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Tips for Foster Carers

Adopting a child out of foster care – what you need to know

Occasionally, children who enter long-term foster care may end up being adopted due to a number of reasons.

Maybe they are unable to go back to their families of origins, they stay in the foster home for longer than planned, or the foster carers have decided to become permanent guardians to the child or children in question.

Beacon Fostering seeks to advise foster carers who are considering adopting a child in foster care. Here’s what you need to know.

Two-part assessment process

The criterion for adoption is similar to that for becoming a foster parent; however, there are also some differences as well, and adopting a child can take years as opposed to months.

Additionally, whereas the authorities decide when a child goes into the foster system, the child’s birth parents must agree to their child being adopted, unless they are unable to give consent for this, they cannot be found, or the child would not be safe if they weren’t adopted.

The first part of adoption focuses on learning about adoption, and for the fostering agency or local authority to check the applicant’s referees (which takes about 2 months).

Part two of the process features more assessment, and the potential adoptive parents preparing for the application process.

Talking to your foster child about adoption

If you are going to adopt a foster child in your care, you might be wondering about how they might react to this change, and what adjustments you’ll have to make. It’s important that your foster child knows you’re not replacing their family of origin – talk to them about the adoption process, and check in with them regularly regarding their feelings on it.