Adoption Through the Foster Program: Challenges and Rewards

Would-be parents looking to adopt a child have several options. There are private agencies, church based adoption agencies, overseas adoption agencies, and adopting through foster care. Each of these have their own drawbacks, costs, and limitations. If successful, you will receive a child who will become a member of your family. You will assume the responsibilities of parenting this child and you will have a profound impact on that child's life from that day forward. Which option is best for your situation? Which option allows the best opportunity for success?

Should you choose to become foster parents you will be entering an entirely new world. The challenges and obstacles you will face are numerous, but the rewards can be tremendous. When you adopt a child through the foster care program you are changing the life of a child in your own community. You are making a real and substantial difference where you live. With foster care you must decide if you want to adopt an infant, toddler, pre-teen, or teenager. Each group has their own unique challenges and limitations. You should be aware, if you are looking to adopt an infant or toddler, you could be in for a substantial wait.

Children, from a category of your choosing, will be placed in your home for protective care. You should be aware, most of these children will return to their biological parents. This is one of the hardest aspects of fostering, letting go of the kids you have bonded with. When the biological parents fail to improve their condition/problems the court can terminate their parental rights. At that time the child is eligible for adoption. The termination process can take from a few months to a few years depending on the situation. When the child becomes eligible for adoption, two groups are looked at most closely. Immediate family members, and the foster parents. In most cases you will know well before this point if there are any family members interested in the child. If not, the state strongly considers the foster parents since they are familiar with the child and there has been bonding between the potential parent and the child. At this point the process can pick up speed and you need to be ready with answers when the court or DHS (Department of Human Services) asks you about your intentions/plans for the child.

You may go through several dozen children before a single child comes up for adoption. With the foster care program there are no guarantees a child placed with you will ever come up for adoption, but should this be the case, do not despair. You should be proud you had the opportunity to provide a safe and loving home to dozens of children in their time of need. Patience is required, but your blessings will be many.

What is required to be a foster parent?

Being a foster parent is a big responsibility and will require some work and commitment on your part beyond the actual caring for a child. I am only familiar with the requirements from my state (Arkansas) which are listed here. Requirements may vary from state to state so check with your local DHS office for details. You will be required to be certified in CPR You will have to pass a first aide class You will need a good driving record You will be fingerprinted You will submit to a criminal background check (local/state/federal) Your home will be inspected You will have to attend/pass an initial training course (6 weeks) You will be required to receive annual training and re-certification You will be checked to see if you are a registered sex offender You cannot be a smoker

It may seem like a great deal, and to be honest at times it is, especially at the beginning of the year when all of your certifications need to be renewed. When you consider the responsibility you are undertaking, these checks and requirements are all in the best interest of the child, and provide you with the best opportunity to succeed as a foster parent. A little inconvenient yes, but well worth the time.

Benefits of Adopting from Foster Care

Once again I am going to list the conditions and terms of my state. Each state's laws and policies will vary. You will want to check with your state's DHS to get details on your area. There are no adoption fees, which can save you thousands of dollars. Legal issues are handled by the state, in most cases you do not need to have an attorney You are changing the life of someone in your own community. There is no travel required.

Children adopted through foster care generally have some baggage that will need to be dealt with at some point. They will also eventually have questions about their biological parents, and why they were adopted. Be honest and open with them, they deserve it. Remember, you did not become their parents due to an unplanned pregnancy or other accident, you choose to be their parents, you choose to be a part of their lives. They will come to realize and appreciate this fact, and when things are all said and done, you can know you made a difference. If only on a temporary basis, you were a parent to a child in need, and you made a difference.