When you hear "foster-to-adopt," you might picture a child in state custody placed in a foster home, eventually adopted by their foster parents. That is often accurate. But what about when you hear "adoption from foster care"? It could describe that same scenario or something different. Families who adopt from foster care typically fall into one of four categories:
- Traditional Foster Placement: A child is placed with a foster family while efforts are made toward reunification with their birth family. If reunification or kinship care isn’t possible, parental rights are terminated, and the foster family may choose to adopt.
- Legal-Risk Placement: A child is placed with a foster family while reunification remains the initial goal. However, prior placements and time in care suggest adoption might become necessary. The family agrees to the "legal risk" of fostering a child who may or may not become available for adoption.
- Legally Free Placement: A child whose parental rights have already been terminated is placed with a foster family willing to adopt.
- Direct Adoption: A family seeking to adopt from foster care is matched with a legally free child without becoming foster parents. Often, these are older children, part of a sibling group, or children with special needs.
Shifting Terminology & Focus The term "foster to adopt" was originally used to recruit foster families and encourage adoption by foster parents. This phrase was established under a framework where the foster family took care of the child and the state workers were responsible for every aspect of reunification. Today, child welfare prioritizes "partner parenting," where foster families work directly with birth families and the state to support reunification.
Nightlight Christian Adoptions' Healing Homes program supports families committed to both reunification and adoption when needed. We recognize the importance of family preservation while acknowledging that 55% of foster-care adoptions involve the child's foster family.
For families specifically interested in adopting from foster care, Nightlight's Anchored in Hope program matches approved adoptive parents with children waiting in foster care, often across state lines. These children are typically older, part of larger sibling groups, or have special needs. This program is not a temporary placement or a trial adoption, when the children are placed with the approved adoptive family, they have already made a commitment to move forward with adoption finalization.
Understanding the distinctions between fostering, fostering-to-adopt, and adopting from foster care sets realistic expectations for families. Clear, informed decisions help reduce disruptions and trauma for children, supporting Nightlight's mission of promoting stability and lifelong connections.