Placing a child into a home through foster care or adoption is typically done through an agency. The purpose of foster and adoption agencies is to help parents through the process, either by assisting with licensure to become foster parents or by placing a child for adoption. Fostering and adoption agencies are important components in the work to find homes for children.
Identification
Both foster and adoptive parents must undergo a home study before being eligible for a child placement. Foster agencies help parents acquire certification to become foster parents before taking in a child. Adoption agencies also review the process of the home study for parents and acquire necessary paperwork for an adoption. For some agencies, the home study process is the same for foster care and adoption situations. Some types of home study help that agencies may provide include parenting classes, meetings with a social worker and home safety inspections.
Training
Most states require potential adoptive and foster parents to undergo a certain amount of parent training to prepare them for raising and disciplining a child. The required number of hours varies by state, but foster and adoption agencies can provide the training for parents or connect parents with adequate resources for classes. Parent training may include learning about bonding and attachment, discipline techniques, CPR and First Aid and water safety.
Support
Foster and adoption agencies may help parents with the financial aspects of placing children. Foster parents receive a monthly stipend to cover costs associated with caring for a child. Some agencies help to cover the cost of this stipend or may provide families with respite time away from their foster child. Some adoption agencies may supply information for potential adoptive families about resources to pay for adoption expenses.
Placement
Once foster parents receive certification to care for a child in their home, foster agencies work with government social service providers to place a child with a family. By helping parents with the home study portion of certification, foster care agencies are equipped to decide the best type of placement for a family. Adoption agencies also facilitate the placement of a child by assisting birth mothers with finding a family. Agencies that process international adoptions work with foreign officials to match a family with their child from another country.
Continuing Care
After a child joins a family, ongoing care and support is necessary to determine that the child is thriving in the home. Foster and adoption agencies provide help for parents through services such as child assessment, attachment assistance, parent training for discipline and behavior management and family counseling when necessary. Placement of a child requires ongoing care by agencies to ensure the well-being of the family.
