In the US, more than 100,000 children in foster care are waiting to be adopted. In Canada, thousands of children are waiting. Much like so many other children—they love to play, they have friends and siblings and pets, they both succeed and struggle in school. Most importantly, they need a family of their own.
If you’re considering adoption, we encourage you to learn as much as you can before and during the process. In this section of our site, you’ll learn a lot more about adoption. The focus is on the adoption from foster care, but is relevant to other types of adoption as well.
Adoption is the process through which children become full and permanent legal members of another family. Adoption is a unique experience and has a lifetime impact on those who are adopted, birth parents, and adoptive families. It’s a wonderful way to build a family and help a child in need, but it isn’t simple. It takes time and commitment and an ability to be truly focused on a child’s needs.
Steps to Adopt
Review the steps to adoption on the following pages and determine if adoption is right for your family.
Please note that each state, province, and country has laws that specify who is eligible to adopt and who can be adopted and the process can be a little bit different for each.
Articles for Prospective Families
- Key Factors and Characteristics of Successful Resource Parents Who Care for Older Youth: A Systematic Review of Research
- Tips from Preteens and Teens
- Expanding Your View: Shortening Your Wait
- Nine Qualities of Successful Foster and Adoptive Parents
- Developing the Characteristics of Successful Foster or Adoptive Parents
- Becoming Your Own Advocate: Learning to be Assertive
- Considering Concurrent Planning: Is It Right for You?