Frequently Asked Questions
Adopting from foster care is a joy and a challenge. You certainly will have many questions to ask as you consider the option and move through the process. As always, Harmony Adoptions is available to stand with you through the process to help you best navigate through the various steps involved.
We have gathered some frequently asked questions about adopting from foster care. The answers here should help as a starting place in your conversations, but are not meant to replace the personal guidance and consultation you will need.
In addition to these questions, we have also compiled some additional foster care adoption resources for you in your research.
Please contact us when you are ready to begin the conversation on how you can help a child find the stable and loving home he or she needs.
- What is the difference between foster care and adoption?
- Who are the children available for adoption?
- What steps are involved in adopting a child/youth from foster care?
- How long does it take to adopt a child/youth from foster care?
- How do I choose an agency to work with in a foster care adoption?
- Why are training classes and preparation necessary for a foster care adoption?
- Are additional trainings necessary to help our family prepare for adoption?
- What additional services are available after adopting a child/youth from foster care?
What is the difference between foster care and adoption?
- Foster care is a temporary arrangement for a child/youth that cannot live safely with his/her family. These children have been removed from their birth families due to neglect and/or abuse and are in the custody of the state of Tennessee. They have been temporarily placed with relatives, foster parents, or in a residential facility. Since the goal of foster care is generally reunification with a parent, the state will work with the birth parents so that the child may safely return. If the parent is unable to parent safely or if the child has remained in foster care for 15 months out of last 22 months, the state will file with the court to terminate the parents’ rights. If reunification is not possible, the state will first attempt to identify members of the child’s family that will be willing and able to provide a permanent placement.
- Adoption is a legally binding transfer of all parenting rights and responsibilities to an adoptive parent forever. An adoptive parent’s legal status to an adopted child is the same as if the child was born to them. After the birth parents’ rights have been terminated, the child is legally free for adoption. Typically, before the child is placed with an adoptive family, the adoptive parents will be asked by the state of Tennessee to sign an ‘Intent to Adopt Placement Agreement’. This document states the parent(s) commitment and agreement to move forward with the adoption. Adoptions are usually finalized in court about six months after the child is placed with the family.
Who are the children available for adoption?
Nationally, there are nearly half a million children in the foster care system, with over 100,000 waiting for adoptive families. In Tennessee alone, there are several thousand children temporarily placed with relatives, foster parents, or in residential facilities. Of these children, many are still waiting for an adoptive family. These children were removed from their homes and birth families and enter into foster care due to no fault of their own for the following reasons:
- Severe abuse and neglect.
- Abandonment or loss of both parents due to death or severe disability and do not have relatives to take care of them.
- Birth parents are unable to parent and take care of the child and voluntarily relinquish their parental rights.
These children have experienced trauma and many losses that have deeply impacted their ability to trust and count on adults to meet their needs. Some children have special needs related to physical, emotional or learning handicaps. They need a caring, compassionate adult to advocate for their needs and provide the love and care needed to overcome those challenges. All of these children need adults who can provide a safe and nurturing family that will provide the opportunity for them to grow and do the things they never experienced.
What are the steps involved in adopting a child/youth from foster care?
Remember, this is your decision and you have to choose what you feel is best for your family. Bringing a child into your family is a big decision and impacts every family member. The entire process of becoming an adoptive parent is designed to prepare you and ensure that every child is placed in a safe and nurturing home. At times it may feel overwhelming or frustrating, it is important to remember that in the end it will provide a more rewarding experience for your family and the child.
These are the general steps to becoming an adoptive parent in Tennessee; they may vary slightly depending upon whether you go through the Department of Children’s Services or a private agency that provides foster care and adoptive services. Typically, the process from first contacting an agency to receiving your licensing/approval, takes approximately two months. This may vary some depending upon your individual circumstances and the agency you choose to work with you.
1) Decide if you want to find out more
2) Identify an agency that you would like to work with
3) Complete and submit an application to foster and/or adopt
4) Submit to a full background check and fingerprinting
5) Attend an orientation meeting
6) Complete training and preparation classes
7) Complete the mutual assessment and home study
8) Receive licensing and or approval
9) Have a child placed in your home
How long does it take to adopt a child/youth from foster care?
Once you have become approved and licensed as an adoptive parent(s), the agency you have chosen to work with will work to identify a child that matches with your family. Based upon your family’s preferences and available children that match your family, a child can be placed who:
- is already available for adoption. In this case, adoptions are usually finalized in court about six months after the child is placed with the family.
- is a child that may not yet be eligible for adoption. Since the goal of foster care is generally reunification with a parent, the mother and the father will have approximately fifteen months, in order to provide a suitable home for their child. If they are unable to provide a fit home, the court may terminate their parental rights and the child will be available for adoption.
These time estimates can vary, depending upon your and the child’s individual circumstances.
How do I choose agency to work with in a foster care adoption?
Parents seeking to adopt may do so directly through the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services or through a private agency that provides foster care and adoptive services for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
The best place to begin finding an agency to work with is to contact your local Tennessee Department of Children’s Services office, which will be able to answer your initial questions and provide a list of private adoption agencies in your area. You may also use the yellow pages or the internet to identify private agencies that work with adoptions from foster care. There are many roads that lead to the same path and families have to decide what will work best for them. When contacting agencies, ask questions to get all the information you need, what is required from you, and on what the agency does. Here are some questions that you may want to ask when contacting agencies:
- What is involved in the home study process?
- What training and preparation classes are required?
- When and where the classes will take place and who in your family should attend?
- How long will it take to complete the preparation classes and home study process?
- What services are available once a child is placed in your home?
- Are their adoptive parents you can speak to who have successfully adopted through the agency?
- Once you been approved for an adoptive placement, if the agency does not have a child available, will they help identify an available child through the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services or another private adoption agency?
Why are training classes and preparation necessary for a foster care adoption?
The training and home study are both a part of the important preparation that helps agencies and parents understand, support, and work together for the benefit of the child. Successful adoptions happen when adoptive parents feel educated and informed so that they can make the best choice for their family. The training and mutual assessment provides parents an understanding of the adoptive and foster care process, how to integrate a new child into their family, their own strengths and challenges, the type of child that best matches the family, and how loss and sadness impact attachment and behavior.
Parents can expect to attend approximately 8-10 training classes over several weeks. Some private agencies that work with adoptions from foster care may also include additional therapeutic training to support parents in working with children that need more support. Home studies usually are completed in 3-4 sessions and include all members of the family. This may seem like a lot of time, but this preparation will help you navigate the journey of adoption.
Are additional trainings available to help our family prepare for adoption?
The Adoption Preparation Training program was developed by Tennessee’s Adoption Support and Preservation Program and is made possible through funding from Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services.
This training is intended to help deepen your understanding of yourself and your child. It is also intended to help build a lasting bond and commitment for families experiencing adoption through foster care. Through ASAP and the State of Tennessee this training is offered at no charge to parents who have adopted through DCS or are in the process of adoption with DCS.
For more information or to register for available trainings, please contact The Center for Adoption Research and Education at Harmony Adoption by phone at 888.848.2723 or via email at iati@harmonyadoptions.org.
What additional services are available after adopting a child/youth from foster care?
The Adoption Support and Preservation Program (ASAP) is a unique program in Tennessee that offers a continuum of services designed to support resource families through our Adoption Preparation training, crisis intervention, counseling, support groups, relief team development, and parenting education. These services are available to Tennessee families who have completed adoptions through DCS or are in the process of adoption with DCS.
Families may contact the ASAP helpline at 888.848.ASAP to begin services and to learn more about the program. We invite you to visit our website, www.tnasap.org to learn more about how ASAP services can support your family.
