New York foster and adoption guidelines

Different information is available for New York City residents, please visit the New York City foster and adoption guidelines.

On this page:

• Foster and adoption certification requirements
• Costs to foster and adopt
• Agency contact and orientation information
• Post-adoption support services
• Information on New York's children

Foster and adoption certification requirements

Adoptive and foster families vary in age, income, lifestyle, financial, and marital status. Some adoptive families are headed by a single, working parent. Some are two-parent families with birth children. Some have children already and some don’t. There is no "typical" adoptive or foster family.

Whether you are single or married, older or younger, renter or homeowner, you may apply to foster and/or adopt a child.

You need to be:

• Willing to learn about the unique needs of a child
• Patient and loving
• Energetic and giving
• Able to provide a secure environment; and equipped to meet the needs of a growing child

You do not need to:

• Have parenting experience
• Be married
• Own your own home
• Earn a high income

The process of adopting, from application to finalization, can be a lengthy one. It may take six months or more from the time you apply before a child is placed in your home. After the child is placed in your home, it will take at least three to 12 months before the adoption is finalized in court.

Additional adoption information:

Details and information about each step in the adoption process can be found on the NYS Office of Children and Families (OCFS) website.

All public and most voluntary (private) adoption agencies require prospective adoptive families to be dually certified and approved as foster families. For more information, see foster care certification information below.

Additional foster care information:

Detailed information on every step of the fostering process is available on the NYS OCFS foster care website.

Costs to foster and adopt

Public agencies do not charge a fee to foster or adopt children who are in the legal custody and guardianship of the public agency or foster care system.

Private agencies charge fees for families who wish to adopt a child both inside and outside of New York State.  If the child is in the custody of a public agency, the child's state may reimburse the family for some of these fees.

Completing an adoption in court generally requires an attorney and the payment of legal fees and any court costs.

Families adopting New York State children with special needs may be eligible for reimbursement of limited nonrecurring adoption-related costs, such as lawyer and agency fees, through New York.  Families adopting children from other states with special needs may be eligible for reimbursement of limited, nonrecurring adoption-related costs through the child's state of origin or federal options.

Agency contact and orientation information

In New York State, there are more than 130 adoption agencies. Each of New York's 58 social services districts (public agencies) has an adoption unit, and more than 70 authorized voluntary agencies statewide also work with adopting families.

Choosing an agency is a very important step. Talk to different agencies and adoptive parents or adoptive parent support groups to learn how the agencies work with prospective adoptive parents.

View a list of New York State agencies on the state website.

Contact and service information for adoption services in specific counties can be found on the AFFCNY information directory.

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Information on children

There are 25,397 children in foster care in New York State. Of these, 621 children are legally freed and waiting for an adoptive family and 3,051 children have a goal of adoption. To learn more about waiting children visit the NYSCCC waiting children.