Adopton and foster care?

Question

ok so i live in virigina, and in a few years i would like to adopt or do foster care, but every one in my familey says that you have to be married to do it, is that so? i have never been in a realation ship, and am not sure if i want to be in one, but i do want kids, so if i can i would like to adopt, and i know laws on adoption is different in evey state, does any one have adoption/ foster laws for virginia

-thanks, god bless!

Answer 1

YOU DONT HAVE TO BE MARRED

Answer 2

why don't you get artificially inceminated so you can have a child of your own without a man. maybe thats a bad idea, you dont want your kid to be f'd up by not having a father. better to do it to someone else's kid. good luck. maybe time has come to think about the others involved in adoption and not yourself, do research in child psychology before adopting. Im not saying that a fatherless kid will be f'd up 100% of the time, but at least 80% of the time the kid will have sever character flaws. learn the facts.

Answer 3

single, married, g*y, black, white, yellow....doesnt matter..as long as you meet the criteria of a clear criminal background, age, finances, home big enough....etc....then you would be a good candidate for fostering and/or adopting.  good luck...

Answer 4

Increasingly, states are restricting single people from adopting unless related to the child in some way.  What the law is in your state now may be very different in 5 years.  My state still tends to be fairly liberal on adoption/foster care as they find that single people are just as capable of providing a stable home.

Answer 5

Many single people adopt children, so check into the laws of your state & good luck to you.  In Ohio, I knew several women who were single but adopted several childre.

Answer 6

My husband and I are in classes for foster care and with us are 3 single women and a couple.  So, in Texas it is fine to be a foster parent and adopt if the child becomes eligible.  There are so many children in foster care that need a life outside of group homes and someone who can love them.  Congrats on this big step, the need is great!

Looks like it is similar in VA - you don't need to be married.  :)

http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/fc/pa...

Foster parents are people (single or married; employed inside or outside the home) who open their homes to a child or children and are committed to meet the individual needs of the child or children. Foster parents work in partnership with the child, the agency and the birth parents to help in resolving problems and reuniting the family whenever possible. Adults, over the age of 18, may become foster parents.

How do I Become a Foster Parent?

If you are considering foster parenting, you must contact your local department of social services. Each local department has a contact person for foster parents who can provide you with the information you need to make your decision about foster parenting. The local department is responsible for approving foster parents.

Local department staff will give you more detailed information about the application process and training. Basic requirements include:

Completing an application

Consenting to a criminal background check

Consenting to a child abuse/neglect record check

Providing references

Providing medical information

Providing employment history

Meeting with a social worker to:

Discuss the roles and responsibilities of a foster parent

Show that your home is a safe environment for your foster child

Review state and local foster care requirements

Participating in orientation and/or training workshops provided for foster parents

The time it takes to gain approval varies, but the approval process usually takes between two and four months.

Answer 7

I am a foster parent and although I am married and live in Canada there are foster parents who are single and able to foster. Don't give up check into the agency where you live.

Answer 8

I live in Utah and the law here is for Foster Care you can be single or married but no living with sig. other until married. And adoption I am not sure but it's probably the same.

Answer 9

I work in child welfare in Michigan, but you shouldn't have to be married, that policy doesn't make sense. There is an overwhelming need for children to be adopted and foster parents. Virginia would be shooting them selves in their foot if that was a policy- it would be preventing parents taking in kids who need family settings and it would cost them more keeping these kids in residential facilities.

Go to http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/child...

They have adoption policies on that page.

Answer 10

you do not have to be married to be a foster parent in tenn. your best source of info. would be to call the department of childrens services in your county