What is the difference between foster care and adoption?

• Foster care is a temporary arrangement for a child who cannot live safely with her birth family.
• Adoption is a legally binding transfer of all parenting rights and responsibilities to an adoptive parent forever. An adoptive parent's legal status is the same as if the child was born to him or her.

Children in foster care live with their relatives, foster parents or, if neither of these is available, in group facilities. Children are removed from their families due to neglect (such as not providing enough food for a child or leaving a child who is unable to care for herself alone) and/or physical, sexual or emotional abuse. In almost all cases, when children are removed from their parents, parents must be provided help so that they can safely parent their children. Slightly more than half of children who go into foster care return to their birth families. When parents are provided with help and they are still unable to parent safely and their children remain in foster care for 15 of the most recent 22 months, the state files with the courts to legally terminate the parents’ rights. The children then become available for adoption. Most children are adopted by their foster parents or relatives. However, if this is not possible, states try and find other adoptive parents.

How do I become a foster parent?

You can call AdoptUsKids at 1-888-200-4005 or request to be contacted by a foster/adoption contact for your state or territory who can help you to find a local agency. The foster parent licensing process is often similar to or the same as the process to become licensed to adopt. It requires preparation classes as well as an application process. The application varies but may include: a minimum age, verification that your income allows you to meet your expenses, a criminal record check at local, state and federal levels including finger printing and no prior record of child abuse or neglect; a reference from a doctor to ensure that all household members are free from diseases that a child could catch and in sufficient health to parent a child and; letters of reference from an employer and others who know you.

Foster parent pre-service training

States have a variety of policies regarding pre-service training for foster parents. List of pre-service training policies by state. Note: this is not a comprehensive list of all policies.

Limitations on number of children in a foster home

Almost every state limits the number of children that can be placed in a foster home. Many make exceptions in certain cases, often in order to keep a sibling group together. List of limitations and exceptions.

Helpful Resources

Child Welfare Information Gateway: Provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

National Foster Parent Association (NFPA): Strives to support foster parents, and remains a consistently strong voice on behalf of all children.

Fostering Families Today: A bimonthly foster care and adoption magazine for America.

Family Stories: Families share their personal experience about adoption.

Parent Support Groups: Search for a variety of foster care and adoption services and parent support resources by state.

National Adoption Directory Search: This search includes State-by-State contact information for a variety of adoption-related organizations and services including public and licensed private adoption agencies, support groups, State reunion registries, and more.