[dbaronda]

Hello -
I was just wanting if anyone could explain the difference between private and public domestic adoptions. There is, of course, information on private on agency websites, but I can't seem to find info on public. I just want to know what the process is like, etc. Do you have to foster first, do birth mothers still choose, do you still need to use an agency to adopt through the county or the state? If you have any links with that kind of info, that would be great. I tried my state and county adoptable kids links, but there wasn't a whole lot of info.

Thanks

[tobeafamily]

Hi,

I think by 'publc' adoptions you mean waiting child (aka foster care) adoptions? These are adoptions conducted through state child care agencies where children have entered the foster care system either through voluntary or involuntary parental action - i.e. parents either relinquish to state care or they are removed from parents' care by state.

Waiting child adoptions as I understand them are primarily conducted through the states' child welfare agency. Prospective adoptive parents as I understand it undergo a homestudy and parenting/training classes.

In the majority of cases, bparents rights are terminated involuntarily and they do not have a say in where the child is placed, though I have heard of situations where extended family has a role.

A good link on waiting child adoption:


www.adopt.org

There are other board members with a wealth of experience on waiting child adoption. I hope they all chime in too!

Regina, AMom to Ryan Joshua Thomas

[DianeS]

In the USA, what you call "public" adoption is usually called "adoption through the state", "adoption from the state", or "adoption from foster care". (Just so you know other people are talking about the same thing you are, just using different terms.)

The process is quite different. First of all, the vast majority of children who are available for adoption through the state were removed from their birth families because of abuse or neglect. (The state can place a baby brought to them by the birth parent, but that is SOOOOO rare it isn't worth mentioning.)

When children are first removed, they are placed into foster care. The parents are given a case plan they must complete before the child can live with them again. Many parents complete the plan, and reunify their families. Others are given extension after extension, until it is determined they don't care, or are unable to complete the case plan. At that time their rights are terminated, and the child becomes available for adoption. Occasionally during this process, the parents will decide on their own that they don't care or are unable to complete the case plan, and voluntarially sign away their parental rights, making the child available for adoption.

By the time most children from foster care are able to be adopted, they are "older". Most are school-aged. So if you're looking for an infant, this is not the way to choose. Because the children have done so much bouncing around in the system, and because of the early abuse they received, many need therapy and other supports for a time (or for life).

But the state always chooses the adoptive parents. Each state has different rules. Some will always choose bio family first, even if they didn't ask for custody for years. Others choose the current foster family first. Others hold a "staffing" where they consider dozens or hundreds of homestudies submitted by interested families, and choose the best match.

You do NOT have to become a normal "foster family" in order to adopt a child from foster care. But it is possible that you would have to become licenced for foster care, because a child would be placed with you one day but the adoption not be final for several month - meaning the child is still a foster child and should be placed with a foster family. But you wouldn't have to accept other children, just the single legally free for adoption child that you and the worker agreed on.

One option you'll hear about is "foster-adopt". In those type of programs, you become a normal foster family and are placed with a child who is expected to become legally free for adoption, but isn't yet. Many of those children eventually are adopted by their foster parents. BUT MANY ARE NOT. This program is best for the child, because it keeps them from moving so often if they're placed with a family with a willingness to keep the child forever, but it's hell on the family's emotions. The average where I live is returning 4-6 infants to bio family before receiving the one they are able to adopt.

In most states, "the state" IS the agency. In others, you can work directly through the state, or choose an accredited private agency as a go-between. In others, the state has completely privatized the process, and the only way to do it is through a private agency.

Go ahead and go to some (free) orientations for different agencies that work with the state. Different agencies work different ways, and that will give you an overview of the process should you decide to go that way.

Good luck!

[HappyMomAnna]

Hi,
Are you asking about the difference between a private adoption and a STATE adoption where you adopt a child who is WAITING?
I am not sure 'public' is the exact word to use.....
If you are asking about adoption from the Foster care system vs. a private adoption there are very big differences. The biggest one to consider is the age of child you are willing to adopt.....State adoptions generally place older children while infants to come up they are usually a part of a sibling group or the wait can be very very long..... It is still possible to adopt a baby from the State, but the wait can actually take years.
We adopted a 5-year old girl and her 1-year old baby brother and have been overjoyed to see the bond between them..... we feel very blessed to have had the chance to complete our family in one step, with a beautiful little girl who walks and talks and also the joy of a baby!
Families who choose to adopt through the State do not have to be Foster parents first although many people do find it possible to be a great foster family and also be open to the idea that if a child does become adoptible they will adopt..... This program is called Foster to Adopt...... There is also the Straight adoption program where a family goes to the state and says, "we want to adopt and we will look at the waiting children." In this direction it is very important to get training and support, understand the many possible issues and problems a child might have and learn about those you are able to accept.....because this kind of adoption would require you to committ to the child before you get to meet them.....
A family who chooses to do Straight Adoption usually needs to be certified as a Foster Home for the time period after the child/children are placed and until the adoption is final. Otherwise you would not be asked to Foster any children you were not approved to adopt.
In the Foster to adopt program you would possibly be asked to Foster children you will not be able to adopt and you might have several children in your home before one was free to be adopted. These decisions have to be made by each family and what they can deal with.....In my case I knew I would have a horrible time falling in love if I fostered a child and it would be too hard for me to deal with, so we went straight adoption.
Through the state the birthmother may or may not have some involvement but, the decisions to place a child through the State is made by caseworkers and other people involved with the child... Our children had two more visits with their birthmother after they were placed with us.... and then the contact was closed.
The other major difference in the private adoptions vs. State adoptions are the costs to the family adopting. With a private agency you pay for most everything and I have heard of these fees being anywhere from $3,000.00 to $15,000.00. and some even highr. With the State in most cases families pay nothing and in many cases the children recieve ongoing subsidies (support money) to help the family pay the costs for any special services you might need. Our daughter needs some special services because she spent the first four years of her life in a shopping cart...she has social and emotional issues that we use the funds to help her with. Dance classes, and activities that get her involved with other children and other people. In many cases the children adopted through the state also have health insurance until they are 18 some 21.
These things are up to each family to consider and decide. There are many issues to learn about if you adopt a state child. There are known and unknown issues.....but, sometimes that is also true with a newborn. I have a friend who adopted a newborn through a private agency and when their child was 2-they learned she was deaf and had been exposed to drugs....so I guess none of us have a prefect guarentee. And even our own birthchildren can be perfect at birth and have an accident that changes their lives..... This happened to me and might be why I had little fear of accepting a child at five who might have a problem?
Our decision to adopt siblings through the state came for one real reason--we knew we could love any child and we decided if our children were not going to be related to us genetically--how nice it would be if they were genetically related to each other! It has been nice and this is what has worked for us..... each of us must decide what is within our ability to do and our love to offer---
Good luck and please keep asking questions.

[dbaronda]

Thank you. You all have been so helpful and things are definately more clear.