Pathway To Adoption

Fostering vs. Adoption

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Hey Mama & Papa Bears !

Today, let’s talk about the differences between Adoption and Fostering!

A·DOP·TION           /əˈdäpSH(ə)n/

noun

  1. 1.the action or fact of legally taking another’s child and bringing it up as one’s own, or the fact of being adopted.

FOS·TER                /ˈfôstər,ˈfästər/

verb

  1. 1.encourage or promote the development of (something, typically something regarded as good).
  2. 2.bring up (a child that is not one’s own by birth).

 

As previously stated, adoption means to legally take custody of a child and retain permanent custody for the reminder of their childhood. Simply stated, it’s giving a child a “forever home”. On the contrary, fostering is typically considered temporary, short term custody of a child until reunification with the birth parents can be achieved.

Neither option is better than the other by any means. Personally, I have chosen the adoption route because I want to be a mother to children who need one. I currently have no desire for a revolving door of children in and out of my home. Again, there is NOTHING wrong with that revolving door. It’s just not where my heart is at the moment. Who knows? After my adoption is complete, I may be open to fostering. We’ll see !

 

Again, one option is no better than the other. Some people have even done both. You just have to choose based on what’s best for you and your family. The Departments of Human Services across the country need them both, parents who want to foster and parents who want to adopt. Both custody types are imperative. There are some children whose parents have either relinquished their parental rights or had them terminated by a judge. Said children need to be adopted. These are the children you see on Wednesday’s Child and on The Heart Gallery.

By the same token,  there are some children whose parents still have parental rights who desire to raise their kids. A circumstance has just occurred that has caused separation between them and their children. Those children just need temporary placement, which is foster care where the goal is always reunification.

A common example of why child services will intervene is because of parental drug use that might endanger the child. Once notified, child services will investigate and remove the child.

Those children will remain in foster care until the parent(s) can regain custody of their children by working their case plan (i.e. rehab, gainful employment, counseling, etc). This process can take days, months or years. It varies case by case. Each state has its own set of laws and procedures, so no two cases are exactly alike. Quick Fact: Some foster situations actually turn into adoptions if case plans by birth parents are not completed. Again, we’ll revisit this in a later post.

Now, let’s talk pros & cons ! This is my own personal list based on the information I’ve gathered since starting this journey over a year ago. There may be more, but this list will at least give you a running start. Let’s go!                                             

ADOPTION

                PROS:

  1. Rescuing a child
  2. Helping birth parents
  3. Building a family
  4. Providing a permanent home for children in need of one.

              CONS:

  1. Long, tedious process
  2. Expensive fees
  3. Challenging children
  4. Negativity from others

FOSTERING

                PROS:

  1. Rescuing a child in need
  2. Helping a birth family
  3. Providing stability for a child
  4. Providing a safe home
  5. Generally inexpensive
  6. Financial Assistance from the state

              CONS:

  1. Long, tedious process
  2. Challenging children
  3. Negativity from others
  4. Difficult birth parents
  5. Multiple court hearings
  6. Severed attachment when they leave

Things I didn’t include in the pros and cons list are: 1) Birth Parent Visitations and 2) Revolving Door of Children in and out of the home , because those can go either way depending on the situation. Also, another pro of adoption is that it can be inexpesive if done through foster care. Adoptions by other means are the ones that can be expensive. 

 

In our next post, we will discuss the different types of adoption, including adoption through foster care. We’ll talk prices and more. I hope you’re now armed with a little more knowledge after reading today’s blog….

Oh, and just one more thing….Throughout this blog, I will frequently use the phrases “Birth parents” and “Bio parents” interchangeably. Just know I’m referencing the same thing…just so there’s no confusion LOL.  Thank for reading & See you next post !