Adoption vs. Foster?

Question

What is the main difference between the two? Is Foster parent more demanding in the even the children were abused? I guess foster child would be older?

Answer 1

Foster parents, the child is in the custody of the foster family till the state moves them back home or a different location for the child’s safety. The problem is the parent and child can get attached and then child is pulled from the home and moved someplace else. So there can be a major emotional strain on everyone involved.

Adoption is the family through legal means takes a child in as their own. So in the end the child becomes part of the family that adopts him.

There is allot more to it, but in a nut shell… that is it.

Answer 2

Depends on what it means to you to care for a child. If you are able to take care of a child and let that child go to another home, foster parents would work for you. I know there are alot of children that have been abused and need homes, but with me I want to be part of that child life of recovery not to send he or she to someone else.The road to recovery from abuse is not to live with different people for only short periods of time. Sorry I know there are some people that give their whole heart and sole to these children and it's not for the money. If it was necessary I would do it, but it would be the hardest thing for me to see that child leave my home. If you have the love that it would be hard to let a child leave your home, adoption is the right thing to do. We have two children that were adopted many years ago, the rewards are beyond words.

There has never been alot of information/news of abused children getting a fresh start on life because of recourse of the parents that abused them, but how great it would be to see this taking place where a child has a new life to live without problems.

Answer 3

When most people talk about adoption, they are thinking about babies.  Most people who talk about adoption are also thinking about babies who go straight from their birthmother's arms to their new family's home.  This is not always the case though.  In International adoptions, some of these children are kept in institutional care (orphanges) before they are adopted by a forever family.  Older children can also be adopted internationally, usually they have been raised in an institutional setting first.  

Foste care is when a child is removed from his or her first home by the state.  There are numerous reasons why a child may be removed from his or her first home:  mental illness, neglect, substance abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, dire financial hardship, the child may have special needs that his or her first parents aren't capable of meeting due to social or economic factors, there may have been a death in the family and no other immediate family members able to adopt the child.  Children may be any age in foster care, from babies to eighteen year olds.

As a foster parent and foster child, there is no guarantee of permanency, because unless a parents rights have been terminated (voluntarily or not), the state's goal is often to reunify the family.  Some foster children get moved many many times in their young lives, some foster children get lucky and only live in a few foster homes while they are in foster care.

Most foster children have special needs -- physical, psychological, emotional, mental, or developmental.  These special needs range from mild to severe, and may be a result of neglect or abuse in their first home as well as a result of not having a consistent family environment after being moved from home to home in foster care.

More than half of all children in foster care do get reunited with their families -- either with their first family or with another relative.  Many others are unable to be reunified with their first family or adopted by a family member -- these children can be adopted by their foster families, or by other non-relatives.  

Some parents become foster parents with the intent to adopt.  Some parents become foster parents with the intent to be a "safe harbor" in the foster care system.  Some parents choose to adopt babies, domestically or internationally, and other parents choose to adopt older children who need forever families too.

Answer 4

There is no differecne between the two.

Answer 5

Adoption is with a family, foster is within a large, uncaring, bureacraticly run orphanage that's bent of psychiatric harrassment of children.

Adoption is the best.

Answer 6

we do foster-adopt. one infant only at a time. they are BRAND new and have very little effects. usually only hooked on drugs, but that passes and they are normal. we will adopt the first one that we receive that is available for it. some go back home because the parents shape up. also they will give us a safe surrender or a baby that has all rights of their parents removed and no relative wants them. you are the judge, you say what age, gender, how many you want in your home, etc. you can always say "no". the older the child the more abused/neglected, because they simply were around it longer.

Answer 7

As a former child and family social worker for the state, who worked with foster children and potential adoptive children, I can tell you that foster care is a temporary placement in which a child does not legally become a member of the family.  Infants as well as older children are placed in foster care.  The state is the legal custodian of the child in the case of foster care, and the state pays the foster parent(s) a monthly stipend to help provide for the child's needs.  (It's usually barely enough to provide.)  The legal parent(s) of a foster child may or may not regain custody of his or her child, depending on the circumstances.  This is normally decided by the family court.  Foster care can only be given to a child up to 18 years of age.  After that, the person is considered an adult and if the child was not returned to the custody of his or her parents prior to turning 18, the child (now legal adult) leaves foster care and is on his or her own.

Adoption is a permanent placement in which a child becomes an actual member of a family.  The child has the same familial rights as a child born into the family, and the adoptive parent(s) have all the same rights and responsibilities as if the adoptive mother had given birth to the child.  The legal parent/child relationship continues for a lifetime, unless it is disrupted by either party.  The state does not pay adoptive parents any sort of stipend.  The adoptive parents are fully responsible for the care of their child.  A person can be adopted at any age, not just at infancy.  Many children relinquished by their natural parents do not go immediately to an adoptive home.  They may spend time in a foster home.  They may never be adopted.  Adults can be adopted by other adults, as well.

I do not know why someone would say they are the same thing.  As far as group placement, this is an entirely different situation that is only used if a child has severe difficulties, physical or mental/emotional, that cannot be addressed through living in a family home environment.  Children do not necessarily remain in the placements permanently.  

Because adopted children are considered legally the same as children born to their families, adopted or non-adopted children can be placed into foster care or group placement, if a need is considered to exist.

Answer 8

With adoption, the child is yours legally.  It becomes a part of your family permanently.  With foster care, you are only providing temporary care.  I don't think a foster parent is more demanding in the even the child was abused and I kind of don't understand that question to begin with.  A foster child CAN be older than one you adopt but not necessarily.  

~Raja

Answer 9

If you're a foster parent, the kids are still wards of the state & you get paid from the state to keep them in your home. These children have been removed from their home for whatever reason. Most children have been removed out of foster homes due to abuse, neglect, drugs, other issues. If you adopt, you're legally making the children yours. Babies are put into foster care also.

Answer 10

I have the same question!

Answer 11

Adoption is when a family takes a child into thier home and loves them like thier own for every day of that childs life it can happen at any age and I highly endorse it!

Foster is when a family takes a child in from the system into thier home and the child can be loved as one of thier own but knows that unless the child is adopted it will eventually be moved to a new foster home or given back to the parents.  It is a great thing for some but I find the concept heartbreaking.

Momma_Bear

Answer 12

No fuckabee...foster parenting is NOT a cruel orphanage.  I foster parented 2 kids in my home and we became a close family.

Foster parenting is more demanding.  No only do you work to create as much of a natural home as possible for the kids, you also have to work around team meetings, and visits with the parents as they attempt to get custody back.  You have a lot of things to jungle with that.  No to mention counseling appointments if the child or children need it.  You also have classes that you must attend to keep your license up to date.

Once you adopt.....most the time out of foster parenting them, the team meetings stop....and parents visits.....and classes unless you choose to take in more children that need a temporary home. Once you adopt...the home becomes their family.  I hung pictures my two little ones up right away in the livingroom..now my walls are covered.  During foster care and after...I always wanted and want them to know how special they are and that I'm proud of them and who they are.