Question by Jord R: If I’m 18, can I either adopt or foster if my mom helps me?
I love children and I would love to help out the children who others can’t.
my mom would only help because i still live at home.
Best answer:
Answer by Amby
Its a really nice thought. The problem with that idea is that you still need your mom’s help. Wait until you’re independent and financially stable and then try to adopt.
Give your answer to this question below!
Share this:
I have 3 children and love them passionately. That being said, you have soooo many options right now and so much fun ahead of you. Don’t throw it away. Volunteer as a big sister or study to become a social worker or adoption counselor. You can even volunteer in these places, but don’t tie yourself down yet. Your life’s just getting started.
Sorry–they’re looking for couples first, and those with a bit more mileage. But ask. Who knows?
Usually not, unless someone you know is willing to sign the rights of their child directly to you.
Wait a few years then help out once you are on your feet financially. Most 18 year olds also have a bit of fun to get out of their system first before they are parents. You dont want to end up resenting the kids you will be parenting them forever dont forget!
You have to be 21 to foster children.
You have to be financially stable and have enough space and bedrooms for children.
Also, I am not sure you are ready to deal with some issues that foster children may have. Many of them come from abusive homes and as a result behave the way they have been modeled to. It is not always “easy.” You have very little or no experience raising children, I don’t think you are ready.
It’s nice that you are thinking about this, but please, goto school, graduate, get a good job, get financially stable, and then think about this again when you are older.
You’re too young to adopt or foster. In most states you would need to be at least 21.
But you’re the perfect age to mentor an at risk child, tutor with an after school program, or join a program like Big Brothers/Big Sisters. There are plenty of ways to help children even at your age. That would be the best option for you for now.
I have a friend who was raised in foster care, & was eventually adopted by the parents. When she turned 18, she started out with fostering others immediately, then gave birth to her own (unwed), took in more foster children, got married, had a few more births & death(s), got divorced. I know she works 2 or 3 waitress’s jobs, but I can’t say for sure if she does any more fostering — the death(s) of her newborn(s) were stressful on us all.
Check with your state.
In order to adopt you need to prove that you are capable of caring for and providing financially for a child on your own. I believe you need to be 21 to be a oster parent, and in many cases over 21 to adopt. Since you just turned 18, and are still living at home with your mother, I doubt you would qualify right now.
For now, you may want to look into a program like big brother/ big sisters, there are a lot of children in these programs who really need a role model who truly cares about them and will give them the encoragement they need.
http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.diJKKYPLJvH/b.1539751/k.BDB6/Home.htm Working with kids right now will help give you great experience to be a foster parent when you’re a little older an on your own.
Probably not….
Every state is different about requirements.
Some states say an 18 year old can adopt
Some say only 21
Some say only married couples
Then there is the policy requirements of the individual agency.
In my state we don’t care if you are married, but you have to be a self supporting, stable 21 y/o or older…..
Best thing to do is look at childwelfare.gov and click on the “adoption” link on the left hand side of the page. Search for state statutes and take it from there as you would need to look up for your state.
Personally, you are living at home, it is great your mom would be a huge help…..but how capable are you of meeting the needs of a foster child even financially?? You must know that the measly sum the state pays for foster care is much less than what you will actually spend on the child.
I think you should wait…..but you asked and that website has a lot of good Information on it.
Nope…25 in most cases to adopt.
Go to college!