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'We're the lucky ones': Charlotte couple overcomes broken foster care system to adopt young girls

The foster care system was broken long before the pandemic but now it's a total mess, leaving hundreds of kids in limbo waiting to hear who they'll call mom or dad.

Michelle Boudin

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Published: 2:41 PM EDT May 3, 2023
Updated: 3:29 PM EDT May 3, 2023

Hundreds of kids are in foster care right now in Mecklenburg County, waiting to hear who they'll call mom or dad. But there aren't nearly enough foster families for all the kids who need them. 

The foster care system was broken long before COVID-19, but now it's a mess for families trying to adopt children they've provided care for.

One Charlotte family spent years trying to adopt two little girls and just finalized everything a few weeks ago. What needs to change? Will the system ever catch up, and what happens to the kids caught in the middle? 

This family set out to be a stopover place for kids going through difficult times, but they soon switched gears and decided to adopt. The only problem is there was nothing quick about the process. It took almost four years, shining a spotlight on a broken system that's worse than ever thanks to the pandemic. 

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