Difference Between Adoption and Fostering

Adoption and Fostering are confused with being similar terms. They both require taking kids to your home to care for and nurture them. However, parental rights and permanence are two critical factors differentiating the terms.

Adoption vs Fostering

The main difference between adoption and fostering is that when someone, in most cases a child, is adopted, all of the rights and roles of being the child’s parent go to the one that adopts the child. On the other hand, Fostering is a profession that requires full-time dedication. Adoption is a one-time process that lasts for the rest of the child’s life. Adoption requires a greater emotional connection between the child and those who adopt than fostering.

Adoption, as mentioned earlier, is a lifelong commitment. The adopted child is provided all the rights and privileges a biological child might have. Adoption is a legally binding relationship. Whoever adopts the child becomes the legal parent or guardian for the remainder of the child’s life. The child’s medical needs, monetary duties, and academic and spiritual growth are all the adoptive parents’ responsibilities.

Fostering is a full-time profession wherein a child is placed under foster care. Unless the child is adopted, the state examines the child’s rights. This factor comes into play regarding educational, medical, and even religious considerations for the child. On the other hand, the responsibility completely shifts to the parents when they adopt a child.

Comparison Table Between Adoption and Fostering

What is Adoption?

Adoption is a legally binding process where a person or family adopts another person, a child. This process transfers all the roles and responsibilities of caring for a child to those who adopt the child. All the legal rights and privileges are transferred from the biological parents to those who adopt.

Before Adoption, the biological parents do extensive research to find a family they believe would be perfect for their child. A family that would raise their child in a way the biological parents find suitable. Once the Adoption is done, the child hardly sees the biological parents again. Apart from the biological aspect, the family that adopts the child assumes the child’s genuine family role. The decision of informing the child that he/she/they are adopted entirely relies on the age that the family deems appropriate.

Most adoptions are done when the child is under the age of two. The relationship between the adopted person and the biological parents can understand the nature of Adoption. Suppose there is an established relationship between the adopted person and their biological parents. In that case, Adoption is termed open Adoption. Whereas, if the relationship between the adopted child and the birth parents is not preserved and there are no ties, the Adoption is called close.

What is Fostering?

Fostering or Foster care is a full-time profession wherein a person or a family takes the responsibility of becoming a foster parent or parents to a child in exchange for weekly payments for their job. Fostering as a job has motivated adults to become more responsible and take accountability for children. Additionally, the role of foster parents or parents is a quick way to make money. However, in the past several years, such instances have dropped significantly.

Foster homes can assume various systems such as wards, orphanages, group homes, etc. A single individual can also act as a caretaker or foster family with the condition that the person should be a state-certified caregiver. This scenario of Fostering is very similar to that of Adoption. Additionally, the link between the child in foster care and they’re biological is tried to be preserved and supported. This relationship can be established by sharing pictures, letters, and messages.

Once the child reaches the age of 18, they can leave the foster care and become self-sufficient. The caretaker or foster families have no right over the child after that.

Main Differences Between Adoption and Fostering

Conclusion

Although adoption and foster care may appear identical, they are fundamentally different. Once a person, a child, is adopted, When a person, a child, is adopted, all the roles and benefits of being a child’s parents go to the adoptive family. The couple that adopts a kid actively and directly through their biological parents allows them to choose a family they think seems the most appropriate for their child.

When a child is adopted, the status of the child’s family becomes permanent, and the adoptive parents become the child’s permanent parents. In a few instances, the child can contact his biological parents; however, in most cases, the child is informed about being adopted once they turn eighteen.

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