Consider Adoption
Foster/Adoptive Families
At PATH we believe that a family environment is the preferred venue of support for most children who are not able to live with their families of origin and who have emotional, behavioral, developmental, or medical needs. Children with special needs who reside in PATH foster homes benefit from the expertise of skilled foster parents and social workers.
For whatever length of time a child is with us, we work to ensure that each child is provided with the stability, love, and resources that will make a difference in their lives - the tools for empowerment, the opportunity for success.
For many children, that opportunity has meant breaking generational cycles of poverty and neglect, as they mature into confident and healthy adults. And, in many cases, the bonds of caring developed with their foster families have endured well into their adult years and include returning with their own healthy children - children who have never known the trauma of abuse and neglect.
Returning the youth in care to their families of origin is always the goal. When that is not possible other permanent family options, including adoption, are explored carefully and processed accordingly.
Be an Adoptive Family
Give a child roots to grow in a forever family.
Have you been a parent for years and now want to expand your family through adoption? Or would adoption make you a first-time parent? No matter what your situation is, you will find that being an adoptive parent is a unique experience.
For most people, parenting an adopted child is not the same as raising children born into their family. Adopted children have diverse backgrounds and needs and have experienced numerous life-shaping events, all of which add dimension to your existing family. Adoption brings joy and excitement, but it can also introduce new challenges.
Are you ready to become an adoptive parent? Consider the following:
Adoptive parents don't need to:
Make a lot of money
Own their own home
Be married
Be in perfect health
Live in a particular type of home or neighborhood
They do need to have:
Warm, caring homes
Family stability
Skills and patience to work with children and youth with special needs
The ability to accept children whose backgrounds may be much different than their own
A lifestyle with the flexibility, time and focus to enrich the lives of children
Successful adoptive parents are also:
Flexible, adapting their parenting skills to best suit each child
Willing to unconditionally commit to a child no matter what behavior that child might ultimately exhibit. These parents claim the child as their own, hanging in there through all the ups and downs of family relationships
Open-minded about making use of support services and assistance, if needed, to meet the needs of their adopted child
Adoption Resources
Adoption procedures vary by State so contact your local PATH office for more information about adopting through PATH. The following adoption oriented organizations are additional sources of information:
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
North American Council on Adoptable Children
NACAC promotes and supports permanent families for children and youth in the U.S. and Canada who have been in care - especially those in foster care and those with special needs. To achieve this mission, NACAC focuses its program services in four areas: public policy advocacy, parent leadership capacity building, education and information sharing, and adoption support.
