Difference Between Fostering and Adopting a Child in Georgia

Difference Between Fostering and Adopting a Child in Georgia

Foster care can be an integral part of the adoption process as it provides a temporary refuge for the kid before they’re adopted, or their original home is ready to welcome them back. Both the methods of providing shelter and refuge have several similarities, but there are some primary differences between fostering and adopting a child in Georgia. They include the status of permanency, goals of both, parental rights, and the kid’s age in question. This article will discuss all these factors to clarify how they differ. Please read it thoroughly to get some valuable knowledge.
We suggest you book an appointment with a specialized adoption attorney like Tom Tebeau to discuss the process and ask any questions you may have.

Factors Differentiating Fostering and Adopting a Child in Georgia

The Goal

One of the most essential and primary differences between fostering and adopting is the goal they fulfill. The purpose of foster care is to provide the kids with a temporary home until they’re reunited with their birth parents or are adopted; that means they can’t stay there permanently. Meanwhile, the goal of taking in kids for adoption in Georgia is to provide them with a permanent home and the love of parents and family. The adoptive family becomes their new home for the rest of their lives, or until they’re not given up for adoption again.

Status of Permanency

Permanency is a primary factor that differentiates the two. When you take a kid home being the foster parents, you should know that child won’t be staying with you permanently. They’re just there until a family adopts them or they are reunited with their birth parents. However, in the case of adoption, the kid stays with the adoptive parent permanently; they have all the parenting rights given by the law as if they’ve given birth to the child.

Parental Rights

One of the most critical differences between foster care and adoption is that foster parents don’t have all the rights to make decisions about the children they care for. The birth parents are the ones to decide where the kid will study or the medicine they take because the foster home is just a temporary place of shelter. When a family adopts a kid, they get all the rights like the birth parents, and they can make significant decisions about the child’s life. They’re responsible for their medical, educational, and financial needs.

The Age of the Child

One critical factor to consider while going over this difference is the adoptee’s age. While you plan to take in a kid being the foster parents, you’ll rarely find any infants. The average age of kids available for foster care is eight years.  When you’re adopting a child in Georgia, you may find newborns to take home and raise them as your own. You can even adopt the kids from the hospitals.

These are some conditions and factors that differentiate between foster care and adoption. We hope to have made it clear for you. If you still have any questions about either, we suggest contacting Tom Tebeau at (706) 327-1151 to get all the answers and book an appointment; they may prove to be the most valuable resource you need in the adoption process.

We have also discussed some questions customers commonly ask. Read them to get some additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is required to adopt a child in Georgia?

The primary requirements for adopting a child in Georgia are that you must be at least 25 years old or married and living with your spouse. Also, you must be ten years older than the kid you’re adopting.

What is the role of foster parents?

Foster parents have a critical role in the process of adopting a child in Georgia. They provide temporary care and a stable family to the kid until they find adoptive parents or resolve the problem with their biological family.

Do foster parents get paid?

Foster parents do get paid every month. The money they get provides the kid with basic needs such as food, clothing, transportation, and others. Yet, the care providers must also have a stable income to meet all these needs without getting paid.

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