3 Myths About Adopting Foster Care Children

Increased regulations on international adoption have caused many potential adoptive parents to look toward adopting an American foster child instead. It is often less time-consuming and far less expensive to adopt a foster child than traditional domestic adoption or international adoption. There are a number of misconceptions about procedures regarding adopting foster children. Here, we will look at some of the most common myths around this issue.

Myth #1 - Adoptive parents must be affluent

In reality, adoptive parents do not need to be wealthy, own a house, or have a stay-at-home parent in the home. Adopting foster children is often free and any costs associated with the adoption are typically reimbursed. From a financial standpoint, adoptive parents must simply be able to provide for the child.

Myth #2 - Most foster care children have special needs

The truth is, many children in foster care are average kids who simply had unfortunate circumstances which required them to be removed from unfit homes. The term “special needs” generally refers to children with physical or mental disabilities. However, in the foster care system, this term means something very different. It includes older children, ethnic minority groups, and sibling groups needing to be adopted together.

Myth #3 - You must be married

A potential adoptive parent’s marital status, age, and sexual orientation do not disqualify them from adopting foster care children. You do not need to be of childbearing age or already have children in the home. These characteristics are much less important to the foster care administrators. They are focused on putting children in safe, loving homes.

If you are considering adoption, do not discount foster care as an option. There are thousands of children in need of homes. Contact your local child welfare department for more information.