It may seem that adopting from the foster care system
would be an easy process. After all, we hear that there are millions of
children in the United States waiting for homes all of the time. With all of
these children waiting for homes, many people assume adopting from foster care
is quick and easy. My husband and I were surprised to find it is actually a
very long and complicated process. It took a year to have a child in our home.
Here's how to get started:
1. Consider your family's strengths and weaknesses. Most
foster children waiting for adoptive homes are over the age of eight, have
special needs, are of a minority or are part of a sibling group. Are you only
willing to accept an infant or toddler? Are you comfortable parenting a child
of another ethnic background? Are you open to adopting more than one child?
There are no right or wrong answers, but it is important that you are honest
with yourself.
Read more: Preparing your home for an adopted child
2. Determine if special needs adoption is right for your
family. Most states also refer to foster care adoption as special needs
adoption. This is because the trauma most of the children in foster care have
endured causes emotional and behavioral challenges. Research common mental
health conditions in foster children, such as bipolar disorder, reactive
attachment disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, oppositional defiant
disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Read more: What my adopted kids taught me
3. Look into the rules and regulations in your area.
These vary by state and even county. For example, couple's may need to be
married at least two years or single parents may need to have been divorced for
a minimum of one year. You may need to prove you have enough bedrooms to
separate boys and girls. There may be qualifications regarding the amount of
square feet in a home, minimum household income or legal history. It's better
to know if you meet the qualifications before investing too much time in the
process.
4. Also make sure you understand your county's position
on foster children. Some states separate families who wish to be foster parents
from parents who are hoping to adopt. The licensing is the same in other
states. If you want to adopt a child, it is important that you are clear with
the licensing agents and social workers that you are looking for a child that
is legally free for adoption. The goal of foster care is typically to reunite
the child with the biological family up until the time when parental rights are
severed and the child becomes legally free for adoption.
You are now ready to officially start the process! You
will most likely need to take training classes and complete a home study. The
process could take a year or more. Stay tuned for more information and tips on
adopting from foster care.
Rachael Moshman is
a mom, freelance writer and blogger. Find her at www.rachaelmoshman.com.