Adoptive Parents Information

What are the Requirements to be a Fost-Adopt Parent?

• Must be 24 years old.
• Married or single with or without children.
• Attend the Fost-Adopt trainings.
• Have an approved Fost-Adopt home study.
• Be fingerprinted and cleared on Child Abuse Index Clearance & Department of Justice.
• Fill out all required paperwork.
• Must be in good health.

What Kind of Fost-Adopt Parents is Mountain Circle looking for?

• Strong, stable families who care about children and have love, patience, guidance, and understanding to give to children.
• Individuals, couples or families who are dedicated to making a life-long commitment to a child in need of a home.

Why is Mountain Circle a Unique Adoption Agency?

Mountain Circle focuses on special needs children. We believe that every child, regardless of age, race, or other handicaps deserves to grow up in a permanent, nurturing home.

Most special needs children referred to Mountain Circle have already been in several foster homes and several preadoptive homes. We are dedicated to finding these children successful placements with committed families. We provide intensive treatment services to the Fost-Adopt parent and to the child in order to facilitate adjustment and permanency.

What is a Special Needs Child?

• Has been subjected to abuse & neglect.
• May be part of a sibling group.
• May have had prenatal drug exposure.

What about Financial Assistance & Medical Coverage?

While a Fost-Adopt parent you will receive a monthly stipend for your child. After the child
has been adopted you will receive AAP (Adoption Assistance Program).

Each child is insured by Medi-Cal which covers their medical, dental and vision expenses.
This continues until the child is 18 years of age, or even after the child has been adopted.
Medi-Cal and AAP pays for therapy for each child too.

Mountain Circle does not charge a fee to become an adoptive family. Fost-Adopt families
are allowed up to $400 for expenses incurred while adopting a child. This is reimbursed
through the State, not the Agency.

Last but not least you should know about Concurrent Planning. Concurrent Planning is providing children with a stable home while they are in active reunification with their birth parents. It also means that if the child is not able to reunify with their birth parents that the Fost-Adopt family is willing to adopt the child at the same time. This is a difficult process for Fost-Adopt families; since they are supposed to be willing to let go and yet willing to commit permanently to a child. Our Social Work staff will help you with this process.