About Adoption

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 advocate in your state or territory who can help you 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).