How to Start the Foster Care Process

Parenting a child in need of a family can be joyful and rewarding, and the process can be simple when you get the right help. In this article, we will share the steps of how to start the foster care process. You can also get help now from our foster care and adoption professionals.

How to Start the Foster Care Process in California

You might end up feeling overwhelmed if you try to figure out the entire foster care process at once. We’ve broken it down into three simple steps you can take to get started:

Step 1: Determine if Foster Care Adoption is the Right Choice for You

The initial step in any adoption process, including the foster adopt process, involves assessing whether it aligns with your goals and preferences. Not all adoption paths are suitable for everyone, so it's essential to evaluate your own needs and consider your various adoption options.

There are several common reasons why individuals choose the foster adopt process:

1. They are comfortable adopting an older child, a sibling group, or a child with special needs.
2. They seek a more affordable adoption process.
3. They desire to provide a loving and supportive home to children most in need.

We recommend reaching out to our professionals to discuss your specific circumstances.

Before deciding on foster care adoption, you may also consider your other adoption options: private domestic infant adoption and international adoption. Our agency offers all these services, allowing us to discuss all available adoption options when you contact us.

Step 2: Get Help From An Adoption Professional

If you're considering foster care adoption and need guidance throughout the process, you don't have to navigate it alone. The dedicated professionals at FCCA are here to provide the support and assistance you need. With our expertise and experience in the field, we can help you make informed decisions and guide you every step of the way.

At FCCA, we offer comprehensive services that encompass not only foster care adoption but also private domestic infant adoption and international adoption. This means that when you reach out to us for assistance, we can discuss all of your adoption options and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.

Step 3: Attend an Information Session and Consider Your Adoption Preferences

Our agency hosts monthly information sessions about the foster care process and adoption, providing an opportunity to learn more about the foster adopt process and the available children for adoption in the state. During these sessions, you can ask any questions you may have and further confirm if this process is the right fit for you.

As you become familiar with the foster care process, you will also explore options to pursue your personal preferences in the adoption process. For instance, you can determine the type of adoption situations that suit you, including the child's age, race, background, and more. Although your FCCA caseworker will delve into these preferences in greater detail, it's beneficial to start considering them early on.

Completing the Foster Adopt Process

Now that you know how to get started with foster care, here’s an overview of the rest of the foster care process when you are adopting. As you continue the process, you will learn how to start fostering, and if you are hoping to adopt, the process of fostering can lead to adoption in these steps.

Step 1: Fulfill All Requirements for the Foster-to-Adopt Process

When you're ready to commence the foster adopt process, our adoption specialists will guide you through the remaining steps until finalization is achieved.

Before the foster adopt process can begin and you are matched, certain standards must be met. All prospective parents must undergo an adoption home study, complete specific training classes, complete paperwork, conduct individual interviews, and more. When you meet the requirements, you will become a Resource Family home, which is California’s term for "foster families."

Step 2: Await Your Specialist to Identify an Adoption Opportunity

The next step in the foster adopt process is finding the right waiting child.

Your social worker will collaborate with you to find the right child who fits well within your family dynamic. If your social worker identifies available children who appear to meet your adoption preferences, their information will be presented to you for consideration.

Our agency exclusively works with low-risk legal placements, meaning the child placed with you will be ready for adoption soon. You are never obligated to accept any placement unless you believe it is suitable for your family.

Step 3: Submit an Adoption Inquiry

If you find an adoption opportunity that may be a good fit, your social worker will coordinate with the child’s local county social worker. Foster care processes are built to protect children, so the county social worker will use your application materials and home study information to evaluate your family's suitability for the child.

If the social worker determines that you may be a good fit, you will receive additional information about the child in a disclosure meeting. If you continue after the disclosure meeting, your social worker will facilitate in-person meetings and visits between your family and the child to help you establish a connection before making a commitment to accept the placement.

Step 4: Embrace the Child into Your Family

In the next step you can welcome a child into your family as a foster parent, and you will have the opportunity to get to know each other and adjust to your new life as a family.

You will get regular visits to ensure that the placement is progressing well. Additionally, you will receive support resources as you navigate your new life as a family. It is important to remember that assistance is available to you, as welcoming a child into your home often requires support and guidance during the adjustment period.

Step 5: Finalize Your Adoption

Adoption finalization takes at least 6 months for the legal processes, but usually in foster care adoptions, they last a minimum of 12-18 months from the time of placement, and it can be longer if either parent files an appeal.

When you work with FCCA, you will have legal assistance throughout the process of adoption. The last step in the process of adopting a foster child is to attend your finalization hearing, during which you will receive your final adoption certificate. At this point, your child becomes a legal and permanent member of your family.

Get Help with the Foster Care Process

Our team of adoption specialists and social workers is dedicated to ensuring that you have the resources, knowledge, and support necessary to create a loving and stable home for a child in need. We will work closely with you to understand your preferences, answer your questions, and provide guidance throughout the entire process.

Get the help you need with the foster care process from FCCA, and let us assist you in building a loving and nurturing forever family. Contact us today to begin your adoption journey.