Is It Easy To Adopt In South Philadelphia?

The state of Pennsylvania is considering a bill that would require prospective foster parents to undergo fingerprinting, as well as background checks and education. The legislation was introduced in June 2019 and now awaits committee action.

As a foster parent, I’ve seen firsthand the profound impact that children can have on a family and on the world. Foster kids need a safe home, a sense of belonging, and stability. They also need love and a chance to grow up to be healthy, productive adults.

Foster parents in Pennsylvania must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and at least 21 years old. Prospective foster parents must undergo a background check, as well as fingerprinting, and complete a class that includes learning how to care for special needs children and how to deal with children with trauma.

I believe that foster parenting is a noble cause and that it’s important for children to have a stable home life. But there are risks associated with fostering, including financial stress, the potential for abuse, and the possibility of contracting a disease while caring for another person. The Pennsylvania bill takes some steps to mitigate those risks, but it’s not perfect.

The fingerprinting requirement would be particularly problematic for foster parents who do not live in the state of Pennsylvania. That could lead to a missed opportunity for placement, and a missed opportunity for these children.

There are approximately 8,500 foster children in Pennsylvania, which is about 2.6 percent of the state’s total child population. The number of foster parents is about 7,200. This means that there are about 5,300 additional foster parents that Pennsylvania could tap into. This legislation would likely result in a better quality of care for foster children.

What kind of people adopt the most?

There are so many kids who need a home, and so few families who want to be a part of them. And yet, the number of children entering the foster care system has been steadily rising for years. It’s a national problem.

In fact, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, there were more than 675,000 kids in foster care in 2017. And while it’s true that a growing number of children are placed with relatives and friends, many kids are ending up in institutions, shelters, and group homes.

And that’s where adoption agencies come in. They help match parents and kids, whether it’s for financial reasons or for personal reasons. In fact, adoption agencies have been around since the late 1800s, and today, there are nearly 6,500 adoption agencies in the United States.

But just because the adoption process is old doesn’t mean that it’s the same as it was in the past. In fact, adoption agencies have become more and more important as families have become more diverse. So what does it take to be an effective adoption agency?

Adoptive Families Magazine explains: “Adoptive families are a diverse group of individuals and couples from different backgrounds and life experiences. The more diversity among adoptive families, the better. In order for an agency to be successful, it must be able to serve as a resource for any adoptive family that walks through its door.”

And in fact, research shows that diverse families are more likely to succeed than homogenous ones. A study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that “children raised in same-race and mixed-race homes did better academically and socially than children in single-race homes.” Another study showed that children with black fathers, regardless of race, fared better than those with white fathers.

So, what can adoption agencies do to ensure that they’re as inclusive as possible? Adoptive Families Magazine suggests that agencies should make sure to reach out to families with diverse backgrounds. For example, they can do things like:

Have adoption staff work to make sure that they’re aware of the needs of different communities and families.

Make sure to recruit qualified staff from diverse backgrounds.

Adoptive Families Magazine also says that agencies need to ensure that they provide a welcoming, comfortable environment for potential parents. For instance, they can offer support groups to help families get ready for their first home visit. Or they can host events to bring in local community leaders to talk about the importance of adopting.