Foster Care and Adoption in Oregon
It’s estimated that there are 8,000 children in foster care in Oregon, and 200 of those children are eligible for adoption and waiting for a permanent family. While the goal for most children who enter foster care in Oregon is to be reunited with their biological family members, there are some children who are unable to achieve that goal. The new goal for those children is adoption from foster care.
American Adoptions specializes in newborn adoption in Oregon and is unable to provide Oregon foster care adoption services. If you want to talk to one of our adoption specialists about domestic infant adoption, you can contact us today by calling 1-800-ADOPTION or filling out our free online form.
But, adopting a child from foster care can be a great way to grow families for many people. The following guide can help you learn more about foster care adoption in Oregon and help you to determine whether or not it’s the right way to grow your family.
How to Get Involved with Foster Care in OR
There are three ways that you can help kids in Oregon foster care:
Foster Parenting
Oregon foster parents provide foster children with temporary care while they wait for a more permanent placement situation. These children are either going to be reunited with their biological family or they’re going to be adopted, but in the meantime, they need a safe, loving and stable home environment.
Foster to Adopt in Oregon
Licensed foster parents in Oregon can choose to adopt a child from foster care if the child they’ve been fostering becomes legally eligible for adoption. This option is called foster to adopt in Oregon. Although the majority of OR foster children will never become eligible for adoption, their foster parents are taken into consideration when choosing a permanent placement if their biological family is no longer an option.
Adopting from Foster Care in Oregon
It’s not necessary for you to become a foster parent if you know that you want to adopt from foster care in Oregon. You can simply apply for a foster care adoption in Oregon, and be matched with the children in foster care who are already eligible for adoption and are waiting for a family.
Oregon Foster Care Subsidies
For families who foster to adopt or adopt through foster care in Oregon, adoption assistance through a state-funded adoption subsidy may be available to help offset some of your family’s new expenses. The amount of the Oregon foster care adoption subsidy you may be able to receive depends on the individual needs of the child(ren) you foster or adopt through foster care.
Who Can Foster to Adopt or Adopt through Foster Care in Oregon?
You’ll need to be at least 21 years old in order to foster or adopt a child from foster care in Oregon, and you’ll need to be approved through a home study. You may also need to meet the individual requirements of your foster care adoption agency.
Prospective foster/adoptive parents in Oregon will need to complete 24 hours of training called ‘Foundations,’ and may be asked to complete additional training and foster care certifications depending on your foster care professional and/or the needs of individual children.
To learn more about the requirements to foster a child or adopt from foster care in Oregon, contact the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Who Can Be Adopted from Foster Care in Oregon?
In order for a child to be available for adoption from foster care in Oregon, his or her biological parents must first have their legal parental rights terminated, either voluntarily by the parents themselves or involuntarily by the court.
Most children who are eligible for adoption through foster care in OR are school-aged, part of a sibling group that needs to be adopted together, or have additional needs.
When children in Oregon turn 18, they “age out” of the foster care system, but they can still be adopted through an adult adoption if they have former foster parents who wish to legalize their status as permanent members of their family.
Oregon Foster Care Adoption Agencies and Resources
The following Oregon foster care agencies and Oregon adoption photolisting sites can give you a better idea of where to start if you’re ready to learn more about foster care and adoption in Oregon:
Contact your Oregon foster care agency to learn more about their requirements for OR foster care adoption now.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.