You and your spouse have been considering adoption, but you’re not sure where to begin. You know you want to adopt domestically, and you are fairly certain you want a younger child. The good news is that you have many options open to you.
There are thousands of children in the United States who live in foster care and who are looking for adoptive parents. Across the country, there are approximately 100,000 teens and children looking for loving homes. As someone seeking to adopt, you should consider both fostering and adopting from foster care.
The foster care services provided by families are necessary and can’t be understated in their importance. Children need the love and support of a family to grow up well. In the U.S., around half of all the children who enter into foster care do return to their birth families, but many others are adopted by families looking to grow their own.
Children in foster care have usually experienced some kind of trauma. That’s important to remember as you move through the adoption process. Older children may have processed past traumas already, but they may still need support and assistance to move past traumatic events.
Parents looking to foster should consider working with the local state agency to do so. They can help you prepare to bring a child into your home and give you the support you need during the transition. Our site has more on what to expect if you want to adopt, so you can decide if this path is right for your family.