AdoptUsKids national photolisting service: Characteristics of listed children and length of time to placement

This paper evaluates state usage of the Federally-funded AdoptUsKids photolisting service during its first five years of operation. It provides an important evaluation of a major federal initiative focused on permanency for children in state child welfare systems. Results indicate that the service is significantly underutilized by the states. Despite the low utilization rate, approximately 40% of listed children were placed during the data observation period. Results of hazard model estimation confirm findings from previous studies that sibling groups of all sizes have a higher probability of placement and get placed sooner, on average, than single children, and that African American children have a lower overall probability of placement and wait longer for placement. Study findings offer a potentially very importance link to understanding the relationship between casework practice and child outcomes. Policy and practice implications of the study findings are explored.