How to Adopt Kids From Foster Care
Adults who want to adopt a child may find just the one they are looking for in the foster care system. According to Adopt Us Kids, there were 123,000 foster children waiting for an adoptive family as of April 2010. Any adoption requires time and patience, but adopting a foster child is less expensive and often faster than going through a private or international adoption. If you are over 21 and have an available bedroom, or one that another child can share, you are ready to start on the path to adding a new son or daughter to your family.
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Things You'll Need
- Physical from doctor
- Family budget
- An available bedroom or one that can be shared with another child of the same sex
- Driver's license or other identification
Instructions
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How to Adopt a Foster Child
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The first step in foster care adoption is contacting a caseworker. Contact your local Department of Social Services foster care office. Speak with a caseworker who can answer specific questions and tell you the date of the next orientation. An orientation meeting will give you a general idea of how the process works and and how long it will take in your area.
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Becoming a licensed adoptive parent requires time and paperwork. Work with a caseworker to complete a home study and become licensed as a foster and adoptive parent. Attend training sessions and fill out paperwork that gives information about you and your family members. According to Foster Parenting in "Becoming a Foster Parent," caseworkers need to collect information about your extended family, financial responsibility, employment, and health. Get finger-printed and submit to a background check. Invite the caseworker to inspect your home as the final step in applying for a license to foster or adopt a foster child in your state.
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Be specific with your caseworker about your ideal child. Discuss placement desires with your caseworker. If you are looking for a child of a certain gender, race, or age, let your caseworker know so that she can look for one already free for adoption or contact you if one becomes available. Adopt Us Kids has a "Meet the Children" interactive feature where you may find children that meet your wishes, but your caseworker from Social Services will have more listings from your state.
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Get to know a child placed in your home. Invite a child to be placed in your home. Once a caseworker finds a match, she will ask for your permission to place the child in your home. During this transition time, you are technically a foster parent. Get to know the child, spend time with him and decide if this is a life-long match.
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A lawyer will help make the adoption official. Retain a lawyer. Once you are sure this child is meant to be with you forever, contact a lawyer to make it official. Fill out additional paperwork and stay in contact with the lawyer to supply additional information or be notified of court dates.
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Celebrate when your child's adoption is finalized. Obtain an appointment at family court to make the adoption official. With the help of your lawyer and caseworker, appear in a local court to have a judge officially make the child your son or daughter. The child's name will be changed at this point, and the adoption process will be complete.
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Tips & Warnings
Caseworkers in the foster care and adoption system are often overloaded and prioritize their work based on the cases that are most urgent. If you haven't heard from your caseworker in a while, call them to keep your case in the forefront of their mind when a child becomes available.
According to Adoptive Families in "Resources for Parents Adopting from Foster Care" the median age of a child in foster care is 10.6 years. The time a person waits to be placed with a child will depend on the specific age, gender, race, and medical issues that parents request.
All adoptive parents are foster parents until the adoption becomes official. There is always the possibility while the child is fostered that a long-lost relative could step up and claim custody of the child. Caseworkers will do everything to exhaust all possibilities before a child is placed, but occasionally a situation arises where the adoption falls through.
References
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