Thrifty Thursday: Foster Care Adoption a More Economical Adoption Option?
It's no surprise to hear of the different ways the economy has impacted adoption. It's being reported many prospective adoptive parents are turning from expensive private adoptions toward foster care adoption. Those who know me know that we adopted from foster care, so it's a subject that's dear to my heart, however, I do have some concerns with this trend.
There are children in foster care waiting to be adopted, but not all foster children are waiting for an adoptive home. It is possible for a family to choose to only be placed with children legally free for adoption.
Families need to be ready to say good-bye to a child if she is successfully reintegrated home with birth family. This can be truly heartbreaking for those families wishing to add the child permanently to their family through adoption.
Challenging behaviors of some foster children are not for every parent or family.
Not every state has the budget, at this time, to grant a medical card and an adoption subsidy post adoption finalization. There has to be a strong need for the child to need this extra support, not the adoptive family's financial need. Check your state's guidelines for more information.
I'm the last person to turn away adoptive homes for the 129,000 children in foster care needing adoptive homes. The truth is, not every foster child is free for adoption, and it's not fair to prospective adoptive parents, birth families wishing to be reunified, and the children to pretend that foster care adoption is always a sure bet.
Did you complete an adoption through foster care? What advice can you give others seeking a foster care adoption? Share your opinion in our comments section.
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I adopted my son through foster adopt. It was very challenging emotionally waiting for termination of parental rights and adoption finalization. 4 years of wondering will he be mine. He came into my life at 4 weeks and adoption was finalized when he was 4. Though it was a four year roller coaster, it was worth every minute of it for he is a true blessing now at the age of 11. I would highly encourage people to really think through if they can handle the emotional “what if” of the adoption not finalizing. If you can handle it, go for it there are many children who need a family.
I agree with Marcia that you have to enter into this arrangement knowing that reunification is always the preferred route for the birth parents, the children and the state. It can be difficult to spend a couple of years as a glorified babysitter, even though many times you feel you’re the only one who has these kids’ best interest at heart. We have just signed a very limited open-adoption agreement (postal exchanges, visits only at therapist recommendation and supervised by therapist). We are starting counseling soon as a family in order to help all of us move into attaching as a permanent family to replace the temporary relational roles we established as a foster family. However, the finalization of the adoption is probably still a year off. Before embarking on this journey I did contact friends who adopted four siblings from foster care that were legally free for adoption when they met them. That route seems to have it’s own trials as well. When we signed up to foster-to-adopt we seriously considered what type of children we would be able to provide a permanent home to, in case we were offered a chance to adopt. I was concerned that no children would fit our list, but we got a call before our paperwork was even completed. I’ve never regretted being so selective (even though I originally fought my husband on it). We knew as soon as they entered our home that these children were a good fit for us. Through fostering we have tried to figure out if we are a good fit for them (self-doubt continues to reign on that point).