For the 2.1 million infertile couples in the United States, adopting foster children is a wonderful alternate.
Emotional Factors with Foster Child Adoption
Foster child adoption is not the same as adopting a newborn infant. Not only will you be dealing with your own emotions and feelings, but you will also have to consider your adoptive child's emotional well-being. In some cases, foster children have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. This can lead to long-term emotional or psychological damage.
This doesn't mean that you should be afraid of foster child adoption, nor must you assume that any new addition to your family will need special care. However, it is important to prepare yourself for the possibility, as a period of adjustment will certainly be necessary in every case of foster child adoption.
Depending on the foster care agency that facilitates the placement and subsequent adoption, various services may be offered to help you cope with the emotional implications of foster child adoption. Adoption counseling, for example, is extremely beneficial, even if you're adopting a well-adjusted child. You can participate both as a family and in one-on-one sessions to ensure that parents and child are prepared for the changes they will face with adoption.
Legal Factors with Foster Child Adoption
The legal process for foster child adoption varies depending on where you live. In some states, for example, foster child adoption requires that you go before a judge to solidify the adoption. In other states, you need only sign the proper paperwork and undergo a case-worker evaluation to complete the foster child adoption process. Whatever the case, you'll need the counsel of an adoption attorney who can look out for your best interests.
In addition, foster child adoption usually involves the biological parents, whose parental rights may or may not have been severed. In some cases, they will need to relinquish their rights to the child you want to adopt, and this can be a painful process for everyone involved. You'll need to speak with both the child welfare agency and your lawyer to determine your options.
It is also possible for the courts to terminate parental rights in order to facilitate foster child adoption. This is reserved for extreme cases in which a judge determines that the biological parents will never be able to provide a safe and nurturing home for the child. If you want to use this route for foster child adoption, you will need to work with your attorney to provide sufficient evidence that adoption is in the best interest of the child.
The Evaluation for Foster Child Adoption
In most states, foster parents are required to undergo a strict evaluation by a case worker before accepting a foster child into their home. Foster child adoption is no different, except that the evaluation is often based on more stringent criteria. You will meet with a case worker at your home, then again at the agency's headquarters, and you will probably fill out seemingly endless paperwork.
This is nothing to be concerned about, however, as long as you are serious about foster child adoption. You will simply need to demonstrate that you and your spouse are capable of providing a loving, nurturing and stable home for your child. Your finances will likely be scrutinized well in advance of foster child adoption, so be prepared to disclose your income and assets.
The case worker will want to know what kind of home you will provide. Prior to foster child adoption, you should have a stable residence and a solid work history. Generally speaking, foster care agencies prefer single-family homes with two parents, and many prefer that one parent stays home with the child while the other works. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule.
Financial Considerations with Foster Child Adoption
Because there are fewer families willing to adopt older children, foster child adoption is generally less expensive than adopting an infant. However, you will have legal fees, especially if you've hired an attorney, and there may be fees associated with the foster care agency.
In many cases, employers will assist with foster child adoption, so you might want to check with your human resources department to find out if your benefits include this service. In addition, you can apply for financial aid through government and private programs, or you can choose to pay for it out of pocket. You should also know that some adoption expenses are tax-deductible, so make sure you talk to your CPA about your options.
The Gift of Foster Child Adoption
Foster child adoption is one of the most beautiful gifts you can give a child. Despite the potential for emotional and psychological trauma in your foster child, he or she will forever remember your kindness and your willingness to bring him or her into your family.
 | Foster adoption sometimes occurs when a foster family decides to adopt a child who has been living with them as a foster child. But whether you are familiar with the child or considering adopting a foster child from another home, adoptive parents need to understand the distinctive needs of a child who has been in the foster care system. |
 | With the majority of foster kids being eventually returned to their birth families, foster children who are up for adoption are special cases with unique needs. |
Let's face it, everyone has a preconceived notion of what kind of person a foster parent is and how a foster family behaves. What's truly sad is that some of these notions are true, and people are still afraid to consider Fostering as an option for their family. |
Foster homes provide at-risk children a temporary, safe place to live until they can be reunited with their families or, in some cases, placed permanently with adoptive families. Some children stay in foster care for days or weeks; some stay for years. |
There are differences between foster parenting and adoption, some insignificant and some major. |
