Spreading awareness: National Adoption Month

While many people touched by the different forms of adoption -- international and infant domestic, for example -- celebrate National Adoption Month, the original intended purpose is to spread awareness about adopting from the U.S. foster care system.

"You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent"

The theme of National Adoption Month this year conveys a strong message: "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent." If you're a dedicated mom, you know this is the truth! None of us are perfect, but we're probably perfect for our children. We strive to be and do our best and that's what matters. The same belief applies to fostering and adopting from the foster care system.

Foster parent qualifications

The theme really is true: You don't have to be perfect! Who's perfect, anyway? While AdoptUsKids notes that requirements vary between states, several premises hold true.

To adopt from foster care, you do not have to:

• Own your home
• Be "young"
• Be wealthy
• Be married
• Be an at-home parent

To adopt from foster care, you should possess these characteristics:

• Maturity
• Stability
• Flexibility
• Dependability
• An ability to -- and interest in -- advocating for a child

The adoption process

Again, the process to adopt varies between states, but very generally, AdoptUsKids notes that you must complete assessment and licensing requirements. The process includes a homestudy -- think, a lot(!) of paperwork -- and education classes.

Some of the requirements to adopt are as follows:

• Minimum age
• Income verification. Your income must simply meet your expenses.
• Criminal record check at the local, state and federal levels. This includes finger printing. You cannot have a record of child abuse or neglect.
• Letters of recommendation from your employer and people who know you
• Doctor's reference letter. You don't have to be in perfect health, but you need to be able to care for a child.

Other considerations:

• Cost: AdoptUsKids states that generally, there is no cost to the adoptive parents
• Time: Start to finish, from the time you begin your paperwork to the point a child is placed with you, the process generally takes 12 months. Finalization of the adoption usually occurs six months after placement. As with everything, these timeframes can vary between states.

Learn more

If you're interested in learning more about adopting from the foster care system, start with the resources below.

State specific details: Click on your state at the bottom of the page to learn about your state's foster care system

How to Foster and Adopt: A step-by-step overview of the process

National Foster Parent Association: A non-profit, volunteer organization that supports foster parents

Don't be discouraged!

The adoption process from the foster care system can seem overwhelming, that's for sure. However, many of the great things in life require effort and commitment. If you are truly interested in becoming a foster parent, don't be discouraged by the process or paperwork. Reach out to an agency or your state's foster care office. There are plenty of people to help educate you and guide you through the process.

Check back this month for more information about other types of adoption as well as a few personal experiences as we focus on National Adoption Month!