initiative in convening a consortium of child-centered agencies committed to positive and meaningful changes across the adoption and foster care landscape. We look forward to engaging with our community of families, professionals, advocates, and supporters as we work together to build a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe, permanent, and loving family.
The Barker Adoption Foundation, founded in 1945, is a nationally respected nonprofit adoption agency providing comprehensive, lifelong services for adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families. Barker’s programs include domestic, international, and older child adoption, as well as counseling, education, and community outreach. The organization has offices in Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia, and serves individuals and families across the United States. Learn more at www.barkeradoptionfoundation.org.