Frequently Asked Questions
What is Permanent Family Resource Center?
Permanent Family Resource Center is a licensed non profit adoption and foster care agency serving Minnesota and North Dakota. The mission of Permanent Family Resource Center is to influence and change the lives of children by securing supportive, loving, permanent families.
What children are available to care for?
Most of the children served by Permanent Family Resource Center have entered the child welfare system, usually as a result of abuse or neglect. Most of the children in foster care are of school age and have special needs. There is a great need for families to parent sibling groups, older children, and children of color.
What do you mean by special needs?
The special needs of these children vary. Many children experience grief, loss, or anxiety issues. Most have physical, mental health, developmental, behavioral, or emotional challenges. Many have attachment or trust issues. Many children require ongoing services, such as counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, or special education services. You will be given all of the information available about the child before you accept placement of a child into your home. The child will undergo thorough evaluations from education, mental health, and medical providers prior to adoption.
Will I be able to adopt the children I care for?
In most cases, the children will be placed into your home as an adoptive placement. However, there are foster care situations as well as “legal risk" situations you may wish to consider. For example, the concurrent planning program is looking for families who are willing to make a long term commitment to a child who has just been removed from their birth family. The child's birth parent will be given an opportunity to remediate the issues that brought the child into foster care. The birth family will be offered support and services to help them parent the child. They will be given timelines to make the changes necessary to provide a safe environment for the child. If the birth family is not able to parent the child, an adoption plan will be made for the child and you will be asked to adopt. If the court determines that the parent is able to parent their child, the concurrent planning family is expected to be supportive to the birth family. The concurrent planning family has the potential to remain a permanent and supportive part of the child's life, perhaps by providing respite care or playing the role of a mentor, babysitter, role model, or friend.
Who can be a Permanent Family?
Permanent Families are those families that are able to make a permanent, lifelong commitment to a child. We are looking for stable, mature, and emotionally healthy families that will provide unconditional love and acceptance. We are looking for families who are able to “put the child first” by embracing cultural diversity and by honoring the child’s existing connections, relationships, and attachments. We recognize the value of all family make ups, including large and small families, single parents and couples, working parents and stay at home parents, and younger and older parents. We believe that families do not have to be “perfect” to adopt. We look for families who are willing to learn the skills and knowledge needed to parent children with special needs, families who are willing and able to advocate for their children, and families who are willing and able to follow through with services and treatment recommendations for children.
What is a home study?
A home study (sometimes called a home assessment) is required by law for adoptive and foster families. A home study begins when you attend 16 hour pre-adoptive training and apply to our agency. You will have at least four visits with your social worker, who will guide you through the paperwork process and conduct a home safety walkthrough. A background check will be conducted on every household member over the age of 13. The home study process is an opportunity for your social worker to get to know your family and the type of child you wish to adopt. Permanent Family Resource Center wants successful families and we are not interested in "weeding people out”. Our goal is to support you and answer your questions throughout the home study process!
Do I need to own my home?
No. Many parents live in apartments and rented dwellings.
How old do I have to be to adopt?
By law, you must be 21 years of age to adopt.
Does each child need their own bedroom?
No. In fact, sharing bedrooms can be a good lesson in cooperation. You will, however, need to have an appropriate sleeping plan in place.
How long does it take to get a child?
There is no magic number. It can take from six months to two years, depending on the ages and challenges your family is willing to accept. Child social workers typically receive numerous home studies for a sibling group or child. Usually, “selection meetings” are held in which prospective families are evaluated and a match is identified. Typically, those families that are most active in the matching process and promote themselves are the families that are matched the fastest. You can help to make sure that your home study is seen by child workers by viewing adoption websites and locating children that you are interested in. You can promote yourself by making a website, blog, video, slideshow, or picture book. You can also use the wait time to prepare your home, create a scrapbook to use to introduce yourself to a child, attend trainings, look for opportunities to supervise and interact with children (such as providing respite care or becoming involved with activities such as Girl Scouts or Little League), and read books about parenting, adoption, and special needs issues.
How much does it cost?
Agency fees vary by program. To view our most current fee agreement, click here. You can also learn about each of our programs and their fees by visiting our Programs and Fees page. For example, there is a $100 adoption application fee, $100/person training fee, and a $1,000 home study fee for those who adopt special needs children through our Minnesota Waiting Children program. There is also a $70/person fee to conduct background checks. There may be some costs to becoming licensed for foster care, such as a well test or fire inspection. There may be some costs related to adopting a child, such as transportation, meals, and lodging when you visit them prior to placement. Court fees are involved when you finalize the adoption and apply for a new birth certificate. These "one time" costs are typically reimbursable after the adoption is finalized; however, each state varies. Many Waiting Children qualify for a monthly adoption assistance or SSI payment (the amount varies based on the child's special needs). You may be paid a foster care rate before adoption. Most Waiting Children are eligible for medical assistance.