Long‐term foster care or adoption? The evidence examined

Based on an examination of the research literature, this paper contrasts six variables connected with the outcome of adoption and long‐term fostering. It provides some answers to the question often being asked by policy makers and family placement workers, as well as judges, about the relative merits and limitations of these two forms of substitute parenting for children who cannot return to live with their birth families. Because of the type of child currently adopted or fostered, breakdown rates by themselves are increasingly an unreliable outcome measure. The main defining difference found between these two forms of substitute parenting appears to be the higher levels of emotional security, sense of belonging and general well‐being expressed by those growing up as adopted compared with those fostered long term. However, for reasons outlined in the paper, long‐term fostering still has a definite place for a range of children who require long‐term plans.