But there are a lot of kids who don't.

In Utah, there have been more than 600 kids adopted from foster care each year over the last several years.

"Most" kids do return home. And you can decide to be a foster/adoptive parent (meaning you begin as a foster parent and then adopt the child if they can't go home) or you can be an adoption only parent (meaning it's already been determined that the child can't return home, and you know you're going to adopt from the moment they come into your home.)

The thing to keep in mind is - most kids are adopted by their foster parents. Especially younger children. So if you're interested in adopting a child who is under the age of 6-8, then you'd probably have to begin as a foster parent. If you're OK adopting a child who is 9-10 or older, then there are more than 100K children nationwide waiting to be adopted and you wouldn't necessarily have to begin as a foster parent.

That said - I think being a foster parent can give you some good experience caring for kids who are coming from that traumatic background, so that when you do eventually adopt you are better prepared. I also think that being a foster parent gives you the opportunity to start being a parent NOW rather than waiting for the right adoptive option.

I had a foster parent tell me once that she had always wanted to adopt and wasn't sure what to make of fostering. And then she finally came to terms with the idea that all children leave your home eventually. Some kids in foster care just leave a little earlier than others. When she was able to look at it that way, it made it easier for her to become a foster parent while waiting to eventually adopt.