One last adoption-related tidbit for the day

[textualdeviance]

This is actually kind of funny, in a screwy sort of way.

So, over on FB, someone linked me to this site, which is an aggregator of all the DSHS departments in the entire US plus territories.

Out of ALL of that, there are only 11 children younger than 2, and all of them have severe disabilities that require constant care.

Now, of course there are more kids who go into state care. These listings are just the ones they're actively trying to find homes for. But it should make it clear that no, there aren't tons of happy, smiling babies just waiting around for some family to take them home.

The rare few young kids in state care who are healthy get taken almost instantly because the competition for them is so intense. Yes, even non-white babies and ones with mild issues. It shouldn't be surprising that it can take a year or more from filing the first bits of paperwork to having a judge sign off on the finalization. The kids are NOT out there.

So yes, there's a reason people spend gobs of money and time on international adoptions, infertility treatment and even surrogates. They're not selfish people looking for designer babies and turning up their noses at some sad little orphan. They just want a kid who's eventually going to become a relatively well-adjusted adult. Just like any other parent.

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[miss-swamp.livejournal.com]

There's a pair of healthy twin 1-year-old girls, but even if you wanted twins, you'd have to be Native American.

Yes, I spent a ridiculous amount of time on that site last night. No idea why. We've talked about doing foster care once these 3 are mostly grown, but by then we'll probably rather travel.