Adopting a child through the United States foster care system is known as foster adoption. Children under the United States foster care system are placed there due to neglect by birth parents or other issues to their wellbeing.

Foster adoption is different from foster care. Foster care is a temporary arrangement. Foster adoption legally transfers the rights and the responsibilities of the child to the adoptive parents.

Foster adoption is the most inexpensive method of adoption when compared with agency and private adoption. Most foster adoptions are free. Some adoptive parents may even receive a monthly subsidy when they adopt a child from foster care. A subsidy is an amount of money granted by the government to cover the expenses of the adopted child.

Foster adoption requirements may vary from state to state. They may include verification of income to meet expenses, reference from employer, and reference from a doctor, criminal record check and minimum age. Foster adoption process usually begins with an orientation. Prospective adoptive parents often have to attend free preparation classes which are held over several weeks for a total of forty hours. These classes educate prospective adoptive parents about the foster adoption process.

Some children under the foster care system may have special physical and emotional needs. The adoptive family’s ability to care for the child will be considered in the adoption process. Foster adoption has to take place through a foster care or foster adoption agency. An adoption home study has to be completed during the adoption process. Adoption home study is a report or a profile on the adoptive parents or adoptive family compiled by a social worker. This report includes details of the family background, neighborhood and financial situation.

Unlike in other types of adoption, this adoption is finalized after the child moves in with the adoptive parents. The child and the adoptive parents get the opportunity bond and to get to know each other even before the foster adoption is finalized. The foster adoption process can take up to twelve months from the time the adoptive parents decide to adopt till the child is placed with them. The finalization of the adoption usually takes up to six months from the time the child moves in with the adoptive parents.

An attorney will be needed to assist with the adoption process. It is possible to foster adopt a child from a different state or a different ethnicity. Adopting from a different state can take longer than normal foster adoption. Special considerations apply when adopting an American Indian child. Unlike foster care, foster adoption is legally binding. Once the adoption is finalized birth parents or relatives are unable to remove the child from the adoptive parents.

Foster adoption gives foster children safe, loving families while it is a relatively easy and affordable adoption method for adoptive parents.