If you’re expecting a baby or have a new baby and you know that you are not in a position to parent this child, what are your options? In Arkansas, you can place a child for adoption or the child can end up in foster care, and these are two very different pathways. When thinking about adoption vs. foster care, you need to understand the difference between the two in Arkansas law.
Adoption is permanent
This is the biggest difference between foster care and adoption. When a child is adopted, the birth parents lose their parental rights and the new adoptive parents are the child’s legal parents. There is a 10-day period during which a birth mom can change her mind, but once the adoption is final, it’s permanent. You can’t go back to the adoptive parents and say that things have changed and now you’re ready to parent the child.
If you place your baby for adoption in Arkansas, you will be able to
- Choose the family who will raise the baby
- Decide how much contact you want in the future—whether that’s letters, photos, visits, or no contact at all
- Know that the baby will grow up in one stable, permanent home
Adoption can be emotionally hard, but it can also bring peace because you’re making an intentional decision. You’re not leaving things up to chance—you’re choosing what you believe is best for your child long-term.
You don’t have to go through it alone, either. Counseling, legal support, and help during pregnancy are available at no cost to you. Call Heimer Law at (479) 225.9725 to find out how to get started.
Foster care is not a choice
While there are states in which parents can place their children into foster care temporarily, as a form of respite care, Arkansas does not allow this. Children in Arkansas go into the foster care system only with a court order. A judge must determine that it is in the child’s best interests, for reasons of safety or wellbeing, to be in a foster home.
It is also the court that decides when and whether a child can return to the parent.
In Arkansas, reuniting the family is always the goal for foster care. If a court orders your child into foster care, they will try to help you to become ready to bring your child home again. However, you have no choice about where your child will stay. He or she may be in more than one home during their time in the foster system and you will not have a say in those decisions.
If you eventually decide not to parent your child and choose to allow him or her to be adopted, the state will try to find an adoptive family for your child. However, the older the child is, the more difficult it may be for that child to find a permanent home.
It’s a big decision
Considering adoption vs. foster care can be tough, but the more you know, the easier it is to make the right decision. Heimer Lee specializes in adoption, and we have supported many, many families through the adoption journey. We will answer your questions honestly, with no pressure or obligation for you to make up your mind. Call (479) 225.9725 or use our simple form to start the conversation.
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