Adoption and foster care are similar in that they provide children with stable and loving homes. While both adoptive parents and foster families have the opportunity to nurture a child in a safe environment, several distinct differences should be considered. From overhead financial costs to how long the child is in your care, these details can greatly influence your decision of whether to adopt or foster. So when it comes to choosing between adoption vs foster care, it’s important to understand the differences. St. Elizabeth Foundation is here to help you learn the differences and determine the best option for you!

Financial Needs and Family Contact Varies

With foster care, there is a much wider age range of children in need of caretakers. While one year old is the most common age of children in foster care based on data from 2020, children and teenagers up to 20 years old can be found in foster care. Fostering a child is free, and you can choose to adopt your foster child if the biological parents do not carry out reunification. Adopting after foster care means that the foster family is responsible for home study costs and applicable agency fees. You may also need to cover the cost of an attorney if you choose to adopt your foster child and require legal assistance. However, some expenses may be eligible for state reimbursement or financial assistance.

With foster care, you may have the opportunity to foster an older child. This differs from private adoption agencies like St. Elizabeth’s in Louisiana that specialize in newborn adoptions. We connect adopting families to birth mothers and parents for open, closed, or semi-closed adoptions. While foster parents stay in contact with the birth families, the level of contact for adoptions can vary. At St. Elizabeth, we let the birth mother set the degree of contact with her baby, unlike foster care where close contact is standard. Our staff helps bridge communication with open and semi-open adoptions. And while adoption is much more expensive than fostering a child, you are welcoming your baby into your home as a new child—not a temporary addition.

If you are deciding between adoption vs foster care, make sure to consider what ages you are willing to take care of. If you are willing to take care of older children, foster care can be a fantastic way to give a child or teenager a loving home. And if you are interested in adopting for permanent placement, give St. Elizabeth Foundation a call today to learn more about our adoption process.

Long Term Adoption vs Short Term Foster Care

There are many factors to consider when researching adoption vs. foster care. One of the biggest differences between adoption and foster care is the duration of the child’s stay. Adoption is a permanent decision. Depending on the openness of the adoption, the birth parents may or may not remain in contact with the child and their adoptive family. The goal of foster care, on the other hand, is to give a child a safe and loving home until they can be reunited with their birth parents. In this environment, the family acts less as parents to the child and more as caretakers during their time together. 

While adoption through foster care, also termed “foster failing,” is possible, this is only possible if the birth family decides not to reunify. But until the foster parents have gained official custody of the child, the legal custody of the child belongs to the state. The child may be reunited with the family or returned to foster care. If you are interested in having the child be a permanent member of your family, adoption should be your first consideration.

Begin Your Adoption Journey With St. Elizabeth’s Foundation

The specialists at St. Elizabeth Foundation would love the opportunity to tell you more about the benefits of adoption. From stepping you through the adoption process to connecting you with birth mothers, we can help you get ready to bring your new baby home. Contact us today by phone at 225-769-8888 or by email with questions or to get started. We’ll help you learn more about our counseling services, schedule your home study, and show you how to prepare your profile book. We can’t wait to guide you through this life-changing journey!

One of the major steps of the adoption process through the St. Elizabeth Foundation is a thorough home study. A social worker will interview the adoptive parents in their home. And, they will inspect the home to ensure that it is appropriate for a new child. How can you make sure that your home is prepared for inspection? Here are some tips from our Baton Rouge adoption agency to help you get ready for your home study.

Make Sure All Alarms Are in Working Order

A representative from our Baton Rouge adoption agency is going to inspect your home for any possible safety hazards. This includes making sure that your fire alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) monitors are functioning! If a fire breaks out in your home, you should have preventative measures and emergency planning in place to keep your family safe. In addition to a working fire alarm, you should also have an extinguisher on hand in case of an emergency. And, have an escape plan that you can tell a social worker should a fire or other disasters strike your home. 

Keep Toxic or Dangerous Products Out of Reach

Children are curious, even in infancy! Whether your baby is crawling or walking, you want to make sure that any harmful items are kept away from searching hands. Store cleaners and chemicals in child-locked cabinets or up on shelves. Make sure that plants within reach are not poisonous and don’t have sharp edges. And, when in doubt, childproof rooms and table edges to ensure that your child stays safe as they roam.

Train or Secure Animals for the Child’s Arrival

Animals must adjust to new family members just as parents and siblings do. If your animals don’t do well around strangers, it’s essential to find ways to slowly and carefully introduce them to your new child. Bring items with the child’s scent on them, like a pair of socks or a blanket, to your pet for an initial introduction. But, don’t use this as your main means of contact. Make sure that your pet is leashed, and keep your baby secure in your arms to protect them from any unexpected aggression. Keep interactions slow and supervised, and use pet gates or crates as safety barriers between the baby and pet as needed.

Check Fences and Window Screens

If you are going to have a child playing in your yard or inside your house, it is important to make sure that all protective barriers are working and in place. Fences and window screens can be utilized to prevent children from getting too close to dangerous areas of the home. This is especially necessary to keep children from accessing stairs, pushing through windows, or wandering near outdoor pools. Check the stability of your current fences and screens, and purchase child gates to segment child-safe areas within your home.

Keep Things Clean!

Before our Baton Rouge adoption agency visits your home to perform your mandatory home study, make sure to clean your house! This may sound self-explanatory, but a neat home speaks volumes to an agency. While a little dust won’t make or break your home study, make sure that trash, safety hazards, and obstacles are thrown out or put away. And, make sure that the room the child will be staying in is clean, organized, and ready for when they arrive.

Begin Your Baton Rouge Adoption Today

Have you been considering adoption? At the St. Elizabeth Foundation, we are passionate about supporting birth mothers and connecting newborns to loving adoptive families. No matter if you are looking for solutions to an unexpected pregnancy or are interested in bringing a child into your home, our experts can help with counseling and thorough preparation. Give us a call at 225-769-8888, or send us a message online! We are excited to share more information with you and help you begin your adoption journey.

Are you a couple who has considered adoption or may be ready to begin your adoption journey? If you are interested in starting the adoption process in Louisiana, let the St. Elizabeth Foundation help answer any questions you have before you begin. There are many factors to consider when adopting a newborn, but these three questions are fantastic starting points. Your answers can help establish your purpose for adoption and better prepare you before beginning the process.

1. Why Do We Want to Adopt?

This question is the foundation of your decision. What reasons do you have for bringing a new child into your home? You may want to provide a child a healthier, more stable home that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise. In addition to wanting children of your own, you may want to also change the life of the birth mother or parents by extending care and compassion to them. Moreover, if your family cannot have biological children, you may still feel the call to be a parent. However, this question urges you to reflect on your “why.” Your answer will help drive you through the ups and downs of the adoption process and keep you focused on your end goal: to expand your family and welcome a new child into your life.

2. Is Anything Holding Us Back From Adoption?

We want you to be excited about your decision to adopt! You are taking the step in growing your family and providing a home to a new child. But, this also means that you should be fully prepared to welcome the child, both physically and emotionally. At St. Elizabeth’s we’ll work through your qualifications, home study, and education with you. Beginning with a background check, medical history, and emotional counseling, we can see if you’re prepared for adoption. Next, we visit your home for an in-depth review of the environment the child will be entering. And finally, we have parents follow our educational program with other adopting families to learn more about the journey ahead of you. 

This process is meant to highlight any pain points in your process. For example, do you have medical conditions that could affect your parenting? Are you able to financially support a new member of the family? Is your home in the right condition to house a new baby? If you have lost a child or struggled with infertility, have you fully grieved the process so that you can move forward with your new child? St. Elizabeth Foundation knows that this is a vulnerable step of the process. This is where your answer to our last question comes into play. But remember what interested you in adoption in Louisiana in the first place, and focus on why you have decided to pursue adoption. And don’t forget that this step helps you cultivate the best environment for successful adoption! 

3. Are We Prepared to Maintain Contact With the Birth Mother?

At the St. Elizabeth Foundation, we respect our birth mothers for the selfless decision to place their babies for adoption. We offer guidance and care throughout the birth and adoption, but we give her full control in the decision-making process. She has the option to choose an open, semi-open, or closed adoption. At our adoption agency, we specialize in semi-open adoptions. This means that after the baby is born and the adoption is finalized, we mediate communication between the birth mother and your family through cards, phone calls, personal visits, and more. No matter which type of adoption the birth mother decides on, it is important that you are prepared to respect her choice.

If You are Interested in Adoption in Louisiana, Get Started With St. Elizabeth’s

Once you have cemented your answers to these questions, it is time to begin your application process. If you are interested in learning more about the adoption process or our Louisiana agency, we are here to help! Reach out to us at 225-769-8888, or send us a message with your questions. We look forward to helping you find answers and beginning the adoption process.

Since 1988, St. Elizabeth Foundation has been opening doors, arms, and hearts to expectant mothers caught in the middle of unplanned pregnancies. We are passionate about breaking stigmas against these mothers and helping them find positive solutions for themselves and their babies. That is exactly how we have been able to bring about over 600 loving adoptions in the state of Louisiana! If you are wondering how to adopt in Louisiana, St. Elizabeth’s can help step you through the process. Here is what to expect when adopting through our trusted agency.

Make Sure You Qualify

The first step to our adoption process is to ensure that you qualify for adoption. St. Elizabeth Foundation requires that all adopting couples have been married for at least five years before adoption. We want all infant adoptions to be introduced to a loving, stable household. This is why it is important to know that the couple is already functioning as a lasting family unit. 

Complete a Formal Application

Once we have made sure that you qualify, it is time to fill out your adoption application. This application will let us know the necessary information needed to continue your adoption process, like your education, employment, family background, and medical history. Our team will thoroughly review your application. Please be aware that this step can take time as we want to make sure every detail in your application is in place. Once reviewed and approved, we can then move on to the home study process. 

Undergo a Home Study Process

The home study portion of your application process is incredibly important. A social worker will visit your home to see that it is fit for housing your new child. They will take note of fire hazards, aggressive animals, and any factors that could be a danger to the baby. You will also go through a detailed emotional evaluation with your social worker. This will cover your relationship with your spouse as well as your parenting plan. It is a highly vulnerable part of the adoption process, but know it is essential to creating a safe, healthy home environment.

Follow Our Education Program

Pre-parenthood adoption classes help to better prepare adoptive parents for what to expect. Pinpoint strengths and weaknesses within your marital relationship as well as what influences your decisions and actions. This can help you to become a stronger family unit before finalizing your adoption. You will also learn the different types of adoption, how to communicate with the birth mother, and connect with other adopting families to create a support system.

Be Chosen By a Birth Mother

Next, the couple will create a family profile book to be viewed by the birth mother. Make sure you put time and dedication into this! Use this space to introduce mothers to your family, goals, personalities, and hobbies. Show them why you can be the right home for their baby. The birth mother or parents will go through these profiles, determine the perfect match for their child, and then connect with you.

Iron Out Legalities

There are three types of adoptions: open, semi-open, and closed adoptions. These determine the amount of communication the birth mother has with her child and the adopting family. At St. Elizabeth’s we leave this decision in the hands of the birth mother. We help to step you through the legal rights available for both parties so that you can better understand your adoption. 

Finalize Your Adoption

Now, you have made it to the last step of the adoption process: finalizing. Once the above steps have been completed and the birth mother has chosen you as the adoptive parents for her baby, St. Elizabeth’s will help you to finish your adoption. This includes navigating court processes. In the case of open adoption, we will also aid in establishing meetings between you and the birth parents. 

Begin the Adoption Process at St. Elizabeth’s

The adoption process can be a long one, but St. Elizabeth Foundation helps to make it as simple as possible. If you are ready for adoption, contact us today! You can call us at 225-769-8888, or send us a message to learn more. We look forward to helping you start your process.

Adoption in New Orleans is a beautiful journey, but there can be hurdles to overcome. From legal and financial obstacles to working through the emotional highs and lows, it is important to enter into your adoption journey anticipating the struggles as well as the successes. St. Elizabeth Foundation is a private Louisiana adoption agency that helps you better understand and navigate every step of the adoption process. Here are the challenges of the adoption process that you can prepare for.

1. Working Through the Adoption Process Itself

As much as we would love for the adoption process to be quick and easy, you should prepare for the possibility of a long, challenging process. As adoptive parents, you must undergo several steps to ensure that you are financially and emotionally qualified to bring a new child into your home. This entails filing a formal application, going through a detailed background check and home study, and following an educational program for adopting families. At St. Elizabeth’s, we require that adopting couples be married for a minimum of five years to qualify. Following your evaluation and education, you then create a family profile book that birth parents will view to choose the right family for their child.

The multi-faceted adoption process can be daunting, but don’t let this steal the joy from your journey. The St. Elizabeth Foundation works hand in hand with both birth mothers and adopting families. We help you understand each part of the adoption process. And, we offer emotional support along the way. No matter the ups or downs, know that you are working towards giving a baby a new, loving home!

2. Acknowledging the Child’s Birth Parents

The adoption process, though beautiful, can stir up a wide range of emotions. Joy and excitement may be accompanied by fear, nervousness, and even insecurity. The latter sensations often sprout from the possible resentment of your new child’s birth parents. You may feel self-conscious about not being your baby’s biological parents. These feelings are natural, but we urge you to take a deep breath and approach your adoption with patience and empathy. 

Be gentle with yourself. Even though you are not the biological parent, this makes you no less of a parent to your baby. And even though their birth mother has chosen the path of adoption, it is important to know her story. Extend kindness, grace, and understanding to her as she goes through her own decisions and struggles. Both accepting and offering compassion to all sides can better prepare you to deliver the same love to your new child.

3. Navigating Legal and Financial Challenges of Adoption in New Orleans

The technicalities of adoption can also extend the process. You should be prepared for adoption fees and ensure that your finances are adequate to support a new addition to your family. This means that you must consider new medical bills, daycare, schooling, groceries, and more. When it comes to legal obstacles, it is essential to fully understand the openness of your adoption. St. Elizabeth Foundation specializes in semi-open adoptions, while open and closed options are available. The birth mother chooses the type of adoption to establish the safest, healthiest option for her and the baby. Be flexible throughout the adoption process, and keep a receptive mind and heart to openness with the birth family.

4. Overcoming Emotional Hurdles

We’ve discussed the emotional ups and downs that can come through communication with the birth mother or parents. But your own parenting journey can affect your feelings, as well. Every set of adopting families comes with its own story. They may have known early on that adoption was at the heart of their household. These parents may already have children of their own and feel overjoyed to bring a new member into their family. Or, a couple may have experienced the heartache of infertility or child loss. 

For those who have gone through this kind of grief, know that adoption is a beautiful, fulfilling endeavor to both grow your household and give love to another child. But, it is important to understand the degrees of emotion that can come with the decision to adopt. You may feel bitterness, anger, and a new surge of grief wrapped in your feelings of happiness and excitement. At St. Elizabeth’s, we make sure that you have access to counseling services and other adoption testimonies. This way, you are surrounded by support to ensure that you are emotionally ready when the time comes to welcome your new child.

Prepare for Adoption in New Orleans With the St. Elizabeth Foundation

Every good thing comes with hard work—and the immense joy of adoption is worth the effort. The staff at St. Elizabeth helps you prepare for the challenges of the adoption process. Our adoption agency works with Louisiana families in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and beyond to connect them with birth mothers and begin the adoption journey. If you are ready to start or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 225-769-8888. Or, get in touch by sending us a message. We look forward to hearing from you!

Our lives are full of twists and turns. But no matter what brought you here, adoption may be the choice for you. Adoption is a beautiful choice that can add to your growing family. Although, the real question is if it’s right for you and your family. Discover what adoption typically entails and see if you can find your next family member with St. Elizabeth Foundation in Lafayette. We look forward to helping you learn more about the adoption process.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Before you make a serious decision, it’s always good to ask yourself if this is the right choice for you and your family. But what should you ask yourself before pursuing adoption? While every experience needs different questions, here are some that may put you on the right path.

• Am I okay with not being related to the child? While we may believe that blood has little to do with family, not everyone agrees. 
• Can I afford it? A child is a lot of money. It’s always best to make sure that you have the money to support yourself and a new child comfortably. 
• Am I doing this because I want to, or because I feel like I have to? There’s a big push in the South regarding the “biological clock.” This presumes that you have to have a child or else your family isn’t complete. But every family is different, and your needs might not be what you think they are. 
• Am I okay with birth parent contact? Louisiana is a closed-adoption state. But when you go through an agency like ours, semi-open and open adoptions are possible. And this choice is entirely up to the birth parent at St. Elizabeth Foundation.
• Do I need to go through any grief? If you want to choose adoption due to infertility, it’s very common to feel grief. But adopting won’t remove that grief like you think it might. Perhaps think about going through care in order to better prepare yourself so you can give your possible adoptive child the best outcome.
• Why do I want to adopt? This question may seem simple. But everyone’s reasoning can come from a different place. Look at your motivations and see if your reasoning is what’s healthy for you and your new possible child.

And, of course, because everyone’s situation and needs are different, there may be questions that don’t apply to you or more that you need to ask yourself. So before you make a decision, ask yourself the important questions. And see if adoption is the right choice for you. 

St. Elizabeth Requirements

At St. Elizabeth Foundation, we pride ourselves on finding the right parents for babies who just need a family. Discover more about our adoption process and see if you qualify! Currently, we require couples to be married for a minimum of five years in order to qualify to apply and begin the process.

After you qualify, we begin the home study process. While this does take some time, this is important to ensure your home meets our standards. During this time, families must undergo background checks, visits, emotional and relationship assessments, and parenting philosophy discussions. 

Prospective parents can also look forward to our education program. This helps to inform parents about the unique attributes that adoptive parents face, how to help your children understand adoption, and more. Also, in order for our expectant mothers to get to know you, we also have you create a family profile book. With this, she can choose you to parent her child. 

Finally, we help you finalize your adoption by the court. Depending on the type of adoption, this can go a little differently than others. If you have any questions about this or any other part of the adoption process and how it might look for your family in Lafayette, make sure to give us a call. 

Ready To Choose Adoption For Your Lafayette Family?

Our adoption agency is ready to help your Lafayette family begin the process for your new family member. If you have any questions about our process or want to know more about our organization, feel free to give us a call at 225-769-8888. We’re here to help you make the right decision for your family.