What Are the Pros and Cons of Foster Care Adoption in Arizona?

Every hopeful parent has much to consider before they pursue adoption, and foster care is no exception. The decision to grow your family through Arizona’s foster-to-adopt program is an important one and acknowledging the benefits – and challenges – is essential to making a well-informed choice. At the Law Office of Justin Fernstrom PLLC, we support opportunities for hopeful parents to realize their dream and grow their families. Considering the pros and cons of foster care adoption in Arizona is a crucial part of this goal.

What Is Foster Care?

Foster care is a temporary arrangement for children who cannot safely remain in their home. Children typically enter foster care when their families are in crisis, and unfortunate circumstances – including abuse or neglect – have led to them being removed from their biological parents’ homes.

The primary goal of foster care is always family reunification, and foster families must be ready and willing to support this goal. In some cases, however, reunification is not in the best interest of the child. In these situations, foster families may have the opportunity to pursue adoption and solidify their relationship with their foster child. 

What Are the Responsibilities of a Foster Parent?

As a foster parent, your role is to care for and nature your foster child, and work alongside the Department of Child Safety to reunite the child with their biological parents, if possible. You are responsible for the 24/7 care of your foster child and ensuring that your foster child’s daily living needs are met. As a foster parent, you are also responsible for arranging necessary appointments and visits for the child, as well as engaging in shared parenting, as appropriate.

The responsibilities of a foster parent are great, and deciding whether foster parenting is right for you can raise many questions. At the Law Office of Justin Fernstrom PLLC, we are passionate about advocating for the rights of both children and foster families. We strive to provide the information necessary to help you make an informed decision and connect you with the resources needed to facilitate a smooth transition.

What Is a Foster Care Adoption?

Every year, thousands of Arizona children enter the foster care system. While many of these children are able to safely reunite with their biological parents, some foster children become eligible for adoption. Foster families may have the opportunity to adopt the child, which is known as a foster care adoption or foster-to-adopt placement.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Foster Care Adoption?

Thousands of families across Arizona have been built through the process of foster care adoption. For adoptive parents and their families, the benefits are immeasurable. Nonetheless, it is essential to weigh the benefits of adopting a child from the foster system against the challenges of this adoption process before moving forward.

The Advantages of Adopting a Foster Child

For many hopeful parents, becoming a foster parent is an important first step before adopting a child. Thousands of individuals, couples, and families pursue foster-to-adopt due to the distinct advantages offered by the process. These advantages include:

• The opportunity to provide a child with a safe, stable, and permanent home. Through fostering, you are able to provide a safe and loving home to a child in need. Adoption grants you full legal custody and parental rights, ensuring that the child is placed in your loving care on a permanent basis.
• Affordability. The adoption process is time-consuming and expensive, and for many families, it is not financially feasible. Adopting a foster child is a more affordable alternative, with the DCS even providing a stipend to foster families.
• Lower chance of disruption during the process. Compared with other forms of adoptions, where the biological parents can change their mind at any stage of the process, foster-to-adopt placements rarely experience disruptions, as the birth parents’ rights have already been terminated.
• Shorter wait times. With countless foster children waiting for a loving, permanent home, there are drastically shorter wait times for foster care adoptions.

The Disadvantages of Adopting a Foster Child

It is important to understand that while adopting a foster child can be an incredibly fulfilling way to grow your family, it is not right for everyone. Some of the most common disadvantages of foster-to-adopt placements include:

• Foster children may face unique challenges. Foster parents should consider the full range of challenges that their foster child faces before choosing to pursue adoption. All children are unique, and some children have physical or developmental disabilities that prospective parents must be ready to accommodate.
• Very few infants are available for adoption. Because the overarching goal of foster care is to reunite children with their biological parents, several attempts to accomplish this objective must be made before the parents’ rights can be terminated. As a result, foster children are often not free for adoption until they are older.
• Hiccups in the bonding process. Many foster children experienced some form of trauma that led to them being placed in the foster care system. This can make it more difficult for them to bond with their adoptive parents. Fortunately, the foster-to-adopt system makes it possible for families to live with the child before choosing to adopt, helping everyone involved feel more comfortable and certain about the decision.

How Can the Law Office of Justin Fernstrom PLLC Help With My Foster Care Adoption?

Stepping into the world of foster care and adoption can be overwhelming. While understanding the pros and cons of foster care adoption is an important first step, there are still a range of other factors to consider. At the Law Office of Justin Fernstrom PLLC, we help hopeful parents navigate the questions, challenges, and unknowns to decide whether adoption is the right fit.

Anything is possible with the right strategy and support. Our team is dedicated to helping you reach your adoption goals and grow your family through the foster care process. To discuss your situation in detail with an experienced adoption attorney, consider scheduling your consultation at (602) 560-7494 today.