What's the difference between foster parents and adopting a child?

Question

I need some input for a paper I'm working on. Thanks alot!

Answer 1

An important point that none of the answerers so far has made, is that foster care is not only meant to be temporary, but the State's first goal is reunification of the child with their parents, if that is possible and safe for the child.

The majority of children who enter foster care do not get adopted out, either because it's infeasible due to their age (many older children aren't interested in adoption), or because they go back home, to the non-custodial parent, or a relative.

Another difference is the licensing requirements. Foster parents are given a license that is effective for a limited time (2-4 years, depending on the state), and must renew it to continue fostering. Adoption, once finalized, is generally permanent unless the adoptive parent commits abuse/neglect. The requirements are generally similar, although the type of training is generally different.

Also: The Adoption and Safe Families Act requires that if a child has been removed from their home for 15 of the last 22 months, the state must proceed with termination of the parent's rights, and start trying to adopt the child out. That doesn't mean that the rights WILL be terminated - just that they have to file it with the court. It also doesn't mean the rights end at 15 months - the parent retains rights until the judge finally signs the order to terminate them.

Answer 2

Fostering a child is keeping the child in your home until the child can be return to the original family or is placed up for adoption. Adoption is when you become the parents of a child just like a biological parent would be giving birth to the child and have all the responsibilities of raising the child and adoption means you accept this child that someone else gave birth to into your family and it would be just like own child and you would raise it and assume all responsibilities like the biological parents would have.

Answer 3

Foster parents are usually the intermediary family between the child's removal from the birth family and being adopted my a new family or being placed back with the birth parents or family. Foster parents can adopt if they wish, once the birth parents or birth family has lost rights to the child. Basically, foster parents are used instead of orphanages. Adoptive parents have full guardianship of the child and foster parents have temporary custody.

Answer 4

Foster parents take care of the child until adoptive parents can be found. It's a temporary situation.

Answer 5

Fostering is temporary. Adopting is permanent. Also you get paid for fostering a child, whereas with adopting its just like having your own child.

Answer 6

Foster parents are 'temporary' care givers to a child (even if temporary means a number of years) They do not hold all parental rights and generally have either their natural parents or the state as their legal guardian. To adopt means that you hold all parental rights as if the child was born by you.

Answer 7

Foster parents are wards of the state and are paid for the needs of the child. It is usually temporary.
Adopting is permanent and the child becomes legally yours.

Answer 8

foster parents are tempary and are paid to take care of the kids. Adoptive parents get the child premantly and raise them as their own

Answer 9

Foster care is intended to be a temporary living situation for children. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster_parent

Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth parents. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption

Answer 10

I believe that the major difference is the feeling of safety and permanence that being adopted gives to a child.