Adoption in all of its forms can be a positive and transformational experience for everyone involved. This guide will help if you are looking for a foster care agency in Montana and considering fostering or adopting. You can also call 1-800-ADOPTION or fill out our online form to get free information about domestic infant adoption now.

What are Foster Agencies in Montana?

Foster agencies in Montana work with families who temporarily house and care for children, as well as families who would like to permanently adopt children. Foster agencies that facilitate adoptions are also referred to as state adoption agencies in Montana. You may also hear a foster agency referred to as a public adoption agency in Montana. They are called “state” or “public” because they act on behalf of the government.

In addition to connecting children to temporary and permanent homes, these agencies often offer classes for foster parents and do home studies.

What are Private Foster Care Agencies in Montana?

Private foster care agencies in Montana and throughout the United States are usually non-government adoption agencies. State agencies sometimes contract private adoption agencies when there is demand for foster care and adoption services that can’t be met by state agencies alone.

What is it Like to Adopt Through a Foster Care Facility in Montana?

If you are looking for a foster family agency in Montana, you may already know what a foster agency in Montana is. But how do you know whether working with one is a good fit for you?

We will outline the basics of bringing a child into your home through foster care, and will compare it to private adoption to help you find the best fit for your situation.

Fostering, fostering to adopt, and direct adoption from foster care all have some things in common because they are all done through the foster care system.

In general, when you are considering bringing a child into your home through the foster care system, you should keep these things in mind:

• Foster care is meant to be temporary and parents are usually working to be reunited with their children.

• Children in foster care have often experienced difficult or traumatic events, and may require special care.

• Children in fostering agencies in Montana can be any age (less than 1 year to 18 years old), with an average age of 7.

• To become a foster parent, you must have a home study done and will likely take courses on childcare. This can cost around $2,500 but may be reimbursed in some cases.

• Being a foster parent or adopting from foster care you may incur costs from caring for a child, but in some cases you can receive support as a caretaker.

Here are some of the differences between the three:

Fostering

• Fostering provides a temporary home to a child.

• Parents of children in foster care are generally working towards reunification and you will likely be in contact with them to give them updates.

• Children in foster care centers in Montana usually return to their biological parents or family.

Fostering to Adopt

• Fostering to adopt does not guarantee adoption—you are still primarily a temporary placement for children and may wait months, years, or never get an opportunity to adopt a child who comes into your home.

•  In most cases (75% of the time), even if you sign up as foster-to-adopt and have built a relationship with a child over months or years, children are still reunited with their biological parents.

• Parents of children in foster care facilities in Montana are usually working towards reunification and you may be in contact with them.

• Any adoption plans are dependent upon the failure of biological parents to regain full parental rights.

Direct Adoption from Foster Care

• Direct adoption from foster care is usually faster than fostering-to-adopt because, in these cases, parents have had their parental rights terminated permanently, so there is no possibility of reunification.

• Direct adoption from foster care can happen at any age, but occurs most often for older children.

• Adoptive parents may or may not be in contact with biological parents.

When you are comparing foster care adoption to private adoption, here are some things you can consider:

Private Adoption

• With private adoption, it is still not guaranteed that an adoption will be completed, but since it is the choice of the birth parent, there is more certainty. (American Adoptions’ success rate is nearly 85% once birth parents and adoptive family have agreed on an adoption plan).

• In private adoptions, birth parents often choose adoption before the birth of the child, so adoptive parents are often able to adopt within days of the birth of a child and raise the child from birth.

• Private adoption requires a home study and may require education on childcare.

• Fees for private adoption tend to be higher than for foster care adoption because the government does not pay for the counseling, support, advertising, and legal fees necessary for adoption matching and completion.

• Adoptive parents may or may not have contact with birth parents depending on the wishes of the birth parents.

If you are interested in adoption and would like to learn more, you can call 1-800-ADOPTION or fill out our online form to get information from one of our adoption professionals.

Where Can I Find Foster Care Agencies in Montana?

• Adoption in Montana

• Catholic Social Services of Montana

• Youth Homes, Inc. – Dan Fox Family Care Program

 

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.