Foster Parent Adoptions

Foster parent adoption has a number of advantages that other routes to adoption lack.

• The first is that foster parents can have the child in their home for an extended period of time before committing to the adoption.
• A second is that they have already been scrutinized and have paid their dues with the social workers by taking children into their homes. The law still requires an investigation but it will most likely be less oppressive than the investigations endured by other adopting couples.
• A third advantage is that there is no probationary period in foster parent adoptions. Once the report is submitted, the approval is final, not provisional. Virginia Code § 63.2-1229

In addition, an adoption subsidy has been established to encourage adoption of children considered hard to place. Many adoptions from the foster care system meet the eligibility requirements for this subsidy.

Consult an attorney to determine whether the child you are adopting is eligible.