Adoption vs Fostering – Difference and Comparison

What is Adoption?

Adoption is a legal process where all the parental rights are transferred to Adoptive parents. A legal Adoption permanently transfers all parental rights and responsibilities of the child to the Adoptive parents, thereby permanently changing the relationship between the child and the biological parents.

There are several terms used to describe the word Adoption. Open and closed Adoption is to such terms, In open Adoption, the child can maintain a relationship with his or her biological parents while in closed Adoption the child cannot meet or have any relationship with his or her biological parents.

During Adoption, the biological parents can choose the family where the child would be placed and will be taken care of by the foster parents and also see if the family is capable of providing a better future for the child and for fulfilling needs.

At the right age, the family can inform the child about the Adoption but it’s the family’s decision considering the consequences.

What is Fostering?

Fostering is considered as the practice of families bringing up a child which is not of their own and from different biological parents and raising that child and taking care as their own.

Foster care can be considered as a full-time job by Foster parents receiving fostering fees and also weekly paycheck as maintenance and for day-to-day expenses of the child. In Fostering, the child can meet and can maintain the relationship with their biological parents.

There are various terms for Foster care such as words, group homes, and orphanages. Fostering is a full-time job and it has become a motivation for adults to take responsibility for children and also a fast way to earn money. However, the number of Foster care centers are dropped and the government is trying to motivate and provide more facilities for Foster care.

Once the child reaches 18 years of age, Foster care or Foster parents do not have any rights over the child and he/she probably leaves the Foster care to become self-reliant and independently pursue his/her own life decisions.

Difference Between Adoption and Fostering

  1. Adoption is a legal process wherein Fostering is not considered a legal process.
  2. Adoption, it transfers the legal rights from biological parents to Adoptive family whereas in Fostering, family brings up the child, which is not of their own and considered as a full-time job.
  3. In Foster care families have only basic rights of the child whereas Adoption gives full legal rights over the child.
  4. After Adoption, the child cannot meet or have any kind of relationship with the biological parent on the converse in Fostering, the child can meet or maintain a relationship with their biological parents.
  5. Even After 18 years of age, the Adoptive family has all the legal rights over the child and is considered as the family of the child when in Foster care once the child turns 18, Foster parents have no right over the child.

Comparison Between Adoption and Fostering

Parameters of ComparisonAdoptionFostering
DefinitionAdoption is a legal procedure where parental rights are transferred to Adoptive parents.Fostering In Foster care is considered as a job by Foster parents and receive Fostering fees for looking after children.
Legal RightsIn Adoption, all the legal rights are transferred to the Adoptive parents.Children in Foster homes have basic rights.
Age LimitAfter Adoption even though the child turns 18 years and is considered an adult Adoptive family is considered as the family of the child.Once the child turns 18, the Foster parent has no rights over the child.
Safety MeasuresEnsuring Adoption, the child cannot meet or have any relationship with his or her biological parent.In Fostering, a child can meet or have a relationship with the biological parent.
PaymentFor the Adopting family, some amount of financial help is provided.In Fostering, foster parents receive Fostering fees as well as weekly paychecks for day-to-day expenses of the child.

Reference

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147617930670132X