Foster care also ends when a child is put in an adoptive placement. I have seen many beautiful families, including my own, created this way. Adoption is often the next move after birth parents have had their parental rights terminated. This happens because the parents were unable or unwilling to correct the problems in their lives that led to their children being placed in foster care. It is usually a very long process from the time a child enters care.
Adoption offers a child the sense of permanency that is missing in foster care.
It also brings its own set of challenges. The child is often adopted by the foster family. This makes the transition to adoption easier because this a family that is already familiar to the child and the family has the advantage of knowing this child well and knowing about any special needs the child may have. When the foster family does not adopt the child is then placed on a state or national registry and a suitable family is sought. There are a shortage of suitable adoptive homes for these children.