Adopting a child from the foster care system is one of the most meaningful and life-changing decisions a family can make. Thousands of children in California, including in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, are waiting for a permanent, loving home. Unlike private adoptions, adopting from the foster care system is generally free of charge — making it a more accessible path to parenthood for many families.
Foster care adoption is a rewarding journey, but it’s essential to approach it with realistic expectations and the right mindset. Adoption is not merely about “completing” a family or fulfilling personal desires; it is about providing a child with a safe, stable, and loving home. With the proper guidance and support, prospective adoptive parents can navigate the process confidently and help a child thrive in a permanent home.
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about adopting from the foster care system, as well as the foster-to-adopt process, in California. This includes an overview of the process, common misconceptions, and how an experienced foster family agency can assist you throughout every step of the journey.
Adopting from the Foster Care System: Is It Really Free?
Yes, adopting from California’s foster care system is usually free. While private adoptions can cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, agency fees, and travel costs, adopting from foster care is different.
Foster parents do need to cover some upfront costs when becoming certified, including:
- Fingerprinting and background checks
- Home inspection fees
- CPR and first aid training
However, once a child is placed with you, the state provides financial assistance to cover the costs of raising the child. This includes:
- Monthly stipends to cover the child’s basic needs (food, clothing, etc.)
- Medical coverage through Medi-Cal
- Educational support and assistance with school supplies
California also offers a one-time reimbursement for certain adoption-related expenses (e.g., court costs, document processing). The state ensures that finances are not a barrier to providing a stable home for a child in need.
Foster-to-Adopt in California
The term “Foster-to-Adopt” is commonly used, but it’s often misunderstood. In a foster-to-adopt scenario, the prospective adoptive parent has completed the Resource Family Approval process and is therefore also approved as a foster parent. This means that the child may be placed in your home as a “foster child” first, and then, if the child is eligible for adoption, the resource family can submit their request.
Many prospective parents think that fostering leads directly to adoption, but this is not necessarily true. The foster care system’s first goal is to reunify children with their biological families when it’s safe and possible to do so. Adoption becomes an option only when reunification is determined to be impossible or not in the child’s best interest.
This means that foster parents must be prepared for the possibility that a child they are fostering may eventually return to their biological family. Adoption is not guaranteed — even after months or years of fostering.
At the time of placement, the status of the case plan or “concurrent planning” is not always known. Your agency would not necessarily know if birth parents are making progress toward reunification or if the county is moving towards recommending termination of parental rights to the court. Termination of parental rights is a profoundly serious matter and the courts are not “rushing” for this. So, it is important that you have patience and keep an open mind.
Understanding How Foster Care and Adoption Work in California
Foster children enter the system through reasons out of their control, such as abuse, neglect, or the death of their biological parents. In California, more than 40,000 children are in foster care that come from different backgrounds. Some of them may be reunited with their birth parents, while others don’t have that option.
While foster care is temporary, in some circumstances, these children become eligible for adoption. In these cases, the children may be adopted by their foster or a different family.
When Are Foster Children Eligible for Adoption?
The ultimate goal of foster care is to reunite the child with their biological family. In some cases, like parental abuse, negligence, and incarceration, the court may terminate the parental right, making the child eligible for adoption.
In many cases, foster parents are given the first opportunity to adopt the child they have been caring for. If the child has been in your home for six months or more and your family has shown capacity to care for them, you may have the upper hand in the selection process.
This is why it’s important to be open to fostering — the foster home where the child has already established stability and trust is often prioritized for adoption. The decision to open the space for a foster child to be eligible for adoption is complex. Once a foster child is granted adoption status, the process can still be extensive. You need to undergo another home safety inspection, financial checks, physiological assessments, and other comprehensive evaluations. The process requires patience and emotional strength, but the reward of providing a permanent, loving home for a child is immeasurable.
How the Foster Care Adoption Process Works
Resource parents take on the roles of both foster and adoptive parents. They have the choice to embrace both roles, but adopting can still be complex. Adopting from the foster care system or adopting your current foster child (foster-to-adopt) in California can be complicated, but most parents find it a rewarding experience, regardless of what happens. While the timeline and details may vary, here’s an overview of what to expect:
1. Apply to Be a Resource Parent and Complete Orientations and Training
Prospective foster and adoptive parents must first complete an application to be Resource Parents, attend an orientation session, and complete pre-service training to understand trauma, attachment, and behavior management.
This first step is only possible if you meet the following requirements:
- You are at least 21 years old.
- You have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.
- You own or rent a home with at least one extra bedroom to serve as the foster child’s bedroom.
- You must earn enough to manage your expenses effectively.
- You don’t have a criminal history that prevents you from fostering.
2. Complete a Home Study
A social worker will assess your family and home to ensure it meets safety and space requirements. This includes:
- In-depth interview into your childhood and readiness to be a Resource Parent
- Fire extinguishers and smoke detectors
- Adequate sleeping space
- Safe and secure environment
3. Child is Placed in your Home
Once you are approved as a foster parent, the matching process begins. The agency considers the child’s needs and personality, as well as your family dynamics and parenting style.
It’s essential to keep an open mind because the main goal of the child welfare system is usually reunification, meaning a child placed in your care may not be there forever. Your main goal as a foster parent is to care for the child and offer them support. Keeping this in mind will prevent any additional stress and disappointment.
4. Placement and Adjustment Period
Once a child is placed in your home, a transition period begins. This period includes regular visits from a social worker and ongoing support to help the child adjust. Even children who are eligible for adoption at the time of placement may need to maintain visitation with their biological relatives until this arrangement is terminated by the court.
5. Adoption Finalization
If parental rights are terminated and the adoption process is complete, you will attend a court hearing to finalize the adoption. The child’s birth certificate and legal status will be updated to reflect the adoption.
This process can be complicated because other relatives may come forward, and other prospective adoptive parents will also be viewing profiles of eligible children. At this stage, the typical adoption process begins, and the criteria for prospective parents will be assessed to find the best home.
Pros and Cons of Foster Care Adoption
Adoption from foster care in California can be difficult, but it also has its upsides. Here are the pros and cons of foster care adoption:
Pros:
- The family already has a positive relationship with the foster child, and integrating them into the family after adoption will be a more seamless process.
- Foster care adoptions can be less expensive, and the state usually provides a stipend for child care during the foster process.
- The foster child is likely already comfortable in their space and has built connections with other family members, so they won’t need to readjust too much.
- Foster care adoptions require the parents’ rights to be terminated, so there are usually fewer complications with the parents’ interference compared to straight adoptions and birth adoptions.
Cons:
- Foster children may have unique challenges like being part of a sibling set, having developmental disabilities, or having specific mental and physical needs. They may also be more likely to have experienced neglect, abuse, and trauma, which may make it difficult to bond.
- Most children in foster care are older than infant age because biological parents are given multiple chances for reunification.
Key Considerations for Those Considering Adoption
Keep in mind that adoption is not about finding a child for a family — it’s about finding the right family for a child. This distinction is essential for anyone considering adoption from foster care.
If you’re considering adoption, be sure to consider the following:
- Patience is essential. Finding the right match for both the child and the family takes time.
- It’s not about “completing” your family. Adoption should be motivated by a desire to meet a child’s needs — not to fill a personal void.
- Would you still adopt if you could have biological children? Adoption should be about providing a home for a child, not just an alternative to biological parenthood.
- A child is not a playmate. Adopting to provide a sibling or playmate for another child is not a healthy motivation. The focus should be on the emotional and developmental needs of the adopted child.
The Benefit of Dual Licensed Foster Care Agencies: Foster and Adoptions
When considering either to serve as foster parents or adoptive parents, there are benefits to partnering with an agency that has dual licenses. In other words, the agency is licensed as a foster care agency and is also licensed as an adoption agency, which allows you to consider “straight” or “fost-adopt”.
Not every foster family agency has both licenses like Knotts Family Agency, so choose carefully.
Thinking About Adoption? Start Your Journey Today
In the State of California alone:
- Over 60,000 children are in foster care.
- More than 30% of children in foster care become eligible for adoption.
- Approximately 55% of children adopted from foster care in California are adopted by their foster parents.
- The average time to complete a foster care adoption in California is 12 to 24 months.
Knotts Family Agency Is Here to Support You
Adopting from foster care can feel overwhelming, but you are not alone. Knotts Family Agency provides comprehensive support to prospective foster and adoptive parents in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
We offer:
- Pre-service training to prepare you for the challenges of fostering and adoption
- Ongoing guidance from experienced caseworkers and social workers
- Therapeutic support for both the child and adoptive parents
- Legal assistance to navigate the adoption process
- Post-adoption support to help families adjust and thrive
If you’re considering adoption, Knotts Family Agency is here to guide you every step of the way. Call us today at 909-880-0600 or contact us online for more information.
Adoption from foster care isn’t about “getting” a child — it’s about providing a child with the safety, security, and love they deserve. With the right mindset, preparation, and support from Knotts Family Agency, you can make a profound difference in a child’s life — and experience the joy of building a family through adoption.
I would like to be a“fost-adopt”