Frequently Asked Questions

Requirements vary by state, but Bethany welcomes married couples and single adults who are at least 21 years old, have a stable housing situation, and can provide a safe, supportive environment for a child. Foster parents must complete training, pass background checks, and participate in the licensing process.

More important than having a perfect home or parenting background is a willingness to care for children who may have experienced trauma, loss, or uncertainty. Foster parents play a vital role in helping children feel safe, loved, and supported while working alongside caseworkers and, when appropriate, supporting a child's relationship with their family.

Yes. Many states allow single adults to foster or adopt, and Bethany works with both married couples and single adults. The most important qualifications are a commitment to providing a stable, loving environment and the ability to meet a child's emotional, physical, and developmental needs. During the licensing or adoption process, Bethany evaluates each family based on factors such as safety, stability, support systems, and readiness to parent a child who may have experienced trauma.

Requirements vary by state and program, so speaking with a local Bethany specialist is the best way to understand the opportunities available in your area.

Respite care provides short-term support for foster families by caring for children temporarily when foster parents need a break, attend training, handle emergencies, or manage other responsibilities. Respite caregivers play an important role in helping foster families continue providing stable care over the long term. Depending on state requirements, respite caregivers may need to complete training, background checks, and licensing or certification requirements.

If you're interested in supporting children and foster families but aren't ready to become a full-time foster parent, respite care can be a meaningful way to get involved. Contact your local Bethany office to learn about opportunities and requirements in your state.

Foster care and adoption both provide children with safe, caring families, but they serve different purposes.

Foster care is typically temporary and exists to provide stability for children while their families work toward reunification or another permanent plan. Foster parents support children during this period and often play a role in helping maintain important family connections.

Adoption is a permanent legal relationship that establishes a child as a permanent member of a family. While foster care focuses on temporary care and family reunification whenever possible, adoption provides long-term permanency when reunification is no longer an option. In both cases, children benefit from loving, committed adults who help them heal and thrive.

When children are in foster care, they typically have regular, supervised visits with their parents. As parents progress toward their assigned goals, the reunification process begins with unsupervised visits, overnight visits, and weekend visits. Once a determination is made to return the child(ren) home, parents work with a social worker who provides in-home services and additional support to help the parents and child(ren) make a smooth transition.

Yes. When a child in foster care is unable to safely reunite with their family, adoption may become the permanent plan.

Foster care adoption provides children and teens with the stability and lifelong connection of a permanent family. Many children waiting to be adopted are older youth, sibling groups, or children who have experienced significant loss and trauma. Families interested in foster care adoption receive training, complete a home study, and work with adoption professionals throughout the process. Bethany has helped families navigate adoption for decades and provides education, resources, and support before and after placement.

The adoption timeline varies depending on the type of adoption, state requirements, the completion of training and paperwork, home study requirements, and the needs of the child. Every adoption journey is unique, and some families may move through the process more quickly than others. The process generally includes an informational meeting, training, background checks, a home study, and matching with a child or adoption opportunity. While waiting can be difficult, these steps help ensure that children are placed in safe, prepared, and supportive homes. A Bethany adoption specialist can help explain the process and provide information specific to your state and circumstances. Find a Bethany location near you.

Foster care adoption is often available at little or no cost to adoptive families and may include financial assistance for eligible children. Other adoption pathways may involve agency, legal, home study, and placement-related expenses totaling $60,000 or more.

Because every family's situation is unique, Bethany encourages prospective adoptive parents to speak directly with an adoption specialist to understand the costs associated with available programs in their state. Bethany is committed to helping families make informed decisions by providing clear information about fees, timelines, and available financial resources before they begin the adoption process.