Transitions from Foster Care to Adoption

“John and I wanted to adopt our foster child, but we weren’t sure we had what it takes to care for a child with so many problems. Our therapist from Robins’ Nest helped us to understand Kevin’s pain and helped us learn the skills we needed to handle him. Now that we know we can do it, we have decided to make Kevin a permanent member of our family.”

In 2004, Robins’ Nest adoption services helped 96 foster children successfully transition into a loving, adoptive home.

Behavioral Supports for Adoptive Families provides intensive home-based treatment for children in adoptive families whose behavioral and emotional problems may lead to a failed adoption. Therapists, who have completed specialized training in dealing with adoption issues, help adoptive parents to understand bonding issues as well as their child’s grief from loss and separation.

Transition to Adoption helps foster parents who are willing to consider adopting their foster children to make a timely and informed decision. After a decision is made, the therapist helps the family address the myriad of issues relating to adoption to ensure the child bonds with his or her new family.

Fost-Adopt works with families who have applied to become foster parents with the intent to adopt their child, after parental rights are terminated. While they await the placement of their child, the program helps them deal with their anxieties and guides them through the pre-placement process. After they receive the child, the program provides on-going support to ensure the child adjusts to his or her new home.

In addition, home studies and safety assessments were conducted on 266 prospective and active foster homes to ensure the well-being of children in the State of New Jersey’s foster care system.