Deciding to adopt or foster a child can be an exciting time. Fostering a child provides an alternative path to possible adoption. In Georgia, it can provide a safe and nurturing home environment to a child who badly needs that through no fault of his or her own. Adoption through fostering can also be a less costly undertaking.

The number of foster children in the United States had declined from 567,000 in 1999 to 397,000 in 2012. By 2016 the number had again increased to 437,000. Some of this is due to the continuing opioid crisis that continues to plague the nation. Some estimates are that for every five children in foster care, between two and four of them are there because of a family member’s substance abuse problem.

While there is no simple answer to the opioid crisis or the resulting number of children in the foster care system, providing a safe and loving environment for a child can be a very rewarding experience and help a child to survive, thrive and achieve a better life. Problems such as the opioid crisis can be solved one step at a time. Reaching out to a child can be an important step.

A person in Georgia who may be considering fostering a child may want to seek professional advice from an experienced family law attorney. A knowledgeable lawyer can answer a family’s questions regarding fostering and possible adoption. A family law layer can review his or her clients concerns and help them navigate the process required to foster or adopt a child.