In Washington andnArizona foster care is defined as a ”temporary living situation for children whose parents cannot take care of them and whose need for care has come to the attention of child welfare agency staff.” While in foster care, children may live with relatives, with foster families or in group facilities. How long children stay in foster care depends on their family situation and what options are available. For some children, their stay in foster care is brief; for others foster care lasts one to three years or, in some cases, longer. A key goal of foster care programs is to ensure that children live in stable families, since secure attachment is crucial to healthy child development and well-being.
Foster care adoption at Antioch Adoptions is focused on permanency. We place children who are already on the path to adoption into a family who has made the decision to adopt.
Register for the free Introduction Class by calling 425-558-0921 or register online at foreverfamily@antiochadoptions.org. We’ll explain everything! Antioch Adoptions provides pre-screening, evaluation and preparation recommendations, home study, licensing, placement, case management, and finalization at no cost to you.
No. At Antioch Adoptions all of our services are provided fee-free.
There are different factors that come into play, the more open you are in terms of age, gender, and ethnicity the quicker you will be matched with a child. All of our placements are focused on permanency, so we take very seriously the needs of the family and the child when placing them in a home.
You don’t need to own your own home, be wealthy, have children already, have a college degree, or be a stay-at-home parent to adopt.
Our capacity to parent a child isn’t limited by a chronological number. We are shaped by all of our life experiences, and that includes our ability to care for children. After all, the willingness to welcome a child home and provide a safe, loving and nurturing environment is what makes someone a good candidate for parenting.
Qualities of successful foster and adoptive parents are similar to all parents. Helpful qualities include being willing to seek out and use support services, learn new parenting techniques, and advocate for your child. Flexibility and humor go a long way as well! Critical to being a successful foster and adoptive parent is understanding the challenges these children have faced and not taking their behavior personally.
Families are uniquely created by God to meet the needs of children. Married couples are more likely to be in a devoted relationship that provides financial, emotional and physical stability. You don’t need to be wealthy, have parenting experience, own your home or be a stay-at-home parent. What do you need? You do need to be your child’s advocate, be flexible, have a sense of humor and be resourceful.
Parenting requires communication (and lots of it) with your spouse, with your child, with teachers, coaches, neighbors, school bus drivers, etc. Parenting is like marriage – it’s a lifelong commitment. There will be days that are filled with highs and lows, but overall, these kids are worth it.
No. We do partner with NW Association for Children and Families and work with them whenever possible to find the right fit for parents. Antioch Adoptions was founded with a biblical mandate and actively promotes traditional marriage and the belief that children from trauma-related childhoods do best when they are placed in a home with both a father and a mother. We do not receive any government funding. Please see our doctrinal statement on our website for more information.
The term “special needs” simply refers to children who have specific factors or conditions such as:
A child with special needs should not be confused with a child who requires special education.
According to the most recent report published by Federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting Systems the average age is 5.6 years old. There are slightly more boys than girls.
Imagine being a teenager working through adolescence and independence all alone. That is the situation facing thousands of young people who will age out of foster care alone every year. These teens need support, guidance, and family now and for the rest of their lives.
In an ideal world, the answer would be yes. Research suggests that siblings placed together experience lower risk of failed placements, fewer moves, and many emotional benefits. Even when siblings have been separated in foster care, the goal is to find them a safe, permanent home where they can grow up together.
Parent support groups are provided through Antioch Adoptions. It’s an opportunity to provide the opportunity to network, share, and learn from other adoptive parents who are experiencing or have experienced the same things as you.
That is a difficult question! Unfortunately, there is not a specific timeframe. On average, the process can take from six to 24 months from your first contact.
A home study (also known as a family assessment) is a process that results in a document about you, your family, and your strengths, characteristics, and challenges. A home study begins with an interview of you and your family at your home. It can include a home safety inspection, a background check, and pre-adoption training classes. After getting to know your family, your caseworker will make recommendations about the characteristics of your family and in your home.
Our primary plan is adoption for foster children in Washington and Arizona. The children we place are already on the path to adoption. We are a Christian agency who work with Christian couples. The services we provide are completely free to our families.
Antioch Adoptions is a separate 501C3 entity, with its own board of directors and budget. Funding for Antioch Adoptions is strictly from private grants and giving. Antioch Bible Church does provide office space for the agency.
The average length of stay for children waiting to be adopted is 32.2 months.
For younger children, moving foster homes is worse and for older children moving schools is worse. In terms of number of changes, the initial change has the greatest impact; subsequent changes are still not good, but not to the same extent as the initial change in foster home or school. If a child experiences a change in schools prior to 8th grade, there is not significant impact on high school completion but if they experience change either during or after 8th grade, there is a negative impact.
A team of professional individuals with the heart to serve children and families from licensing process to the adoption. Our case managers represent you and work closely with the social worker assigned to the child.
Teens absolutely desire the love of a mother and father, as well as the structure that comes with being a part of a family. They want more than a place to live; they want a place to belong, a place to come home to as they grow into adulthood.
It’s true that children who’ve been in the foster care system for an extended amount of time tend to embrace self-sufficiency. But what’s hidden in their hearts is a desire to be coached, loved and cared for without judgment or the pressure to be perfect. Having a caring, permanent family provides an environment of safety for every child to grow and thrive.
Once a court has terminated their parental rights, birth parents have permanently lost their claim on a child. After the appeal process is complete, children are legally available for adoption. Once a final decree of an adoption is entered by the court, it gives an adoptive family full legal authority of the child as if they had physically given birth to that child.
