There are more than 200 children available for foster care adoption in Colorado. Most of the children in Colorado foster care are between 5 and 18 years old, are part of a sibling group that must be adopted together or have additional needs. The main goal for most children entering Colorado foster care is to be reunited with biological family. For most children, this goal is achieved. But for some children, reunification with their biological family is no longer an option, so they become eligible for adoption from foster care. American Adoptions focuses on the adoption of newborns and cannot provide Colorado foster care adoption services. But adopting a child from foster care is a fantastic way to build your family. The information below will teach you more about foster care adoption in Colorado so you can decide if it’s the right option for your family.
Different Ways to Be a Foster Parent in CO
There are three main ways to become involved in foster care in Colorado:
1. Foster Parenting
As a foster parent in Colorado, you’d provide a temporary home for children while they wait for permanent placement with either their biological family or their adoptive family.
2. Foster to Adopt in Colorado
If you’re a foster parent but you think you might want to permanently adopt a child from foster care, you can foster to adopt in Colorado. This gives you the potential to adopt a foster child should they become eligible for adoption while in your care. Most Colorado foster children don’t ever become eligible for adoption, but foster parents are considered if none of the child’s biological family members are able to care for him or her.
3. Adopting from Foster Care in Colorado
Becoming a foster parent is not a necessary step. Instead, you can apply to adopt from foster care in Colorado. You can request to match with the children in foster care who are eligible for adoption in Colorado and are already awaiting adoption.
Colorado Foster Care Adoption Subsidies
Families who foster-to-adopt or adopt through foster care in Colorado may receive adoption assistance in the form of a state-funded adoption subsidy. The amount of a foster care adoption subsidy varies based on the needs of the child(ren) you adopt or foster.
Who Can Foster to Adopt or Adopt through Foster Care in Colorado?
You must be at least 21 years old to foster or adopt a child from foster care in Colorado. All applicants must be cleared by a home study first.
Applicants must also meet the requirements for foster and adoptive parents of the individual foster care professional that they work with, so contact your foster care agency to learn about how to become a foster parent with their set of requirements.
Who Can Be Adopted from Foster Care in Colorado?
- Only a child whose biological parents’ legal parental rights have been terminated are eligible for a Colorado foster care adoption. Parental rights may be terminated voluntarily by the biological parents, or involuntarily by the court if the parent fails to meet the established custody requirements and if the court feels it is in the best interest of the child.
- When a child turns 18, they “age out” of Colorado foster care, but they may still be eligible for adoption as a child until they’re 21 with court approval, or through adult adoption if foster parents who’ve cared for these children wish to adopt them.
- For more foster care adoption resources, contact your Colorado foster care agency to enroll in their training courses and learn more about the adoption process.
Costs to foster and adopt
Foster Care
Costs that may be incurred for fostering are fingerprints, health evaluations (for all adults and children residing in the prospective foster home), CPR/first aid, or any repairs to the home that are needed to meet requirements. The cost varies by county department or child placement agency. Be sure to ask when you are talking with an agency.
Adoption
- The cost to foster or adopt often depends on the type of child placement agency used (a private or a county child placement agency). Private child placement agencies provide adoption licensing services for a fee of $1,800 to $3,500.
- Private placement agencies will place waiting for children in the foster care system in an adoptive placement. When contacting private agencies please specify you want to adopt from foster care to ensure you receive the correct information
Agency contact and orientation information
Information sessions
During information meetings, the licensing agency will provide information about the types of adoptions they conduct, time frames for adoption, who is involved in the adoption proces, and an introduction to the child welfare system.
If you are new to the adoption process, it is highly recommended that you attend Raise the Future’s adoption information class, which is offered the second Tuesday of every month.
Information on children
You can meet many of the children and youth in Colorado who are waiting for a family on the Colorado Heart Gallery Also see waiting children and find answers to frequently asked questions at the Raise the Future website.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. America Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
Contact Us
Phone: +1(256) 812-5770
Email: adopt@gracioushopegivers.com
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