Foster care adoption is a rewarding opportunity for you to help a child and grow your family, and working with a foster care agency in Minnesota can make that happen.

Although there are many types of adoption you can choose, there is a right option for you. For families looking to adopt a child in the U.S. who is older or has special needs, working with a fostering agency is a good place to start.

We created this guide for adoptive families who are interested in foster care and are looking for detailed information about foster agencies in Minnesota. You can also contact us online to speak with an experienced adoption specialist.

What Are Foster Care Agencies in Minnesota?

A foster care agency in Minnesota is a public adoption agency that operates in coordination with the state government. 

These types of adoption agencies work with parents who want to foster children, as well as hopeful adoptive parents who want to adopt children from the foster care system.

What Do Foster Care Agencies Do? [Services and Resources]

Every foster care facility in Minnesota offers unique services, and this can be helpful to research when you’re looking for the right agency to work with. 

For hopeful adoptive parents looking to adopt from the foster care system, there are classes that you may be required to take. Those classes can include PS-MAPP (Partnering for Safety and Permanency – Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) and PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education). Some foster care adoption agencies may offer both courses, while others may only offer one or something unique to their agency.

You are also required to complete a home study, which ensures that your home will be a safe and loving environment for a child.

How does this differ from other types of adoption agencies in Minnesota? Private adoption agencies may have a licensed social department with trained professionals who can complete your home study. If you work with a public adoption agency, you may need to work with a separate adoption professional who can complete it.

Should I Adopt Through a Foster Care Provider in Minnesota?

Working with a foster care agency in Minnesota has both its advantages and disadvantages, which you should take into consideration during your search for a good foster care provider:

Pros of Working with Foster Family Agencies in Minnesota

• Lower costs: While private domestic adoption can cost an adoptive family anywhere between $45,000 and $65,000, foster can is substantially cheaper. Your main costs with foster care adoption are for the home study and any necessary legal fees.

• Minimal disruptions: When you’re pursuing an adoption through the foster system, a disruption is less likely to occur. The birth parents have already had their parental rights terminated by a court.

• Number of children available: In the state of Minnesota, there are about 1,743 children in foster care. Although it’s difficult to grasp the idea of so many children being in need of loving homes, you can be the person to give one of these children that opportunity and a loving family.

Cons of Working with Foster Family Agencies in Minnesota

• Few infants for adoption: Foster care adoption may not be the best option for adoptive families looking to adopt a newborn. Most of the children in foster care are older or part of a sibling group.

• Emotional challenges: The foster care system’s main objective is reuniting children with their biological parents. While a successful reunification can be wonderful, it can also be a challenging emotional experience for the hopeful adoptive parent. You may want to consider working with a private domestic adoption agency if this is not something you want to work with.

Is Foster Care Right For Me? [Adoption is Always an Option]

Adopting a child through a foster care facility in Minnesota can be a rewarding experience for a child in need. If foster care adoption sounds like the right choice for you, check out these helpful resources to get started on your Minnesota foster care adoption journey:

• Considering Adoption

• Adoptive Families

• AdoptUsKids

• FosterCare.com

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.