Public Agency Adoptions, normally referring to the state foster care system, can place children to an adoptive family that do not return to their family of origin. While the number varies widely, approximately 20% of the children that enter the foster care system nationally do not return to their biological families. For these children, placement for adoption is often the state’s choice, but this could also include guardianship and long term foster care. This type of adoption is becoming more popular with gay and lesbian families because of the availability of children, the need for homes, and the financial considerations.

Adoptions are governed mostly by each state, which are permitted to develop their own laws and policies on placements provided they are not in violation of federal adoption laws. Courts and social workers have the task of deciding what is in the “best interest” of the child. Because adoptions take place in lower family court, the “culture” of a county may not actually represent the state's views on placement: this can often lead to problems for gay and lesbian individuals, single's (especially single men) and large families. For example, one county (court, social worker, or office) may approve single or joint adoptions to gay family, while the next county in the same state may reject them. Like in all types of adoptions, the social and political views of your specific community will play a key role in your family’s adoption.

For more specifics on your state laws, how to become a foster care provider or how to adopt a foster child, contact one of our Adoption Buddies; if you live in the State of Washington, Families Like Ours can provide you with your Adoption/Foster Care training.

Pros
• History is available on the child and possibly on the birth family
• Potential caseworker available throughout process
• Birth family contact possibly on-going
• Regulated by state standards
• Can often adopt siblings
• Cost is less then other ways of adopting
• Assistance with paperwork and process
• Financial support and possible continuance after finalization

Con

• Birth family may be in contact ongoing (though not in all cases and the adoptive family has control over this process)
• Potential for unknown drug and alcohol histories in utero
• Child may not be legally free at time of placement
• Child may have a court ordered birth family visitation plan in place (although this may be beneficial for child – though not in all cases)
• Often complaints of poor communication
• State agencies are often not specifically designed to work with adoptive families
• State foster care system's are designed as temporary programs for children and families. Foster, foster-adopt and adoptive families are often viewed by foster social workers as simply an "available bed" for a foster child
• All to often the complaint heard by families that have worked directly with a state agency is the miss information, or lack of information provided to the family

Families Like Ours does not recommend any family (foster or adoptive) work directly through a state agency unless there are no other options available. We strongly recommend using a licensed, approved and reputable private placement agency. If you are unable to work with a local private placement agency, please contact Families Like Ours to be assigned an adoption buddy.