Foster Care Adoption

As a foster parent you have a temporary obligation towards any child who comes into care. The State places children in foster care because the biological parents neglect or abuse the child.

Once the children have been placed in care, the natural parents are ordered by a judge to take parenting courses, behavior management courses, other courses which include topics on the effects of child abuse or neglect.

They will also be taught any parenting skills necessary so that they may learn to be responsible and caring adults to their children.

The child is allowed short visits with their parents and during this time the judge evaluates their progress. It can take up to 6 months (sometimes less, sometimes longer) for the parents to complete the judge’s requests, but often there will be extensions, depending on the circumstances and the rulings of the judge.

While the child is in foster care, the state will look for relatives of the biological parents who can take care of the child. This is done to maintain family ties if possible.

If the parents are successful in following the judge’s orders, they will get their children back. However, if they fail to comply, among other things, the judge will terminate the parent’s rights to their children.

A relative will obtain custody of the child, or they will become what is known as “wards of the court” which means that Children’s Services are now the child’s legal guardian. In the meantime, they will become “legally open for adoption”.

Now that the child is legally open for adoption, as their foster family you may have bonded with the child/ren. If this is the case, you may be asked if you would be interested in adopting them, (this is what happened for us). If not the child will be placed on a adoption registry list.

If you fostered the child, with a private foster agency (as we did), chances are you will have to go through the entire “adoption process” again.

The reason for this is because private foster agencies do not deal with adoptions. They will send all of the children’s records to your local children’s services who do deal with adoptions and then you will be required to go through the “adoption process”.

However, when you foster directly with children’s services and then adopt, you may not have to go through the home study again as they are already familiar with you and have a good deal of your required documentation on file.

Adopting a child/ren you have fostered is a huge step. You must realize that it is no longer temporary but a life long commitment. You will be able to replace their name with your’s, you will no longer have to keep records on them.

Nor will you have to ask permission if they can get a hair cut or go out of the state or province, this will now be a decision you can make. However, all financial responsibility will be yours.

Some recent statistics on the Cost of Raising a Child

Every child deserves to be taken care of by a good family. Whether you are a foster parent who turns into real parents for kids in foster care who have been abused and neglected or a parent who adopts from the foster care system.

Bless your heart! for you have touched and changed a child’s life, as well the child touching and changing your lives, thus, making an attached and happy family.

Watch These Videos! - Adoption from Foster Care.

Foster Care and Adoption
The differences and similarities between foster care and adoption.

Foster Care Adoption and Behavior
Foster Care Adoption and Behavior in School.

Share your fostering story with others at the foster parent forum.

Return from Foster Care Adoption to Adoption Options

Return from Foster Care Adoption to Children for Adoption

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