Do you have to become foster parents first in order to adopt foster children?

Question

or is it just a matter of backgrounds checks and things like that to make sure that you are fit to be parents?

I would just like to know how to go about adopting foster children.

Answer 1

Adopting the child is different than being a foster parent. In either case you--hopefully--have to be checked out, but how deep these things go I don't know.

A foster home is technically temporary, unlike adoption.

Answer 2

In TX, you don't have to foster in order to adopt. However, you do need to go through classes and meet other requirements in order to become an adoptive home - sometimes the process takes up to a year, depending on the agency and where you've lived (need to do background checks from every state you lived in).

The State will look for an adoptive home for these children IF their parents' rights have been terminated.  If no termination occurs, these children will NOT be available for adoption, but may need a long-term foster placement.

If the State determines the need to find an adoptive home, the State will obtain several homestudies of interested families, then choose who they think will be best for these children.  I've inquired about several children, and have had our homestudy sent for consideration, but have not been chosen as the adoptive family for them - not because we are a bad family, but because they thought another family would be a better match.  That would be very hard if you had a specific set of children in mind.

I'd talk to the foster parents, then talk to the children's worker (if they will even talk to you).  Find out if parental rights have been terminated (and whether continued visitation is part of the relinquishment or termination proceeding).  There is a lot to think about - especially behaviors, needs, etc. if you have children already in your home - can you provide everything these children TRULY need (you won't know everything until you are chosen as a adoptive family).

In order to be an adoptive parent in TX of a foster child, here are the steps:

(1) background criminal & cps checks, including fingerprinting

(2) 34 hours of parenting classes

(3) Lots and lots of paperwork turned in to cps

(4) fire & health inspection of your home

(5) CPR & first aid certificates; tb test

(6) pass homestudy

(7) have at least 40 square feet of bedroom space for each child - with no less than 80 total square feet per room;

(8) agree to all the agency's minimum standards (no spanking, for instance, until after consumation of the adoption - and even then it's not a good idea);

(9) know how to find services for the children - take them to therapists, advocate for them in school, etc.

(10) TALK TO YOUR CURRENT FAMILY ABOUT THE MAJOR IMPACT ON YOUR FAMILY IN BRINGING MORE CHILDREN INTO YOUR HOME.

Hope I didn't forget anything, but that's the basics.

Answer 3

I guess, you'd better go one step at a time.

Try to become a foster parent first so you'll experience how would it be being a parent.

YOu can experience the joy it brings and the hardships in raising a kid.

Are you sure, you can handle that for a lifetime.

If you are a foster parent, if you don't like the baby, you still can return unlike if you'd already processed the adoption papers, its a "NO RETURN, NO EXCHANGE POLICY."

So better to try it first an think...

Answer 4

The children you are interested in may not be available for adoption.

Some children are placed in long term foster placements, but can never be adopted for one reason or another.

You don't have to be foster parents to adopt children who are being fostered by others if those children are available for adoption.  If you want to long term foster then you need to apply to become foster parents.

However, becoming a foster parent, or being approved as an adoptive parent doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to foster or adopt the little boys you seem so fond of.  Children are matched to the prospective parents, so your social worker would need to be happy that your home was the best place for the children to be.

It may be worth getting in touch with your local Social Services dept and explaining your proposal to them.  They should be able to give you the help and advice you need.

Good luck!

Answer 5

you dont have to... the social worker will be responsible in evaluating you if you are qualified to adopt... being a foster parent is not a condition for you to adopt...

thanks for giving love....

Answer 6

No need to become a foster parents first. Adoption of foster children is so very sensitive and must coordinate agencies concerned and let them evaluate if you qualified for adoption.

Answer 7

you have to register with childrens services or whatever it is called in your state. They do a check of you of course.

It would stand to reason that you would become a foster parent before you were allowed to take care of foster children.  Adoption is an entirely different.matter.

Answer 8

call your county to have a homestudy done & they will tell you if you qualify to foster or adopt.

Answer 9

in Wisconsin you must be foster parent certified to adopt. so other states might have same rule..But to do foster care or to adopt is a bit more than just background checks. Its classes, background checks, lots of references and interviews with you, your spouse and other family members. It takes months, sometimes a year to actually adopt.  Contact the social worker in the case and they will direct you. But just because the children are in foster care does not always mean they will be available for adoption.