Utah is a state with rich culture, strong values, and is about as family-oriented as they come. Children are precious, treasured, and longed for in the state that has some of the most beautiful national parks in the U.S. and likes to slather savory foods in fry sauce (it’s a real thing, look it up). Here are some statistics regarding adoption in Utah.
It is important to note that private adoptions are usually closed to the public, so information regarding those adoptions is limited. The statistics presented here are mostly based on numbers collected from the Utah Division of Child and Family Services who oversee the foster care system as well as adoptions of children who are in their care and become eligible for adoption.
- 705 children were adopted from foster care in 2017.
- 221 children between the ages 0-2 years were adopted from foster care. This number makes up about 36 percent of the total adoptions from foster care.
- 150 children between the ages 3-5 years were adopted from foster care. That is about 24 percent of children.
- 111 children between the ages 6-8 years were adopted from foster care making up 18 percent of the adoptions from foster care.
- 55 children between the ages 9-11 years were adopted from foster care. That is about 9 percent of the total adoptions in foster care.
- 51 children between the ages 12-15 years were adopted from foster care. This accounts for 8 percent of the children adopted from foster care.
- 27 children aged 16+ years were adopted from foster care. That is 5 percent of the total children adopted from foster care.
- The 359 adoptions that happened in the year 2017 were cases of a non-relative adopting a child from foster care, most of these cases involve licensed foster parents who have adopted a child who was staying in their home after the birth parents had lost or given up their parental rights. This number accounts for about 49 percent of adoptions from foster care.
- 244 children adopted from foster care were adopted by relatives. That is 35 percent of total adoptions from foster care.
- 102 children were adopted by individuals who were not involved in foster care but still adopted through the Division of Child and Family Services. This accounts for 14 percent of the total adoptions from foster care.
These statistics show a strong trend of foster children being adopted by their foster parents. This is a wonderful trend since it elevates stress on both parties: the child and family who are already familiar with one another. It also shows a sad trend of older children and teenagers not being adopted as often as their younger peers. When adopting, keeping your options open in regards to age will increase your chances of adopting a child. Utah is a very family-oriented state and your chances of adopting a young child or infant will increase if you’re willing to adopt a group of siblings as opposed to a single child. Adopting sibling groups typically make the transition easier on the children. Utah is very adoption friendly in making the legal process a little simpler compared to other states.
No matter how you choose to adopt a child whether it be privately or through an agency, be sure to work closely with licensed professionals to make the experience as easy as possible. They will guide you through the process and help you choose the method of adoption that is best for you. Adopting in Utah is positive, rewarding, and wonderful, and the statistics reflect that.
Do you feel there is a hole in your heart that can only be filled by a child? We’ve helped complete 32,000+ adoptions. We would love to help you through your adoption journey. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98.
