What is the main purpose of the Adoption Prevention Program?

The main purpose of the Adoption Prevention Program is to provide support services that prevent the need for adoption through family preservation. This program focuses on keeping families intact by offering resources and assistance that address the underlying issues leading to family disruption. By investing in preventive services, such as counseling, substance abuse treatment, and parenting education, the program aims to strengthen family relationships and mitigate circumstances that could result in children being placed for adoption.

This approach is foundational in child welfare, as it emphasizes the importance of supporting families and ensuring children can remain within their family units whenever safely possible. The goal is to create a supportive environment where families can thrive, which ultimately reduces the need for children to enter the adoption system.

In contrast, options that focus on expediting the adoption process, creating more foster care placements, or providing financial incentives for adoption divert attention away from the critical need for prevention and support of existing families. These alternatives do not address the proactive aspect of preventing family breakdowns and ensure that families receive the necessary help to stay together.