There are more than 500,000 children in foster care in the United States, according to a report by the Child Welfare Information Gateway, and only half of them are expected to be reunited with their birth families. In 2006, 17 percent of children in foster care were adopted, though, by people who found them either through fostering them or websites devoted to foster care adoptions. It's much less expensive to adopt through the foster care system (there are no placement fees) but there are rules that must be followed for the safety of the child, the birth family and the adoptive family.
Background checks
Everyone who adopts domestically needs to submit a criminal activity clearance and child abuse clearance as part of showing their readiness to adopt. You may still be approved for adoption if the crime you committed was long in the past or had other mitigating circumstances, but it's unlikely you'd be approved with any sort of abuse record.
Home Requirements
Homeownership is not a requirement of adopting through the foster care system, but you will need to show that you have space for the child and the ability to care for him. There is often financial assistance that comes with a foster child and that continues after the adoption.
Education Classes
You will be required to take an education class about adopting through the foster care system. Since many of the children are older and have been in foster care with a family or in a group setting for many months, it's important that you learn about the unique issues in parenting a child who has experienced those losses and changes.
Case Worker Visits
You may be required to have several visits with your child's social worker or case worker after placement to make sure the placement is going well.
