As you start considering your capacity and commitment to adopt a child or youth from foster care, it can be helpful to explore the variety of information and support resources that are available to you. This page provides an overview of the various stages of the adoption process through selected materials and links to State-specific information. 

 

About Adoption From Foster Care
AdoptUsKids
Provides a general overview of adoption from foster care, including links to short, interactive modules to assist in the decision; information on trauma; adoption assistance; and real families’ stories.

Foster Care Adoption
Creating a Family 
Offers information about foster care adoption, including an interview with a mother who adopted from foster care. This web section also provides blogs, suggested books, and other resources.

How to Adopt
North American Council on Adoptable Children 
Assists prospective adoptive parents in making an informed decision about fostering or adopting a child from the U.S. foster care system and outlines the path to a successful adoption.

What Is Foster Care Adoption?
Consider Adoption
Provides a general overview of the foster to adoption process, including timing, pros and cons, and how this decision impacts your family.

State Guides and Manuals Search
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Lists State publications about adoption that are written for foster, adoptive, and prospective adoptive parents.

Who Can Adopt and Foster?
AdoptUsKids 
Illustrates the basic characteristics of good foster or adoptive parents and includes a link to an interactive map of State foster care and adoption eligibility criteria.

Who May Adopt, Be Adopted, or Place a Child for Adoption?

Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 299KB)
Year Published
2020
Summarizes State laws regarding eligibility for becoming an adoptive parent (in terms of marital status, age, residency, and more), eligibility for being adopted as a child or adult, and authority to place a child for adoption.

Heart Galleries in My State
Heart Gallery of America
Features a comprehensive list of providers and photolisting resources for all States. 

National Foster Care & Adoption Directory Search
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Provides contact information for public adoption agencies by State.

Search AdoptUsKids Photolisting
AdoptUSKids
Gives access to the only national database of thousands of children available for adoption.

Accessing Adoption Support and Preservation Services

Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 362KB)
Order (Free)
Year Published
2018
Describes issues that adoptive children, youth, and families may encounter after adoption and the postadoption services available to help them manage their issues. Topics discussed include postadoption issues that adoptive families often encounter, the changing needs for support at different ages and developmental stages, types of postadoption services, finding postadoption services, paying for postadoption services, and advocating for postadoption services. A list of additional resources is also offered.

Finding and Working with Adoption-Competent Therapists

Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 252KB)
Order (Free)
Year Published
2018
Provides suggestions for finding an adoption-competent therapist and offers information about the types of therapy that can help adopted children and their families. Foster parents considering adoption could face similar issues and therefore also may find definitions and descriptions in this factsheet useful.

State Post Adoption Services and Programs

Series Title
Related Organizations Lists
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Year Published
2017
This resource listing Includes website links to postadoption information provided by State child welfare systems as well as State-funded and State-contracted organizations. Each entry includes a brief description of the organization.

Support for Parents Who Adopt From Foster Care
AdoptUsKids
Provides an overview of the services that are available to families after adoption.