Organized foster care didn’t exist in the US until the 1920s. I only learned about the Orphan Train movement when I listened to Christina Baker Kline's
Orphan Train last year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan_Train
It seems that Canada was similar. This book on the subject of adoption in Canada has an interesting abstract.
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com...91231-0157.xml
Quote:
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Formal adoptions were rare—rather, apprenticeships, farm placements, and domestic service positions were secured for the young inmates. The late 19th century saw middle-class reformers promote a more nurturing environment for children, which resulted in a number of social reforms directed at improving their health, welfare, and education. As part of these reforms, the state took responsibility for child protection.
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