FBI clearances
Similar to criminal clearances, this is a method of checking through the Federal Bureau of Investigation to see if a person has a criminal record. In addition to completing an information form, the person must be fingerprinted. There is a fee for FBI clearances, and they must be updated annually. They are not required in every state.

failed adoption
Similar to disruption, a dissolution is sometimes called a failed adoption. In a dissolution, a child leaves the adoptive home after the adoption has been finalized. Once it has been finalized, birthparents cannot dissolve an adoption, but adoptive parents or the courts can.

failed placement
Sometimes called failed placement, disruption occurs when a child leaves the adoptive home prior to the finalization of the adoption. This can occur in three situations: (1) In a legal risk adoption, usually involving a newborn infant, the birthparents revoke their consent to the adoption, during the time period when this is still possible; (2) The adoptive parents choose not to continue with their plan to parent the child for reasons of their own; or (3) The agency disrupts the adoption if the adoptive parents are not complying with post-placement requirements or are endangering the child in some way.

family
Family may refer to any two or more individuals committed to one another by law, blood, social custom, or love. In considering prospective adoptive parents, a single man or woman is also recognized as a family.

family preparation class
A family preparation class or parenting preparation class is a class taken by prospective adoptive parents, usually as part of the homestudy process. Many states and/or agencies require a particular kind of training. When no specific class is required, the Adoption Roadmap, an online parent preparation class available at the AdoptUSKids Learning Center, may be an option.

fees
Charges made by an adoption agency to prospective adoptive parents. Some agencies use a sliding scale, according to a family's ability to pay; most allow fees to be paid in installments. While private agencies usually charge fees for infant and international adoptions, few, if any fees are charged by public agencies for adopting waiting U.S. children and teens.

finalization
The legal process which transfers custody of a child from the adoption agency to the adoptive parents. In a court hearing, an attorney represents the family and presents the case to the judge, resulting in the adoption decree. This is the moment when the adoptee becomes the permanent, legally adopted child of the adoptive parents. This process cannot occur until the adoptive parents have had the child in their home for the time determined by state statute (usually at least 6 months).

financial assistance
Many waiting children are entitled to state or federal adoption assistance payments, also called financial assistance or subsidy. These payments are based on a child's needs or eligibility and not on the family's income. They provide a check for the child each month until the child reaches age 19 (sometimes age 21). Adoptive families may also be eligible for other resources for financing an adoption.

FMLA
Family Medical Leave Act

foster adoption, fost-adopt
A form of adoption in which a child is placed into a home as a foster child, with the expectation that the child will become legally free and be adopted by the foster parents.

foster care
A temporary arrangement in which other adults provide for the care of a child or children whose birthparent is unable to care for them. This can be informal or arranged through the courts or a social service agency. The goal for a child in foster care is usually reunification with the birthfamily, but may be changed to adoption. While foster care is temporary, adoption is permanent.

foster child
A child being cared for by foster parents.

foster parent
A person who provides foster care for a child. When this is a formal arrangement through a child welfare agency, the foster parent must be approved through a screening, training, and licensing process.