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Foster Care Adoption Process
There are several ways to begin the foster care adoption process. A licensed adoption agency or local department of social services can help you get started. Adoptions Together, a program of Paths for Families, can help you on your foster care adoption journey. Here’s how the foster care adoption process works.
Step 1: Training
Foster care adoptions require you to complete a state-mandated 30-hour training program to prepare you for the challenges of parenting a child who has experienced life in foster care. Trainings are scheduled conveniently throughout the year and take place live online.
Step 2: Home Study
A home study helps us ensure you’re prepared to parent a child and that your home is safe for a child who has experienced life in foster care. You will submit documents to us for review, and a social worker will visit you to meet your family several times. Ideally, this takes 3-4 months, but the pace is largely driven by the family.
Step 3: Matching
Once you are approved, you will begin the matching process with our team. Using various search tools, we will connect parents and children whose family needs mesh well. We will help families and children learn more about each other with the help of their caseworkers.
Step 4: Visitation
Once a match is made, visitations will be arranged between you and the child. This will help facilitate a smooth transition between the child’s current living situation, often out of state, and your home. Visits are often arranged in the child’s home and in your own home.
Step 5: Placement
After the child and your family get to know one another and you decide to move forward, the transition and placement plan is made. This is when the child will officially come home with you. Our team offers extra support to your family during this time to ensure your bond is off to a healthy, strong start.
Step 6: Finalization & Support
Once your family has settled into its new relationship, the finalization of your adoption can occur. Adoptions Together believes that all families can thrive with ongoing support and offers a lifetime of services to families so that they can remain healthy and strong.
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Foster Care Adoption FAQ
Adopting from foster care is an incredible way to grow your family. Adoptions Together, a program of Paths for Families, can support you through every step of the process including a robust network of post-adoption services that lead to long-term positive outcomes. Explore our frequently asked questions and inquire about the process today.