The first step toward adoption in any state is to determine if you would like a domestic adoption or an international adoption. Domestic adoption is possible through an agency or through foster care. When people think of domestic infant adoption, many think only of adopting through an agency, but adoption through foster care is also an option. Here are the major differences and similarities.
With both routes of adoption in Georgia—agency and foster care—training is needed, as well as a background check and a home study. A home study involves interviewing you and any other adults who live in the home who will also be part of the adoption, as well as friends and family members. The purpose of the training, background check, and home study is to ensure that all children are being placed in safe and loving homes, as well as to identify some potential problem areas and give prospective parents the tools they need to succeed as an adoptive family.
Foster care involves caring for children when they are removed from their birth parents by the state. The purpose of foster care is to reunite children with the birth parents, so foster parents should never go into foster care assuming they will get to adopt any child they take in. However, many foster parents end up adopting the children they take in. When my husband and I went through training, we were told that about 50% of children are adopted and the other 50% are reunited with their birth parents; however, we have found these statistics not to be true. Due to the opioid epidemic and the stronghold the addiction has, many children are not returned. We have many friends who had infants placed with them and were able to adopt them less than one year later.
Adopting through an agency is very different from adopting through foster care. The agency does all of the background work as well as legal paperwork for the birth parents and the adoptive parents. The agency also helps the birth family choose the adoptive family. Every agency has different rules and regulations that they abide by, but they all must follow Georgia state laws regarding adoption. I have had many friends adopt in the state of Georgia and some who got calls for babies within days of being approved. The process of going through an agency can be as short as a few months to about 9-10 months.
Adoption fees for an agency can cost upwards of $40,000 while adopting through foster care is typically as low as $1,200, except in cases where the state pays for the adoption through adoption assistance. This usually applies to sibling groups, children with medical issues, older children, and any other children who are considered “hard to adopt”.
The laws for adopting an infant from birth are different from laws regarding adopting a child through foster care. Birth parents who want to give up their child at birth usually begin the process in advance and are able to sign surrender papers 48 hours after being mentally capable of making that decision. For example, a woman who has a C-section is allowed to sign the papers 48 hours after the surgery. This ensures that she is not under any influence of a drug that would hinder her decision-making capabilities. Once the surrender papers are signed, birth parents have ten days to change their minds. Once the 10 days are up, the birth parents are no longer allowed by law to claim rights to the child, unless they can prove that the papers were signed under duress. Duress means that the parents were not mentally capable of signing their rights away, or they were forced to do so.
There are inherent risks with any type of adoption. The best way to decide which type is right for your family is to talk to adoptive parents who have been there and walked the process. Talk to attorneys about various laws and how they can impact your situation.
Adoption is a beautiful journey. Make sure you are as well-prepared as possible, along with family members and close friends who will be supporting you on the journey.
Considering adoption? Let us help you on your journey to creating your forever family. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98.
