Why is permanent family care so important? Can children have their basic needs met by an institution?
Current research shows the stress babies and children without parental care experience impairs brain development, causes motor problems, cognitive and emotional problems. Children who live their lives in institutions end up homeless, unemployed, incarcerated and involved in trafficking and prostitution when emancipated. About half do not finish high school and college completion even among US foster youth is rare. At the same time, research shows that children who are adopted have far better educational and social outcomes than those who remain in foster or institutional care.
