UNIT 5: Family Law
Chapter 33
Foster Care and Adoption
Foster Care
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For many reasons, children are sometimes
unable to live with their biological parents. As a
result, each state has licensed families that
provide temporary homes and care for a child
until he or she can find a permanent home.
Foster children might even live together in a
group home or with their relatives.
Ultimately, judges would like to see foster
children reunited with their original families.
However, if changes cannot be made to
provide a safe living environment, the child in
foster care can be adopted.
Adoption
Adults can become legal parents of a
child, or even another adult, through the
adoption process. Almost anyone can
adopt a child or an adult with the help of
a public or private adoption agency.
 Adoption agencies' selection processes
sometimes make it more difficult for
someone of a different race or religion
than the adoptee, single parents, or gay
and lesbian individuals to adopt.
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Before an adoption can take place, legal
consent from the child's biological parents is
required.
Some couples who find it hard to conceive a
child turn to a surrogate mother. A surrogate
mother is someone who is artificially
impregnated with the sperm of the spouse who
is having difficulty conceiving with his partner.
After birth, the child is released to the couple
through adoption.
Laws and regulations on adoption and
surrogacy vary from state to state.