 Extreme cases of child abuse, neglect or death in a family  The state becomes the legal guardian of the child  Child’s parents retain limited legal rights

 500,000 children living in foster care in  Licensed families act as temporary parents  Kinship care is placement with relatives who are not parents, must be licensed same as foster caregivers

 Meant to be temporary-goal is to find permanent home  The first goal is to attempt to provide family reunification.  If child can’t return home the judge will terminate parental rights  Adoption is common by relatives or others

 Each year 20,000 young people “age-out” of foster care.  No life skills or support system that their family raised peer have  Highest risk of homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence.  78% end up in adult criminal justice system

 Legal process by which an adult or adults become legal parent(s) of another person.  Some adoption agencies are reluctant to place children with single parents, or bi- racial couples.  Some states prohibit adoption by gay and lesbian couples.

 Public: charge very little.  Private very expensive, work through “go- between” agents who work with foreign countries as well as pregnant women seeking to receive compensation for giving up their child at birth.  Some states it is legal-go-betweens are licensed.  Other states, call it black market baby peddling and it is illegal

 Must apply to court to make it legal. Need an attorney to make sure no errors occur.  Adoption agency submits a report to the parents and the agency seeks written consent from the birth parent(s).

 Most states that approve adoption issue a temporary order.  Agency or birth parents remain legal guardians until 6-12 month waiting period expires then they automatically become legally responsible parent of the child

 Woman, other than the wife agrees to be artificially inseminated by husband.  Surrogate and the couple sign a contract before in which the surrogate consents to the adoption and transfer rights to parenthood.  Adoption records are sealed. In most states laws have allowed access to children of adoption.  Most states require a court order.