Health and well-being of children adopted from foster care

Data from the National Survey of Children's Health, 2011-12 were used to compare children in foster care with children adopted from foster care with respect to health, health care and well-being. Children living with both biological parents and children living with never-married biological mothers were included as comparison groups. The findings suggest that adoption confers socioeconomic advantages for children, relative to children who remain in foster care. However, these advantages do not tend to translate into better developmental, academic, or other well-being outcomes. The evidence suggests that children in foster care who are adopted tend to cost the public less than children who remain in foster care or are reunited with their biological families.