Foster Care vs. Adoption in Wisconsin
When considering growing your family, you may be weighing foster care vs. adoption.
Both options provide loving homes for children in need, but they differ in their goals, processes, and experiences. This guide will help you understand the key differences and help you decide which path is right for your family.
Contact us today to learn more about your options and get the support you deserve as you look to grow your family.
Foster Care vs. Adoption
Both foster care and adoption serve the fundamental goal of providing a stable home for a child, but they operate with different intentions and processes.
Here’s a look at how they are similar but different:
Private Adoption vs. Foster Care [Permanent Placement vs. Reunification]
Adoption is designed to create a permanent legal relationship between adoptive parents and a child. Once the adoption process is finalized, the adoptive parents have full parental rights and responsibilities, just as if the child were born to them.
Foster care is intended to be a temporary arrangement. The primary goal is often reunification with the biological parents once they have met the necessary conditions to regain custody. However, if reunification is not possible, some children in foster care may become eligible for adoption.
Private Adoption vs. Foster Care: Wait Times
The time it takes to complete an adoption or foster care placement varies significantly.
Private infant adoption generally has a wait time of average of 12 months with us, depending on factors such as birth parent preferences and matching opportunities.
When it comes to adopting through the foster care system can take months to several years, as children must first be deemed legally eligible for adoption before placement can occur. The wait time may also be influenced by the child's age, background, and any special needs they may have.
Private Adoption vs. Foster Care: Cost
Private adoption typically has a higher cost because of the professionals needed to ensure the adoption is done safely, legally and ethically. These costs cover agency support, legal fees, birth parent expenses, and other necessary services.
On the other hand, adopting from foster care is often much more affordable, with many families paying little to nothing. Government assistance is often available to help cover costs such as legal fees and post-adoption support, making this an accessible option for many prospective parents.
Private Adoption vs. Foster Care: Age of the Child
If you are looking to adopt a newborn or infant, private adoption is typically the best route. Expectant parents voluntarily place their newborns for adoption, allowing families to welcome a child from birth.
In foster care, however, children of all ages are in need of loving homes, though the majority tend to be older children or sibling groups. While it is possible to foster or adopt an infant through the system, newborn placements are less common and often come with a higher likelihood of reunification with biological parents.
Private Adoption vs. Foster Care: Biological Parent Involvement
In private adoption, birth parents voluntarily place their child with an adoptive family. They may choose between an open, semi-open, or closed adoption based on their comfort level, allowing for varying degrees of contact post-adoption.
In contrast, foster care placements involve court-ordered decisions, and biological parents typically retain some level of involvement, especially in cases where reunification is the goal. If parental rights are terminated, the child then becomes eligible for adoption through the foster system.
Adoption vs. Foster Care Adoption in Wisconsin [Your Next Steps]
If you’re ready to grow your family through adoption or foster care adoption, the steps look similar.
Here are the steps to the adoption and foster care adoption process in Wisconsin.
How to Adopt in Wisconsin
- Step 1: Contact us to start your journey.
- Step 2: Benefit from full-service adoption support.
- Step 3: Experience transparent wait times.
- Step 4: Accept an adoption opportunity.
- Step 5: Meet the birth parents.
- Step 6: Welcome your baby into your home.
How to Adopt from Foster Care in Wisconsin
- Step 1: Learn about foster care adoption.
- Step 2: Contact a local foster adoption agency.
- Step 3: Complete the foster care home study and get approved.
- Step 4: Receive child placement.
- Step 5: Finalize the adoption in court.
Private Adoption vs. Foster Care: Get the Support You Deserve
If adoption is right for your situation, you’ll want to work with a trusted and experienced agency that prioritizes your success and peace of mind. American Adoptions has helped thousands of families complete their adoption journeys with expert guidance, compassionate care, and a commitment to transparency.
Our team understands the unique challenges adoptive parents face, which is why we offer:
As one of the largest national adoption agencies, we have extensive resources and a wide reach, increasing your chances of being matched with the right adoption opportunity. Our expertise in Wisconsin adoptions means we can guide you through the entire legal process while ensuring you receive the emotional and practical support you deserve.
Start your journey in person today, stop by our Wisconsin offices:
- 9000 W Chester St Suite 100
- Milwaukee, WI 53214
- 444 Reid St Suite 300
- Da Pere, WI 54115
- 3402 Oakwood Mall Dr 2nd Floor
- Eau Claire, WI 54701
Contact Us Today
No matter where you are in your decision-making process, we’re here to guide you.
Whether you want to know more about foster care adoption or adoption, our team can provide you the support you deserve to navigate each step.
Get started today and connect with a specialist who can help you build your family.
Foster Care vs. Adoption [FAQ]
Why Do People Foster Rather Than Adopt?
People choose foster care over adoption because it allows them to provide temporary care while working toward reunification with the child’s biological family. Others choose to foster with the intent to adopt if reunification is not possible.
Is Foster the Same as Adopted?
No. Fostering is a temporary legal arrangement, while adoption is a permanent legal process that grants adoptive parents full parental rights.
Is Foster Care Better for Children Than an Orphanage?
Yes. Foster care provides a family-based environment with individualized support, whereas orphanages are institutional settings that are no longer widely used in the U.S.
Can Newborns Be Fostered?
Yes. While most children in foster care are older, newborns and infants may enter the system under specific circumstances. However, reunification is often prioritized for newborn placements.
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