Barriers Non-Kin Adoptive Families Overcome When Adopting Through the U.S. Foster Care System

This qualitative reflexive thematic analysis explores barriers faced by non-kin adoptive families in the U.S. foster care system. Researchers completed semi-structured interviews with 20 adults from 12 families, aged 30 to 56, who adopted children within the past 10 years. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed three stages of the adoption process—licensing, placement, and legal adoption—each fraught with systemic challenges, including lost documents, inadequate support, and inconsistent treatment by social services. This study highlights the urgent need for policy reforms such as streamlined documentation systems and enhanced support for adoptive families to increase successful adoptions and reduce the number of children aging out of foster care without a permanent family.