We are glad that you are considering adopting or fostering a child from foster care.
Contact Information
English Contact:
Ines Flores
Phone: (415) 259-4733
Email: if8644@yahoo.com (Please note: Email must have a subject line.)
Other Resources
Frequently asked questions about adopting a child from foster care in California
Tips on how to choose an agency
California Department of Social Services
Para información en español, contacte:
Ines Flores
Teléfono: (415) 259-4733
Correo Electrónico: if8644@yahoo.com (Observe por favor: El correo electrónico debe tener una línea sujeta.)
Other Resources
http://california-adoption.org/FAQ_Espanol.html
Licensing Requirements for Foster or Adoption
Adoption Licensing
Adoptive parents complete forms on their criminal and employment backgrounds, among other paperwork. The homestudy process also includes an interview to ascertain whether the potential parents are prepared for adoption. Some of the issues covered in the homestudy include:
- Is the house clean and safe?
- Is there room for the child?
- If the applicants are married, how long have they been married? (Yes, single people can, and do, adopt.)
- If people are adopting as a couple, are both people eager to adopt?
- Do the applicants have any experience with children?
- Can they afford to have the child?
The goal of the interview and examination process is not to make sure the applicants have a lot of money, a big house or a great deal of education. Instead, the goal is to verify that adoption is the appropriate choice for the family. The homestudy is also an opportunity for the potential parents to obtain information from the agency worker and to have their questions answered. More information is available from the California Department of Social Services and also at the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
Foster Care Licensing
A license is required to become a foster family. The process requires a licensing worker to visit your home and meet with you and other family members. Minimum personal, safety and space requirements are required by law. Foster parents work with social services staff to determine the type of child best suited for their home (i.e., age, health issues, and gender). Much of the licensing process is the same as that of adoption licensing. More information is available from the California Department of Social Services.
Does it Cost to Foster or Adopt?
Typically, there is no fee for families interested in adopting a child or sibling group from foster care. Licensed public adoption agencies (also known as CDSS adoptions district offices) may require that you pay a fee of no more than $500. This fee may be deferred, reduced or waived under certain conditions. There are also many adoption agencies who do not require applicants to pay this fee.
You should also expect to pay for fingerprinting, medical examinations, court filing and other adoption-related costs such as CPR classes or any necessary water safety classes. These requirements are usually no more than $100 - $300, and some of these expenses may be reimbursable after the adoption is finalized.
Parent Support Groups
Find Adoption and Foster Resources for California at the Child Welfare Information Gateway Foster Care and Adoption Directory Search.
Agency Contact and Orientation Information
List of California fost-adopt agencies, by county:
- Fost-adopt agencies: Counties A-P (English), including: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas.
- Fost-adopt agencies: Counties R-Z (English), including: Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba.
Directory of Licensed California Adoption Agencies.
Searchable Online Database of California Agencies.
Information on Children
There are more than 62,000 children in foster care in California, about 48 percent of whom are placed with relatives. The majority will return home to live with their family as soon as the problems that caused their entry in care are sufficiently resolved. About 7,000 children are adopted each year, and about 3,000 California children need an adoptive family every day.