A new report released by the National Center for Lesbian Rights documents what happens when children are left in the foster care system rather than being placed with qualified gay and lesbian parents. The report, The High Cost of Denying Permancy: An Analysis of the Economic Impact of Florida's Adoption Ban, looks at not just the monetary cost to taxpayers, but the cost paid by children who spend years in the foster care system.

Florida is currently working to meet Federal Requirements outlined in the Adoptions and Safe Families Act (AFSA). The report states almost 75% of foster youth eligible for adoption are still 'in the system' waiting to be adopted after two years. If the state fails to improve these numbers and meet AFSA requirements, Florida could lose approximately $220 million dollars in federal child welfare funding.

Most recent data shows over 3,000 eligible children in Florida waiting to be adopted. The expense to keep these children in the foster care system is enormous. The following example was sited in the report. A young person who enters the foster care system at age 13, stays for five years, and 'ages out' of foster care at age 18 could cost the Florida almost $100,000.

But the real cost to the children left in foster care cannot be measured monetarily. Children who are raised in the foster care system rather than in a permanent home begin their lives less prepared to handle many of the challenges adulthood presents. These children are more likely to experience disciplinary problems, and more likely to be held back in school. As adults, they are more likely to rely on government assistance programs such as food stamps. They are also more likely to spend time in prison.

The report states "Each time a child is denied the opportunity to be adopted out of foster care because of Florida's ban, that child is denied the security and permanency that only adoption can provide. In addition, the State of Florida commits to spend tens of thousands of dollars to maintain that child unnecessarily in a foster care system that is virtually guaranteed to lessen the child's life prospects."

Florida has had a ban on adoption by gays and lesbians since 1977, although the state does allow gays and lesbians to be foster parents. New adoption bans have been discussed in several other states this year, and may come up as state ballot measures in the 2006 election. Nationwide, mor than half a million children live in foster care. Of those children, approximately 120,000 are available for adoption, but only about 50,000 are adopted each year.