There are several factors that contribute to the amount of time it takes to adopt a child through foster care. The time it takes to adopt can be divided into three main parts: certification, placement and transition, and severance to adoption.
Certification
This portion of the journey to adoption is perhaps the most definitive. Each state varies in their requirements, but all have mandatory trainings to attend, paperwork (statements on finances, health, and a background check), and a home study. It can take several weeks to a few months depending on how quickly paperwork is submitted and processed. For more about certification, see Who Can Foster and Adopt?
Placement and Transition
Prospective foster and adoptive parents can specify the type of child they would like to have placed with them. They can request a specific age, gender, race, and level of care (such as willingness to take a child with physical or mental disabilities). Keep in mind that the more restrictions there are, the longer it may take to get a placement. Those willing to take a child of any race or gender, children over age six, or a sibling group are more likely to get a placement quickly.
For foster placements, keep in mind that the placement is always considered temporary until such time as parental rights are severed. Many foster parents do adopt the children placed with them, but there are many children who return to their biological parents or who are adopted by biological family members. There is a great need for foster parents, and caring for these children can be very rewarding, whether they stay or not. See Is Foster Adoption Right For Me?
Once a potential placement is identified, you will receive a phone call in which you can discuss the child or children with your case manager and decide if this is a placement you would like to accept. If the child is new to foster, they can be placed immediately. If the child is transitioning from another foster home or a state facility, you would first meet with the child in a public setting, then gradually increase the amount of time they spend with you and in your home.
If a child is initially a foster placement, the state will set the requirements the biological parent(s) must fulfill in order to have the child return home. Sometimes all that is required is a safety monitor (another accepted adult) in the home, in which case a child may go home quickly. Typically a case is set for review at six months. If the biological parents are non-compliant, the case plan may then be changed from reunification to severance and adoption. If the biological parents are actively participating in the plan, but not yet ready to regain custody, the judge may grant an extension to the case. Ideally a child under 18 months old should not be in care for more than a year, and though the state may have policies to that affect, there are many cases that take longer. Children older than 18 months are considered more bonded to their parents and vice versa, and the parents are generally given more time. There are many factors and so many variations that it is hard to establish a typical time frame. A child may be in foster care without being adoptable for six months to several years depending upon the biological parents’ participation and the court’s decisions.
For those who prefer not to foster prior to adoption, it is possible to adopt through the state without fostering first. There are children whose parental rights have been severed that can be transitioned into an adoptive home.
Severance to Adoption
Once parental rights are severed, the case turns to adoption. There are instances in which biological family members, such as grandparents, who chose not to foster do come forward to adopt and are given priority if the placement is considered appropriate by the state. If there is no potential biological placement, the foster parents are approached. Some foster parents choose strictly to foster, and an adoptable child would be transitioned from that foster home to an adoptive placement. There is typically a six month period of transition. If a child has been in care for over six months and the foster parents choose to adopt, the adoption can often be expedited without the need to wait an additional six months.
The adoption process includes licensing (which can often be done at the same time as foster licensing as the majority of the requirements are similar), selecting an attorney (many, but not all, states cover this cost), filing, and then the actual adoption date. Depending on how busy the courts are, an adoption date can be set within a couple months or longer once all appropriate documents are submitted and processed.
Adopting a child through the foster care system is a journey more than an event. There is a great need for committed, caring individuals willing to devote their time to care for these vulnerable children.