Expert Talks Adoption, Foster System. Oscar winner Sandra Bullock opens up for the first time ever about adopting her 3 year old daughter, Laila. Subscribe now for instant access to the exclusive interview, plus the adorable family photos of Laila and brother Louis, or pick up PEOPLE on newsstands Friday As Sandra Bullocks adoption announcement brought to light, there are hundreds of thousands of children in foster care waiting to find forever families each year. There are so many kids out there who so badly want to have families, the actress, 5. PEOPLE, in which she opens up for the first time ever about adopting daughter Laila pronounced Lila. Sure enough, last year an estimated 4. U. S. governments 2. Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System data. Approved For Adoption Movie Out Of AfricaWhats heartbreaking is that some of these kids dont get love, adds Bullock, who adopted 5 year old son Louis in 2. Its our duty to help. There are several resources available for people to learn more about the foster system and adoption. One of Bullocks favorites the Alliance for Childrens Rights, an L. A. based organization that provides free legal aid and advocacy for impoverished, abused and neglected children. Another national resource Adopt. USKids, the only federally funded organization in the U. S. where prospective families can go to learn more about foster care and adoption. PEOPLE spoke to Kathy Ledesma, Adopt. USKids national project director who has worked in the field for 4. Ledesma answered our biggest questions regarding the foster care system and adoption. Why do most kids end up in foster care In the United States, the children end up in foster care due to founded allegations of abuse or neglect in the homes in which theyre being raised. Sk8hijonc/hqdefault.jpg' alt='Approved For Adoption Movie Outsiders' title='Approved For Adoption Movie Outsiders' />We love him as our own and are keen to adopt him to provide further emotional stability for him, but we cannot even get onto an adoption program, Alice says. Free printable dog adoption kit in pink or blue This sweet set includes a certificate of adoption, printable circles, a dog treat recipe, and treat bag tags. An inside look at local politics practiced from Chicagos City Hall to the Statehouse in Springfield, from Chicago Tribune reporters. Approved For Adoption Movie Out Of Time' title='Approved For Adoption Movie Out Of Time' />When we talk about children and youth in foster care around the United States, they are in foster care through no fault of their own. Theyve done nothing wrong. Something went wrong in the families with which they were living that made it an unsafe place for them to live. How are kids usually adopted out of the foster care system For the past several years, about 8. Those that are adopted by foster parents, the children were placed with them only on a temporary basis to give the childs family time to sort out the issues in their home. When that does not happen, when the problems are not resolved, because the children had formed an attachment with their temporary caregivers, it was deemed by the court to be in the childs best interest to remain with that family permanently. How do families who arent relatives or foster parents adopt We call those adoption only families, so these are families who approach the child welfare system with an interest in only adopting a child from foster care, only adopting. In most states, those families have to become approved both to provide foster care and adopt because when a child is placed into a family, even if its for the purpose of adoption, until that adoption is finalized by the court. Until its made legal in the court six to nine months after the placement occurs, that is a temporary placement, and there has to be some mechanization through which resources can flow to that family to help support the child. What are the steps that go into adopting out of the system Its a typical application where theres demographic information on the family, what children have they raised, where are they now, what are they doing They have to provide three letters of reference, usually, and have to show some kind of financial solvency. Then there is a face to face home study process. That really probes the quality of the relationships within the family and outside the family with extended family, friends, faith, community, neighborhood, community involvement, those kinds of things. So families do need to have a strong support system around them because they are bringing a new member into their family who will bring some challenges. So having some other people around who understand that, can support that commitment and be supportive of the family and of the child is really important. How long does the adoption process take There are lots of variables in that, but what we like to tell families is Think about how long it takes from first getting the idea that you want to have a baby biologically to the time that that baby is actually in your hands. That could vary from 9 months to 1. Thats about how long we like to tell families that that part of it will take. Approved For Adoption Movie Out On DvdAfter placement, the typical period of time between the placement occurring and that placement becoming legal adoption is six to eight months to the finalization. That is a period during which a social worker is engaging with both the family and the child to make sure that this really is a permanent, nurturing, safe place for the child to be and that the family is satisfied with the placement. What traits do favorable prospective families shareYears of experience tell us families that are flexible is probably the highest qualification flexibility. A good sense of humor. Ability to roll with the punches not get stressed out by things that happen. And then have supportive relationships, in addition to that relationship that theyre forming with that child. But the important thing is the family demonstrates a support system. What s the biggest misconception about foster care or adoption I really think the financial thing is really a big barrier in peoples minds. Not only does adopting a child from foster care not cost anything, the child brings a number of benefits with him or her. Most states are now providing some form of higher education free of charge if a child has spent time in foster care. There is a growing trend toward that, so not to worry about How am I gonna pay for college for the child More than 9. So its 4. 00 5. Its not a lot, but it really helps the family to provide those extra things for sports equipment or musical instruments or something like that. Why are older children more of a challenge to find homes for Thats another complex issue. Theres a very common misconception about why kids are in foster care. If a teenager enters foster care, theres some unspoken assumption made that the child did something wrong and that teenagers are delinquents. Certainly, the media often portrays them that way TV, movies portray teenagers as though theyre delinquents. But these are dependent kids that bring some issues with them because theyve experienced trauma by having been removed from their families in the first place. People still equate the word adoption with infant or very young child. Were working very hard to change the public perception about the tremendous need that there is out there for families for older kids. Even though a teenager may only live full time in a family home for a few years rather than 1. With reporting by JD HEYMAN. Riot in Juvenile Prison 1. Free Download Tonka Tough Truck Adventures: The Biggest Show On Wheels Cartoon there. Goofs. After Dr. Furman interviews Eddie for the first time, he picks up a folder off his desk and opens it. However in the next close up shot of what hes holding, the folder disappears and Furman is holding a single piece of paper Eddies medical record. In the following shot, the folder reappears.