As a family law attorney with over a decade of experience, I've guided many clients through the intricacies of egg donation and reproductive law. I’ve worked cases in Harrisonburg, Staunton, Woodstock, Strasburg, and Stephens City.
Building Forever Families
One Child at a Time
One Child at a Time
Differences Between Fostering and Adopting Children
Children in foster homes may have experienced neglect or health and safety issues while living with their biological parents. To provide them with a caring environment, the Virginia Department of Social Services may place them with temporary foster parents.
According to the VDSS website, the primary goal of foster care is to help children reunite with responsible family members. Nearly one-third of Virginia’s foster children return to their families. Some children may move in with a relative. Other children may find foster homes or adoptive families more comfortable.
Foster Children, Temporary Placements and Permanent Homes
Each foster child has unique circumstances and reasons for moving in with a temporary family. The VDSS encourages foster parents to team up with biological families to resolve the differences that required placing children in temporary homes.
Some foster children and parents form strong ties and may wish to make their arrangement permanent. Foster parents, for example, offer emotional support and assistance that helps kids to overcome personal challenges. Foster parents permanently adopt more than half of Virginia’s foster care youth.
How Individuals Who Wish to Adopt or Foster Children May Proceed
Virginia’s statutes allow individuals to adopt children through agency placements. A local department of social services often serves as a good place to start the process. Individuals may also find children through non-agency adoptions. As noted by the VDSS, biological parents or relatives may initiate the placement process.
As reported by WSLS 10 news, individuals must pass a background check and complete training to foster or adopt children. They may also need to pass physical health exams and have updated immunizations.
Foster and adoptive families could provide healthy environments for kids to overcome the issues affecting them. With support from qualified adoptive or foster parents, children could make progress in a way not possible while living with their original families.
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Adoption is a beautiful way to grow your family and provide a loving home for a child, but the journey comes with many decisions. One of the most significant choices prospective parents face is whether to pursue an open or closed adoption.
