Foster Care vs. Private Adoption

You’re ready to start building your family, and you couldn’t be more excited. But, which type of adoption is right for you? When it comes to foster care vs. private adoption in California, there are a few key differences to be aware of.

You can get free adoption information now when you contact us online today.

Foster Care vs. Private Adoption in California

As you decide whether infant or foster care adoption better meets your needs, it can be helpful to understand what makes these two options different. Each type has its own average waiting time, age group and expenses. Below, we’ll discuss these three facets of the adoption process and how they vary with both adoption options.

Average Waiting Time for Foster Care vs. Private Adoption

One of the main differences between foster care vs. private adoption in California is the average waiting time. Although foster care adoption with most agencies could take years, our “fos-adopt” program minimizes the wait as much as possible.

When you work with our agency, you can expect to wait somewhere around 10-22 months during our fos-adopt process. Most agencies’ services stop after adoption finalization, but our team is here to provide post-placement support for years to come.

For private infant adoption, 9-12 months is typical for one of our hopeful adoptive families. We are also happy to coordinate your private adoption process. As a full-service agency, we’ll connect you with a prospective birth mother and guide you through each step of the journey.

Age of the Adoptee in Foster Care vs. Private Adoption

When it comes to foster care vs. private adoption in California, the average age of the adoptee is vastly different.

In foster care adoption, most of the children are older. The average child in the foster care system who is waiting for adoption is 8 years old, and children can be anywhere from 1-18 years old. It’s quite a wide range, but that’s because birth family reunification is foster care’s ultimate goal. As a result, children are often left waiting in foster care until a court deems the biological parents fit for parenthood.

We focus on “low-risk” placements, meaning that most of our fos-adopt placements include older children. Adopting an infant from foster care is rare and comes with a higher chance of a disruption, which makes adopting an older child less of a risk for hopeful parents. Sibling groups are also common in foster care adoption, so this could be the right path for you if you’re looking to adopt more than one child at once.

If you’re looking to adopt a baby, then private adoption might be the right choice for you. Most children who are placed for private adoption are infants or newborns, and this makes it one of the key differences between foster care vs. private adoption in California. Although we complete many foster care adoptions, our team is also happy to help you adopt a baby whenever you’re ready. Contact us online to get started.

Cost of the Process in Foster Care vs. Private Adoption

While you decide between foster care vs. private adoption in California, be sure to consider the costs of each process.

From a general standpoint, foster care adoption is much less expensive than private adoption. The cost of the adoption home study is the primary cost of the fos-adopt process, and it’s otherwise fairly minimal.

In private infant adoption, there are many more fees involved. To give you a better idea of what to expect during this path, private adoption fees include:

• Advertising and matching services
• Home study process
• Birth mother living expenses
• Adoption attorney fees
• And more

When you work with our agency, though, our professionals will outline all your fees beforehand so you know what you’re paying for. We also offer adoption disruption insurance to guarantee that you’ll get all your money back in case of an adoption disruption. Most agencies do not protect your investment in the process, which means you’d lose your money if you decide to take a break from the adoption process or an adoption doesn’t work out.

We know how important adoption is to your family’s future. That’s why we protect you financially, practically and emotionally. Whether you choose foster care vs. private adoption in California, our team is always here for you.

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If you want to get more free information now, then fill out our online contact form at any time. We’re here to answer your questions about foster care vs. private adoption in California, and we can help you start whichever process is right for your family.