Today there are more than 25,000 New York children in foster care who need permanent, loving, and stable homes through adoption. More than 600 of the children have been legally freed for adoption and are waiting for adoptive families. More than 3,000 of the children have a court ordered goal of adoption as they cannot be safely reunited with a biological family member. Most often foster children have been removed from their birth parents due to a history of neglect, abuse, or abandonment. While some adopt babies from the foster care system, there are also many toddlers and older children who have been freed for adoption from the foster care system. Foster Adoption is FREE!  Attorney’s fees are covered by the state. In addition, the state will provide ongoing medicaid and financial subsidies and assistance even after you finalize your foster child’s adoption.  Eligibility to adopt a foster child is not limited by race, religion, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation.