Who can adopt?

Requirements vary from state to state but most adults can qualify to adopt. You do not need to own your own home, have children already, or be wealthy, young, married, or a stay-at-home parent. Many parents have adopted who have health problems or disabilities that don’t interfere with their ability to care for children. The following characteristics are necessary to be a good adoptive parent: stability, maturity, dependability, flexibility, and an ability to advocate for children while working as a team player with your social worker and community services. And it really helps to have a sense of humor too! For more information see Who May Adopt, Be Adopted, or Place a Child for Adoption?

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.

Can I adopt or foster if I have birth children already?

Yes. Caseworkers can answer your questions about integrating your birth children with children you plan to adopt or foster during the application and education process.

How do I adopt?

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. Prospective parents must complete assessment and licensing requirements that vary from state to state and may include: a minimum age, verification of income 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 (although prospective parents do not need to be in perfect health) and; letters of reference from an employer and others who know you. A typical application process would include the parent(s) attending an orientation and then following the steps listed above while attending free preparation classes (often about 40 hours spread over several weeks).

How much paperwork is involved?

A lot! The caseworkers who work for the state that is legally responsible for the child in foster care, want to make sure the temporary or permanent family found for a child will be a safe and happy place. You can think of the paperwork as the first parenting task you will do for the child/ren that will come to your family!

What is a homestudy?

A homestudy is a written document that your family caseworker will write about your family. It is the final result of a family’s preparation classes and interviews with an adoption or foster care agency and includes basic information on a family and the types of children the family feels they are able to parent. Homestudies are shared with child caseworkers who are looking for families for specific children. This lets caseworkers know that the family has been approved to adopt and/or foster and what the family can offer to a child, for example, the family might have a home that is wheelchair accessible or might be very interested in taking in a sibling group. Sometimes home studies are called “Family Profiles.” If you aren’t given a copy of your homestudy, you should ask for one. Find more information about the homestudy process on the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Why do I have to take preparation classes in order to adopt or foster a child?

Because there's a lot to it! And, you will want to be as educated and informed as you can possibly be so that you can make the best choices for your family as you consider adopting or fostering a child. The children in foster care have had many losses and much sadness in their young lives and you will need to have an understanding of this and have information on how best to integrate the new child into your family. Also, you will want all the information and guidance you can receive on the adoption and foster care process itself. You want to be able to make good, informed decisions each step of the way!

What is the difference between a "family caseworker" and a "child caseworker"?

The family caseworker helps a family with the foster care or adoption process, including identifying children that might be a good fit for the family. Some families inquire about children available for adoption on their own and then get their family caseworker involved. A good relationship between a family and their caseworker is very important. A child caseworker is responsible for finding families for the children they work with that will best meet the children’s needs. Family and child caseworkers work together as a team to make the decision about placing a child with the most suitable family and then to follow through with actually moving the child to the new family and making sure the family has the services it needs to parent the child.

How long does it take to adopt a child?

It usually takes about 12 months from the time a family first calls an adoption agency to the time when a child is placed with the family. Adoptions are usually finalized in court about 6 months after the child is placed with the family. Of course, these estimates can vary depending on where you live and your individual circumstances.

How much does it cost to adopt?

Most adoptions from foster care are free (there may be some minimal fees depending on the agency you use and these fees are often reimbursable). In addition, many children in foster care are eligible for monthly subsidies after they are adopted. A subsidy is money to help with the expenses of caring for a child or children. Each state determines who is eligible for a subsidy but generally they are given for children who might have a more difficult time getting adopted because they are older, part of a large sibling group, are a minority or have some handicaps. Find more adoption subsidy information on the North American Council on Adoptable Children website.

Will I need an attorney to adopt?

In almost all cases, you will need an attorney to adopt. Your agency will be able to answer specific questions about legally finalizing your adoption. The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy is a resource for legal information related to adoption.

What factors are considered in selecting a family for a child?

The most important consideration is the family’s ability to meet the needs of the child. For example, is the family willing and able to adopt all members of a sibling group or does the family have experience with a specific learning disability? For more detailed information, please see Finding a Fit that Will Last a Lifetime: A Guide to Connecting Waiting Children with Adoptive Families.

How do I find foster care and adoption policies and procedures for where I live?

You can call 1-888-200-4005, email info@adoptuskids.org or request to be connected with a foster/adoption contact for your state or territory.

Can I adopt a child outside my state?

Yes! However, sometimes these adoptions can take a little longer. When a child is moved from one state to another to make sure the child is placed safely, social workers must follow the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). Families adopt children from outside their state every single month.

Can I adopt a child of a different race or ethnicity?

Yes. It is against federal law to prohibit parents from adopting a child from foster care of a different race or ethnicity. The only exception to this is the adoption of American Indian children where special considerations apply. For more information visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

How do I find a local foster care or adoption agency to work with?

Call 1-888-200-4005, email info@adoptuskids.org or request to be connected with a foster/adoption contact for your state or territory.

Can a relative show up to claim a child once he or she is already adopted by my family?

Adoptions are legally-binding agreements. It is very, very rare that an adoption is challenged in court by a relative.

Are all adoptions successful?

Over 98 percent of legally completed adoptions remain intact. Adoptions appear to be more stable when parents are tolerant of a wide range of behaviors, and have flexible and realistic hopes and expectations for their children. For more information about post adoption support for families visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Helpful Resources

Child Welfare Information Gateway: Provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families.

North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC): NACAC helps to reform systems, alter viewpoints, and change lives through advocacy, education, adoption support, and leadership development.

Adoptive Families Magazine: This award-winning national adoption magazine is an adoption information source for families before, during, and after adoption.

Dave Thomas Foundation: A non-profit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 114,000 children in North America's foster care systems.

Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: Brings together authoritative information from government agencies like the national Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine.

The Basics of Adoption Practice: A Bulletin for Professionals: Provides an overview of adoption practice and the responsibilities of adoption workers.

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.

Heart Gallery of America, Inc: The Heart Galleries across the US provide public awareness of the need for adoptive families. Volunteer professional photographers take portraits of children waiting for adoption. Their photographs present the children in a way that a description alone never could!

Families Like Ours, Inc: The independent Adoption Exchange with a focus towards gay and lesbian adoptive families. We welcome the diversity of all pre and post adoptive-foster families, creating permanent families for children in the US foster care system.

Family Stories: Inspiring foster care and adoption stories are featured in the words of a family.

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

Books

The following are a few of many books that can serve as resources for prospective adoptive parents:

Another Mother by Sarah Gerstenzang

A Child's Journey Through Placement by Vera Fahlberg

Our Own: Adopting and Parenting the Older Child by Trish Mashew

Adopting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck and Regina Kupecky

Parenting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck and Regina Kupecky