Misconceptions and myths about adopting from foster care systems can be a significant barrier for families wanting to adopt. These adoption myths often paint a picture that is far more daunting than reality.
Let Open Arms Adoptions provide accurate information, dispel doubts, and show how foster care adoption is a rewarding way to grow your family.
Many people assume that adopting from foster care is costly and complicated. But in reality, it is often low-cost or free. Some states and agencies may charge minimal fees, typically much lower than private adoption costs.
But you do not have to worry. Financial assistance programs can provide monthly subsidies and reimbursements to adoptive parents. Here are some financial assistance programs for foster care adoption.
Single individuals, married couples, and LGBTQ+ couples can all adopt from foster care. What matters most is whether the adoptive parents can provide the child with a stable and loving home.
Adoption agencies like Open Arms Adoptions search for families who can offer a nurturing and supportive home, regardless of marital status. They assess and match prospective families with children based on their lifestyle, family dynamics, and the ability to meet a child’s specific needs.
Adoption isn’t about having the most; it is about having enough. What matters is financial stability, not a hefty bank account. Adoptive parents should demonstrate they can provide a secure and loving environment, not a luxurious one.
Many people assume that adopting from foster care takes years, but this is just another one of the foster care adoption myths. While every case is unique, most adoptions take 6–12 months to finalize. The process is as follows:
Unlike private adoption, you’re working with an established foster care system. While some cases may take longer (especially for sibling groups), the foster care adoption process is designed to move efficiently when possible.
There’s a common misconception that foster kids are “troubled” or “unadoptable” due to behavioral issues. Many children living in foster homes have experienced trauma, but with love, care, and stability, they can heal and grow.
With a nurturing environment, therapy, and support, foster children can overcome adversity and thrive with their new families. Counseling and support groups are also available to help navigate any challenges following adoption.
Age is often a concern for some prospective adoptive parents. The good news is there’s no maximum age limit for adoption from foster care. What matters most is creating a loving home and enabling the child to thrive in any path they take.
Open Arms Adoptions will assess your overall capacity to support the child, not just your calendar age. Some teens even prefer mature adoptive parents who offer invaluable life experience, patience, and financial stability.
You can adopt directly from the foster care system without being a foster parent first. Open Arms Adoptions works directly with families whose goal is adoption and who are not open to providing the temporary care that foster care is designed for.
Many prospective adoptive parents worry that once the adoption is final, they will be left to navigate the challenges on their own. However, post-adoption support programs help families address these challenges.
Various resources are available to support adoptive families, including:
When adopting from foster care, the birth parents’ rights to their child or children are terminated by the court. Most of the time, this happens before agencies like Open Arms Adoptions even learns about the children. After finalizing the adoption, your parental rights will be just as secure as if the child were born to you.
The legal system prioritizes permanent, stable homes for children in foster care. While some adoptions maintain healthy contact with members of the birth family, this is always done with clear boundaries and only when in the child’s best interest.
In Ohio, there are nearly 17,000 children in foster care, with more than 3,000 of those children waiting to be adopted. They are:
While the average age is 8, children of all ages need permanent homes. More than half of them wait for over two years before being chosen for adoption. Your decision to adopt could end that long wait.
Much of what you’ve heard about foster care adoption may be outdated, oversimplified, or simply untrue.
When you look past misconceptions about adoption, you see the real opportunity to write the next chapter of a child’s life for the better. While challenges exist, so do solutions—support groups, the entire foster care system, and adoption agencies like Open Arms Adoptions exist to help families succeed.
Every loving family who has adopted from foster care once stood exactly where you are now—a heart full of questions but ready to take that first brave step. Here’s how you can get started with foster care adoption.
At Open Arms Adoptions, we’re more than just your guides; we’re your partners on this journey. We’ll guide you through every detail—from paperwork to parenting resources—with the care and expertise your future family deserves.
Don’t let myths about adopting from foster care hold you back. Open your hearts to children and help them find their loving forever homes. Every child deserves one, and adoption can be life-changing for both you and the children.
Ready to start your adoption journey? Contact Open Arms Adoptions and learn more about foster care adoption today.
Open Arms Adoptions is 501(c)3 non-profit agency licensed by the State of Ohio.
