Adopting Children in Foster Care

Happy young family sitting on couch and talking with family counselor. Smiling parents with adopted children discussing with counselor. Multiethnic family meeting a financial agent.

Children who are waiting for adoptive homes may have one or more of the following characteristics:

  • May belong to a sibling group and do not wish to be separated.
  • May have specific ethnic, cultural or language backgrounds.
  • May have non-typical behavioral, physical, medical or emotional needs.
  • May be three years of age or older.
  • May come from an adverse background.
Woman holding a young boy with another woman hugging them both
Woman sitting on the couch reading to two children

Successful Adoptive Families Must:

MAKE A COMMITMENT
It is crucial that adoptive parents understand that adoption is a lifelong commitment.

COMMUNICATE OPENLY
Successful adoptive families express their feelings and thoughts openly and clearly, which helps their adoptive children do the same.

SET REALISTIC EXPECTIONS
Successful adoptive parents are realistic about their child’s strengths and limitations.

ACCEPT THE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT CHILDREN MAY HAVE TO BIOLOGICAL PARENTS OR OTHER CARETAKERS
Adopted children often retain strong emotional attachments to their biological parents, former foster parents or other caretakers. Successful adoptive parents help their adoptive children grieve the loss of these significant people by encouraging them to express their feelings and memories about those who previously parented them.

OFFER STABILITY
Successful adoptive parents have found that a structured, stable, predictable and organized environment offers a sense of security and protection to the child.

ANTICIPATE THE EFFECTS OF A NEW FAMILY MEMBER
Most families have their own unique ways of functioning. When an adopted child joins with the family, the usual ways of functioning are changed for all family members. Adoptive families must be flexible and prepared to make adjustments.

LEARN NEW PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
Successful adoptive families have developed strategies to address conflict and strong problem-solving skills.

ACCEPT DIFFERENCES
Children waiting for adoption often come from backgrounds that are very different than that of their adoptive family. The ability to accept differences and cherish a child as a unique individual is crucial.

If you are interested in learning more about adopting a child from foster care please visit San Bernardino For Kids site
OR  call the San Bernardino County Adoption Service at:
(909) 891-3300 or 1-800-722-4477.