A common misconception is that prospective adopters must have no health issues and lead a perfectly healthy lifestyle. In reality, many successful adopters manage various medical conditions or disabilities.

Adoption can be both physically and emotionally demanding, so adoption panels need to ensure that applicants have the physical and psychological capacity to meet the needs of the child they will care for. Given the permanent nature of adoption, panels also assess whether the adopter’s health is likely to remain stable to provide consistent care over a long period of time.

Children awaiting adoption often come from backgrounds of significant instability and disruption. Minimizing the risk of further disruption in their adoptive placement is critical, which is why the health and well-being of adopters are key considerations in the assessment process.