If a baby is in a foster home in the US can you still adopt it? (for how much?)?

Question

(if their parents have passed away)

Answer 1

If the child is available for adoption yes...but most foster parents who have infants want to adopt the child and they are always considered first.

Special needs adoption through foster care (all foster care is considered special needs even if the child has no specific special needs) in my state is done at the expense of the state.  However my state no longer gives adoption subsidies for children under three unless their is a specific special need that requires care.  The cost of the adoption is covered by the state.

Answer 2

Foster children and youth are available for adoption YES! Infact many states will even help you with finances to take them into your home.

I was a foster baby and adopted at 6 months :)

Answer 3

If it is not possible for a child in fostercare to reunited with their family, then yes the child will eventually become available for adoption. However, if a family member does not come forward to adopt the child, then the foster parents are usually given the option before anyone else.

In the case of infants, people hoping to adopt often foster a baby with the hopes of adopting the baby if and when that becomes possible. There are a LOT of foster parents hoping to adopt an infant or toddler, so there aren't many babies who are already legally free for adoption waiting in foster care without anyone to adopt them.

Answer 4

Talk to the foster home. You could at least foster the child, and if everything works out, you should be able to adopt.

Answer 5

Really depends on the situation. The reason for most foster homes is a temporary home until the child finds adoptive parents. On the other hand, some children are sent into foster care while their parents undergo further investigation for neglect, etc. In that case, they cannot be adopted until parental rights are relinquished.

Answer 6

Depends.  

If the child has been abandoned or if the bio-parent's rights have been terminated then YES, the child is available for adoption.

If the parents have died, then YES, the child is available for adoption.

In general, the cost for adopting through foster care is either very minimal or free.  However, you have to go through all the training, background checks, and home-study that would be required as if you were fostering a child.

Answer 7

Adopting through foster care is free in most states, and low cost in others.

I second Tish's emotion..."it" is not a word most people would choose to describe them.

My husband and I are adopting through foster care in Oregon.  Feel free to write me if you have any questions, or if you think I can help.

Answer 8

"can you still adopt it?:--please, don't refer to children as "it."  it's dehumanizing.  

children can only be adopted if they are adoptable.  foster status doesn't immediately denote that they are available.  but i do commend you from attempting to reach out to children in the system...

Answer 9

If a baby is in foster care and both parents have died, then the state first looks to find relatives on both sides who want to adopt the baby.  Once those options are exhausted, then the baby is available to adoption.  In many states now, the foster parent actually has a better chance at being the first choice.