I want to adopt, now what?

Heart Galleries are great ways to understand how many children are waiting to be adopted. However, it is important to know that adoption is a process and takes some time. This is for the safety and protection of the child. You will need training, education, and patience to help support the child’s healing and ensure your family is a long-term fit. Watch the following video to learn more.

Tips from the video:

Explore becoming a licensed foster parent

For a child’s caseworker to seriously consider you as a potential adoptive parent, you would first need to become a licensed foster-adopt parent. Depending on your chosen agency, the licensing process can take 2-4 months. The first step to supporting children in foster care is to find an agency in your area and attend an information session. You will hear from professionals about foster care, trauma-informed parenting, and the steps needed to become a licensed foster parent.

Examine your motivations

After you’ve learned more about what to expect and the various ways you can get involved to support children, it’s a good time to pause and examine your motivations. Working with children and families involved in foster care is an incredible experience with many joys, triumphs, and victories. However, it’s not always easy. It’s important to know that outside of everything else, your motivation for volunteering or becoming a foster or adoptive parent is focused on a family’s healing process. You should also realistically consider which children might best fit your home. Consider things like:

Your previous experience with parenting children of different ages
Children already in your home
Space in your home
Financial Stability
Your ability to remain flexible and playful in stressful times
And your capacity to address a child’s unique needs

You will leave with a wide range of trauma-informed tools and resources to prepare you for parenting. Once licensed, caseworkers will know you are serious and ready to adopt. You can look through Heart Galleries, but your agency case manager will also find and suggest children that might fit your family well. Once you are matched with a child, you can meet and get to know them. After the child is placed in your home, it will be at least six months before the adoption is finalized.

The licensing process

If you decide to proceed with becoming licensed, the process will include:

Meeting age requirements (minimum of 21 years or older)
Passing background checks & filling out an extensive application
Submitting identity documents for each household member
TB Test for you & vaccines for your pets
Completing a home/fire inspection
Completing a home study to show your home is safe and ready for children
Participating in 30+ hours of training to learn about caring for children who have experienced trauma.

Other ways to support children in foster care

If all of that seems too much for you and your family, there are many other ways to support children living in foster care. Some agencies need donations of time, money, or specific items. Your local Heart Gallery website will have a list of agencies that serve foster youth. Be sure to check with agencies before donating specific items to make sure you are meeting their needs.

If you want to work directly with children, consider becoming a respite caregiver. This is like a babysitter for foster parents who need some time to themselves. It’s a great way to familiarize yourself with caring for children.

We’re grateful you took the time to learn how to support children in your community. They need you. So, help in the way that works best for you.

Whether you want to proceed with the adoption process or help in other ways, we recommend contacting your local heart gallery to learn more.