Change a life by adopting a child in New Jersey! Here’s everything you need to know about NJ foster care adoption, from the process to support options.
The purpose of foster care is to provide a temporary home for children who cannot live with their parents for whatever reason. In most cases, the care plan for a child will include the end goal of reuniting them with their biological parents.
However, things don’t always work out this way.
For example, New Jersey has just over 3,000 children in foster care — while many will return to their parents, some will need a new forever home when reunification is not an option.
At this time, a child in care may become eligible for adoption — allowing loving foster parents to cement that family bond permanently. There’s also the alternative, where a child in foster care is waiting to be adopted by the right person directly — without that person having been their foster parent.
Let’s look at the process for NJ foster care adoption works.
Why is adopting from foster care the best option for potential adoptive parents?
Here are a few reasons.
For some families, the toughest part of adopting a child is the cost. There are always costs associated with raising a child, but these are upfront — and, in some cases, are almost as high as the average yearly salary in New Jersey.
It's reassuring to learn that expanding your family through adoption doesn't necessarily require dipping into savings reserved for future college tuition, extracurricular activities, sports, and creating cherished family memories.
This is one reason why many families looking to grow consider adoption from foster care. Your immediate resources shouldn’t be a barrier when you have so much love and time to give.
Many children in foster care have gone through tough times and have often felt unsure and unstable in their lives — adopting from foster care is a powerful opportunity to make a difference.
Adopting a child from foster care doesn't just change the child's life — it also makes your community a better place.
There’s a mountain of research that shows that children in care who end up “aging out” with no place to call home or connections to family face some of the hardest challenges any of us will ever be asked to face.
When you choose to adopt from foster care, you are helping to end that cycle by helping a child — and your community — to thrive.
When you adopt a child from foster care in NJ, the final step is to officially and legally recognize your family.
If you’re considering adoption from foster care in New Jersey, there are a few different routes to consider:
The first step in adopting a child from foster care in New Jersey is to find an agency that focuses on adoption within the state. You'll then have a meeting to learn all about the adoption process, what you need to do, and get advice on what to do next.
Hopeful adoptive parents in New Jersey have to complete an application with their chosen agency. This form will ask about the family's background, lifestyle, and reasons for wanting to adopt.
Once the application is in, the next phase is a home study to ensure the family's living environment is safe and appropriate for a child. This is a standard requirement for all prospective adoptive families, including current foster parents.
The home study consists of several key elements:
Although this process may seem extensive, each step is vital to ensure that children are placed into caring and compatible homes.
For those already serving as foster parents, this process may be somewhat familiar, potentially giving you a head start since you understand what to expect!
In the US, each state offers unique programs called preservice sessions that both foster and adoptive parents are required to complete. Additional hours may be required depending on the type of foster care.
Preservice sessions in New Jersey are technically a part of the home study process.
Once you pass the home study, then congratulations — you’re approved to be an adoptive parent!
The process outlined below is only relevant if you’re not already fostering a child that you’ll be adopting.
The final phase of the adoption journey in New Jersey involves legalizing the adoption.
Looking for more information about foster care in New Jersey? If so, our upcoming webinar can give you the answers.
By attending a Foster Parent Information Session Webinar and learning more about the fostering process, you can take the first step toward becoming a foster parent and providing a safe, loving, and supportive home for a child in need.
Sign up for our webinar today, or get in touch with a Mentor Foster Care location near you for more information:
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