Adopting a child through the foster-care system is often less expensive than private adoptions.
Adoption is something to consider when you are thinking of starting a family. Although private adoptions and overseas adoptions can be quite costly and time consuming, adopting through a foster-care program can be less expensive and sometimes takes far less time, There are many children already available for adoption in the United States who are currently in foster care, including infants.
Instructions
1. Take the required classes to become a certified foster parent in your state. The requirements will differ from state to state and you should contact your local Department of Human Services to obtain a foster parent application. It is not necessary to become a foster parent in order to adopt a foster baby but keep in mind that first preference for adoption will be given to the foster family the baby is living with, and then to other prospective adoptive parents. You must also contact your local Department of Human Services to obtain an application to adopt a foster baby.
2. Set up an appointment to have a home study conducted. This is a requirement of every adoption, whether private or through the foster care system, It is also required whether you are a foster parent or not. Home studies will vary from state to state but are usually performed by a licensed certified social worker and consist of one or more home visits in which the social worker will ask you to fill out a multitude of forms describing in detail your work history, family history, medical history, financial history and views on things such as church, school and discipline. The social worker will also obtain your permission to run background checks on every member of the family over age 16. You will be asked to provide reference letters as well.
3. Look through photos of current foster children who are waiting to be adopted. Some of these can be found on websites such as photolisting.adoption.com. Your local Department of Human Services will also have books which contain photos of children in foster care who are waiting to be adopted. Once you have completed Steps 1 and 2, it is usually just a matter of having a judge sign the adoption decree.
4. Arrange an appointment with an attorney. You will need an attorney to draw up the legal adoption decree and to set a date for the decree to go in front of a judge. Your attorney can also double-check things for you, such as making sure all parental rights have been terminated so the adoption cannot be overturned at a later date.
Tags: foster parent, Department Human, Department Human Services, foster care, Human Services