Foster-Adopt Program Frequently Asked Questions

The Foster-adoption program has a set of general eligibility requirements the potential adoptive families must meet before applying.

• Marital Status:  married couples, singles and same-sex partnerships
• Age requirements:  25 years or older and 15 years older than the child they are adopting
• Residence:  Adoptive families in the foster-adopt program must be an Idaho resident.

The average age of a child placed through A New Beginning is 8 years old.   

 The average age of adoptable child in foster-care is 8 years of age.  It isn’t common to be matched with an infant or toddler in the foster-adopt program, unless the younger child is part of a sibling group or considered medically fragile.

Children typically do not have a second set of eyes on them until they enter kindergarten, meaning any abuse and/or neglect they encounter before ages 5 or 6 isn’t likely to be reported.  Once it is reported, children may go into foster-care several months (12-36 months or more) while efforts are being made to reunify the children with biological family.  It’s not until the reunification efforts are exhausted and the biological parents’ right are terminated that the children become adoptable.

Kinship adoptions are most common with infants and toddlers.     

A New Beginning Adoption Agency is very thorough in the family assessment process. Your Adoption Specialist will help determine the sibling group size that best fits your family. 

Note: there are state, federal and agency guidelines that help assist with assessment process.

Yes.  A New Beginning works with Idaho’s Health & Welfare and most other states across the nation to help find permenancy for the most vulnerable children in the foster-care system.

Yes.  Due to the intense post-placement supervision and adoption support we have in place, it is required that adoptive families for the foster-adopt program live in Idaho.

Yes. However in most cases we require that the youngest child currently living in your home be at least 6 years of age*.

*The decision for an exception is made by the Clinical Director on a case-by-case basis.

No, previous parenting experience isn’t necessary before applying to the Foster-Adopt program.  However, we highly recommend gaining experience with children, especially within the age range of the children you wish to adopt.  Adoptive families can gain parenting experience through volunteer work with local organizations, fostering children in the foster-care system, participating in a respite care program, babysitting and family time with other children within the family.    This will make you a stronger applicant when presented to a child’s caseworker.

The time it takes to complete a foster-adoption varies greatly.   The foster-adopt program’s strongest variable is determined by how active the adoptive family is in their search for adoptable children.  Active families are commonly matched within 9-12 months.  Families begin their child search after they have completed their foster-adoption training and home study evaluation.

A home study can be completed in about 60 to 90 days. The time frame is dependent on completion of adoption program training and the rate at which families complete and submit required adoption paperwork and documents.

Yes.  Adoption home studies are required by the state and our agency.

A New Beginning Adoption Agency does not require the completion of PRIDE Training. A New Beginning’s Foster-Adopt customized curriculum is trauma focused and has a stronger emphasis on adoption than PRIDE training. Most States we have contracted with recognize the benefit of our training and accept it in place of PRIDE training.   If your child’s placing state requires PRIDE training in addition to A New Beginning’s customized Foster-Adopt training, we will connect you to Idaho’s Health & Welfare department for their available class listings. 

No. The children placed through A New Beginning Adoption Agency’s Foster Program are placed for the purpose of permanent placement.  They are already legally free to be adopted as the biological parental rights have already been terminated.   Adoptive families in our foster-adopt program do not foster the children they are adopting first.  It is a permanent placement from the beginning. 

Adoptive families will be required to complete a minimum of 6 months of post-placement supervision with monthly visits occurring before the adoption is finalized in court.  Some states will refer to this 6 month period as the fostering period of the adoption; however, these children are to be parented as if they were born to you biologically.

• 24/7 support & guidance from your adoption caseworker
• submission of your home study to caseworkers across the nation
• an adoption caseworker to present and advocate on behalf of the adoptive family to selection committees
• caseworker to review child file and answer adoptive family’s questions
• online support groups
• monthly  support group moderated by an adoption caseworker offered to families
• post adoption support
• peer mentor support
• continued support and program development
• and more.

No. The program fee is a one-time fee for each adoption placement. If you are not matched with a child or sibling group after one year, the fee carries over to the next year. 

Technically no – a family doesn’t have to be part of a foster-adopt program, they can work privately. However, most state child caseworkers only work directly with other social workers or licensed agencies.  Working as an independent family may drastically limit your ability to have your home study considered for waiting children.

Being part of the Foster-Adopt program, you will have an agency social worker advocating on your behalf with child caseworkers nationwide which allows your home study to be considered for many opportunities.

A New Beginning’s foster-adopt program is between $6,000-$7,000, however, some placing states will pay for or reimburse some of those fees. It’s important to understand that all the fees are not paid at the same time. Fees are paid in increments throughout the process. 

Adoption Assistance
When adopting from the foster-care system, adoption assistance may be provided by the child’s placing state.

Adoption Subsidies
Almost all children adopted from the foster-care system have experienced trauma, neglect and/or abuse.  A service plan will be provided to continue additional services once the child or children are placed in the adoptive family’s home.  Those services could include counseling, psychological services, occupational therapy or other therapies.  The child’s placing state may provide a monthly subsidy to help those additional costs.  These subsidies vary based on state and the specific need of individual children.

Adoption Tax Credit
There is a federal adoption tax credit available to eligible adoptive families at $14,890 per adopted child.   Please connect with your accountant to verify your eligibility and to maximize the credit.

Adoption Benefits through employer
Several companies provide adoption assistance.  Contact your employer’s Human Resources department to find out if yours does.

Fundraising
Families have creatively raised funds through various self-hosted events or through crowd-funding.  Families can Crowd-Fund by utilizing sites such as GoFundMe.

Grants
Grants are available through various resources and could include your place of employment, associations in which you are part of, banks etc.  We encourage you to research and locate potential grants specific to your situation.

Home Equity Loans/Retirement Plans
Many adoptive families have been very successful when borrowing against their home and/or other assets to pay for their adoption.  It’s often a lower interest rate than other convential/personal loans.

 This is determined on a case-by-case basis. A New Beginning has specific home study requirements to prepare families for searching for children and placement. The home study is more than a document;  it includes extensive preparation, ongoing education, and identifying barriers to success. A New Beginning’s home studies are highly regarded by caseworkers around the nation.