Although the paths look similar, foster-to-adopt requires a foster care license and a child placed in your home through foster care for a minimum of 6 months while reunification is likely still the case plan. After all avenues of reunification have failed with the primary family, you can petition to adopt the child once they've been placed in permanent custody. This may take up to 2 years to accomplish. With an adoption only certification, you would complete all the appropriate steps to complete your adoption homestudy, then work with us to find children who have permanent custody established and are legally free for adoption.