Families adopt children from foster care in one of two ways, either through foster care adoption or "selected home" adoption.
All foster and adoptive placements made by the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) are made with licensed "Resource Families." In New Jersey, families are dually licensed to provide both foster and adoptive care, and thus the study and licensing process is the same for all resource families. Families can also work with a licensed nonprofit or private agency to adopt. If a New Jersey family works with a licensed private adoption agency, their home would need to be licensed in order to adopt a child from the New Jersey foster care system.
Foster parents are expected to work with DYFS towards reunification with birth parents or placement with relatives when it is appropriate, and receive first consideration as adoptive parents if reunification cannot be accomplished. Many children, especially younger children, who are adopted from foster care in New Jersey are adopted by their foster parents. DYFS continues to have a great need for foster parents for all ages and types of children.
However, not every child in foster care who cannot return home is adopted by foster parents. There is also a great need for adoptive parents, especially for children who are part of a sibling group and/or over the age of six.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent or a selected home adoptive parent, you will need to complete the home study and training process first. While a particular child may be of interest to you, it is not possible to be considered until your home study has been completed and licensed (unless you share a kinship relationship with the child).
For residents of other states: The children typically placed outside New Jersey for adoption by DYFS are the waiting children who are displayed on www.adoptuskids.org or www.njadopt.org. In order to be considered for one of these children, it is necessary for families to have current, approved and/or licensed adoption home studies.
Licensing Requirements for Foster or Adoption
Becoming a foster or adoptive parent is easier than you think.
You must be:
- 18 years of age and at least 10 years older than any of the children who will be placed with you
- Able to support yourself
- In good physical and emotional health
You can be:
- Married or single
- Childless or have children
- Employed outside the home or stay at home
- Renter or home owner
During the home study process, 27 hours of PRIDE training is also required to prepare families to become foster and/or adoptive parents. NJ is using the SAFE adoption home study format.
What is the cost of a home study to Foster or Adopt?
If you adopt or foster through DFYS, the only cost incurred during a foster or adoptive home study is the cost of a medical examination for each family member.
If you adopt or foster through nonprofit or private agencies, they may charge fees. Please ask each agency.
Parent Support Groups
Children’s Aid and Family Services/New Jersey Adoption Resource Clearing House (NJARCH)
Services include:
- Listening with an empathic ear
- Referrals to support groups, mental health professionals, buddy families, adoption agencies, and medical experts
- Lending library
- Training for buddy families, support group leaders, and adoption professionals
- Speakers' Bureau
Agency Contact Information
For families interested in providing foster care or who are interested in the type of children available for Selected Home Adoption through New Jersey DYFS, the first step in the process would be to contact 1-800-99-ADOPT (1-800-992-3678). Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) answers these calls, sends information to the family, and routes the inquiry to the appropriate DYFS Local Offices Resource Family Unit. The Resource Family Units will arrange for either a personal or group engagement with the family as soon as possible. During the home study process, 27 hours of PRIDE training is also required to prepare families to become foster and/or adoptive parents. View a list of DYFS offices
For families interested in providing foster care or who are interested in the type of children available for Selected Home Adoption through New Jersey DYFS, the first step in the process would be to contact 1-800-99-ADOPT (1-800-992-3678). Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) answers these calls, sends information to the family, and routes the inquiry to the appropriate DYFS Local Offices Resource Family Unit. The Resource Family Units will arrange for either a personal or group engagement with the family as soon as possible. During the home study process, 27 hours of PRIDE training is also required to prepare families to become foster and/or adoptive parents. View a list of licensed private adoption agencies (36 KB PDF)
Information on Children
As of June 2009, there are 8,603 children in foster care in New Jersey. Of these children, 2799 have the goal of adoption and approximately 90 percent of the 2,799 children will be adopted by their foster families.
While parenting at any age is challenging, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing that you have been the critical factor in a child becoming a successful adult. What all children, but especially those adopted from foster care, need most is a family who will make an UNCONDITIONAL commitment to them, accepting them, working with them, advocating for them, and most of all sticking by them—no matter what.