Seven year waiting list to adopt?

Sadly this is a common problem in the USA. My husband and I looked into adoption about 17yrs ago and were told in our area the waiting list was 6-10yrs depending the child we wanted. Most want a newborn and that’s the longest waited. But even for older and healthy kids it can take years.

The easiest route is adoption through local foster care system. You have to get approved as a foster family first which can take up to a year. Then your name goes into the system. Depending on the child you want again depends on the wait time. Many younger children are part of sibling groups that they don’t want separated. So if you are willing to take on 4-5 kids you are in luck. Other children available likely have serious health issues. My sister in law and brother in law went this route and got a baby girl who was a different race than they were. Sadly though five years later she was removed from them because an aunt had showed up and wanted to take her.

It’s troubling how difficult it can be to get a child when there are so many needing homes. My oldest just started working in social family services and she’s already troubled by what she sees.

I think Peabody was just telling the Healeys that there was a lengthy waiting list so that they would be more anxious to take Junior. He was manipulating them throughout that scene. If they thought they could wait, and have more options, they probably wouldn’t have taken the first kid Peabody offered. Flo almost turned him down due to his age even with a 7 year wait.