Adoption & Guardianship
Adoption & Guardianship Guide Book
This guidebook is about choosing adoption or guardianship for a child
in state custody. If you find your-self wondering whether or not to adopt
a child or become a guardian for a child, this guidebook is for you.
We realize that families considering such a long-term commitment need
to have information and answers to their questions.
This guidebook will provide you with basic information on adoption
and guardianship, the process for both options, a comparison of adoption
and guardianship, and information about how the adoption and guardianship
subsidy program works.
A unique feature of adoption is its long-term, permanent nature. This
is quite different from the short-term focus on most foster-care. Guardianship
is also a permanent, long-term commitment to a child, but it is different
than adoption. You will learn about those differences in this guidebook.
I am deeply thankful for the inspiration and support from staff who
made this publication possible. I am also deeply grateful for your family's
consideration of becoming a permanent family for a child who today lives
in a temporary situation.