You only need to become a foster parent before adopting a child if the child you want to adopt is already in the foster care system. However, this is not a bad route to go. The foster care system requires you to take free training, called MAPP class training, the adoption is free, and it provides up to $2,000 in assistance with the legal fees associated with the adoption. Private adoption agencies, on the other hand, specialize in matching children with families, do not necessarily require pre-placement assessments and training, but their fees typically start around $20,000 and do not include any legal fees. Either choice is a wonderful one for expanding your family and giving a home to a child in need.