What is the Difference Between Fostering & Adoption?

• Written by Yashita Sinha

  Reviewed by Akhil Pillai

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In the last 3 years, India has witnessed a 25% spike in the number of abandoned and orphaned children revealing an urgent and heartbreaking problem in our society. While this alarming data highlights the plight of countless children in our country, the growing presence of foster homes brings a ray of hope.

However, data from the Central Adoption Resource Authority shows a profound reality. As of 2024, only 1,610 children have been placed in foster care, indicating the need for continuous efforts to bridge the gap between abandoned children and foster homes.

In this context, it’s essential to understand the difference between fostering and adoption—two different yet interdependent ways of providing a nurturing environment to children who need love, care, and a stable environment. Let’s begin this blog by learning more about fostering and gradually progressing towards adoption.

What is Fostering?

While some of us are privileged enough to live with our families and receive much-needed love and care, countless children in our country are deprived of these basic needs. Here, fostering acts as a way of offering a stable and secure environment to these children. If their primary caregivers are not in a position to look after them, foster homes become their safe spaces.

In India, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) and the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) are the two regulatory authorities that work together to ensure the smooth operation of foster homes.

Who are Foster Parents?

Think of foster parents as guardian angels of children deprived of a loving and supportive environment. They are couples who open their doors to orphan and abandoned children and offer them a nurturing environment that supports their overall development.

Beyond providing shelter, they play a significant role in emotionally uplifting children by giving them a sense of security and belongingness. Ideal foster parents are those who are willing to support faith, culture, race and identities- be it sexual or otherwise of the children under their care.

Eligibility Criteria of Foster Parents

Becoming a foster parent is an incredible journey that requires meeting certain criteria to ensure the safety and well-being of children. These criteria, outlined by the Ministry of Women and Child Development evaluate the ability of prospective parents to offer a nurturing environment to children under their care. Here are the Model Foster Care Guidelines, 2024

• The prospective foster parents should be physically, mentally, emotionally and financially sound.
• They should not suffer from any life-threatening medical conditions
• They should not have been convicted of a criminal offence or involved in any case of child rights violation.
• In the case of married couples, both spouses must be Indian citizens
• The consent of both spouses is required for foster care.
• A single female can foster a child of any gender
• A single male is not eligible to foster a girl child
• No child should be given in foster care to a couple unless the committee has confirmation that they have a stable marital relationship of 2 years.
• The final selection of prospective foster parents depends on the child’s consent.
• Prospective foster parents should be committed to fostering a loving and caring family atmosphere that encourages their child’s growth and is willing to offer them the love, support, and direction the child needs.
• The age limit to foster a child is mentioned in the below table.

What is Adoption?

Adoption is another way to provide a safe space for children who are no longer living with their birth parents due to any reason and have suffered abandonment, abuse or neglect throughout their childhood.

The only difference between fostering and adoption is when a couple adopts a child, they become permanent adoptive parents of their child. So, while foster care involves nurturing a child until they can reunite with their birth family or become a permanent family member, adoption is a permanent commitment.

When a couple adopts a child, they take both legal and emotional responsibility to provide care and support until the child reaches adulthood. If you’re thinking about adopting a child, it’s important to know the adoption process in our country. Let’s break it down in the next section.

Adoption Process in India

Couples willing to adopt children in India are supposed to follow a procedure decided by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), the legal body of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. Here is a simple breakdown of this procedure;

• The foremost step involves applying for child adoption on the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System by filling up the online application form provided in Schedule VI. After filling out the form, the couple is supposed to upload the relevant documents within thirty days thereby registering themselves as prospective adoptive parents.
• The prospective adoptive parents will be given two state choices. They can also pick a cluster of states according to their identification.
• Their registration shall be deemed in all Specialised Adoption Agencies of the states they have chosen.
• They’ll get their registration number from the acknowledgement slip which might be used for tracking the progress of their application.
• Once the registration is completed, prospective adoptive parents are supposed to apply to a Specialised Adoption Agency or District Child Protection Unit proximate to their residence. This leaves room for home study before allowing the adoption to take place.
• A social worker of a selected Specialised Adoption Agency or the empanelled social worker of the District Child Protection Unit or the State Adoption Resource Agency will prepare a home study report of the adoptive parents. This social worker is responsible for offering pre-adoption counselling to the prospective adoptive parents.
• This report is completed in the format given in Schedule VII within sixty days from the date of submission of requisite documents and immediately gets shared with the prospective adoptive parents.
• Within three days of the date of completion of the home study process, the report gets posted on the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System by the specialised adoption agency. This report remains valid for three years and becomes the basis of the adoption of a child by prospective adoptive parents from any part of the country.
• Child adoption after the completion of a home study report depends on the availability of a suitable child.

Difference Between Fostering and Adoption

Fostering and adoption serve as crucial pillars of child protection, each addressing unique circumstances and needs. The table below shows the key differences between the two, helping you understand their distinct roles in providing child care and stability.

Nurture the New Chapter of Your Life With the Right Insurance Plan

Both fostering and adoption involve providing a safe environment for children and showering them with love, support and financial stability. Whichever option you choose, it’s a rewarding journey that brings happiness and purpose to your life. At the same time, it comes with its own set of responsibilities and challenges.

Ensuring that you’re well prepared for any unexpected situations in this journey is important, especially when it comes to the health and well-being of your current family and also the child that you’re bringing into your home.

This is where a comprehensive health insurance plan can be a saviour. It offers peace of mind by covering medical expenses, ensuring that your growing family gets access to quality health care whenever required. From regular checkups to emergency care, everything gets covered in the plan so that you can focus on something more important- creating lasting memories with your family.

Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only: Policy Assurance and Claims at the underwriter's discretion.