Families adopt children from the child welfare system in one of two ways, either through resource home adoption (foster homes or relative homes) or “selected home” adoption. Foster and adoptive placements made by the Department of Children and Families, Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) are made with licensed New Jersey “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 child welfare system.

Foster parents are expected to work with DYFS towards the reunification of their foster child with birth parents or other relatives, when that is appropriate. If reunification with a family member is not possible, resource families receive the first consideration to adopt their foster child. Many children, especially younger children, who are adopted from resource care in New Jersey are adopted by their foster parents or relatives. Currently, resource families adopt more than 90% of the children who are available for adoption through the child welfare system. DYFS continues to have a great need for foster parents for all ages and types of children.

There is also a great need for adoptive parents for children who are not reunified with their birth family or adopted by their resource families. This is the situation with children who are placed through “Selected Home Adoption”. Of the children available for Selected Home Adoption, the greatest need for adoptive parents is for children over the age of eight, siblings, and children with severe medical, emotional, or behavioral challenges. Some of New Jersey’s children who are in need of Selected Adoptive Home are featured on AdoptUsKids and other websites. However, there are other children for whom this type of recruitment is not necessary, because licensed New Jersey Adoptive Families are more readily available.

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 or New Jersey residents with home studies from Private Adoption Agencies, the children typically placed 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 and in good physical and emotional health. You can:

• Be married or single
• Be childless or have children
• Work outside the home or stay at home
• Rent or own your house or apartment

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 DYFS, the only cost incurred during a foster or adoptive home study is the cost of medical examinations for each family member.

If you would like to adopt through a licensed private adoption agency serving New Jersey, fees vary. Please ask each agency what their requirements and fees are, and if their home studies are licensed. Many people have completed adoption home studies, but are unable to adopt a child from New Jersey if their home has not been licensed. In situations such as this, it is often necessary to have a second home study completed by DYFS if they should become interested in adopting a child from New Jersey. To obtain a listing of Licensed Adoption Agencies that serve New Jersey, please visit: http://www.nj.gov/dcf/divisions/licensing/AdoptionAgency.pdf

Agency Contact Information

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 NJ 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 arrange engagements with perspective adoptive and/or foster families 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.

Families who are interested in adoption only, may be referred to licensed private adoption agencies, if not interested in the children New Jersey typically places in selected home adoption placements.

Subsidized Adoption

If you are an adoptive parent, or if you are interested in becoming an adoptive parent for a special need child, the child you adopt may be eligible for financial assistance through the Adoption Subsidy Program. Children may be eligible if they:

• Are older, or of a race or ethnic group for which adoptive homes are not readily available
• Have a significant physical, intellectual, or emotional disability
• Need, and may continue to need, extensive medical treatment or special services, equipment, or training
• Are part of a group of brothers and sisters who should be kept together
• Are over five years old, living with a foster family for at least one year and would benefit by being adopted by their present foster family.

Federal Adoption Tax Credit

Beginning in tax year 2003, families adopting a child with special needs from foster care could claim the adoption tax credit without needing to incur or document expenses. This tax credit has increased from 10,000 per child in tax year 2003 to $12, 150 in tax year 2009. Adoptive families have the year the adoption was finalized and up to the next five additional years in which to use the tax credit. There will be a cost of living adjustment each year, so the amount may change again for tax year 2010. Form 8839 is used to apply for this tax credit.

Information on Children

As of March 2010, there are 7,805 children in placement in New Jersey; 2814 of these children have the goal of adoption, and approximately 90% of the 2814 children will be adopted by resource parents.

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!

Even teenagers need families. Have you ever thought about what age an individual no longer needs a person to call to:

• talk about their concerns/plans for the future
• get a recipe
• comfort them
• get an invitation to come home for a holiday meal
• work through a relationship problem
• share achievements
• invite to their graduation or wedding

These are just some of the examples showing how relationships are needed and last well into adulthood for most people. Now think about a child “aging out” of the child welfare system without anyone in their life. This is why DYFS has made a concerted effort to find permanent homes and/or lifelong connections for teenagers who remain in the child welfare system. If you enjoy teens and think you might be able to offer a permanent home to a teen, we would be delighted to hear from you! You can learn more about some of the great New Jersey kids who are waiting for permanent homes on this website. If you would like to get more information about a child that you see, please complete the on-line inquiry form, and a knowledgeable Exchange Specialist will contact you within three business days to answer your questions.

Here are the "Top 10 Reasons To Adopt A Teen"*

• No formula, diapers, bottles, or burp rags required
• Teens sleep through the night
• Teens will be ready to move out sooner (but they will always come home to visit)
• Teens can program your cell phones, dvd players, an teach you how to use your computer
• Teens can keep you up to date with latest fashions and trends
• Once they get their permits, they can drive you places
• You don’t just get a child, you get a friend
• Teens can pick up after themselves and do their own laundry
• Teens can teach you how to be more patient, understanding, kind, and empathetic
• Teens need someone to share their life dreams, achievements, and holidays with

Parent Support Groups

Children’s Aid and Family Services/New Jersey Adoption Resource Clearing House (NJARCH)

• Website: www.njarch.org
• Phone: 877-427-2465
• Email: warmline@njarch.org
• En Español: lalieneacalurosa@njarch.org

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

DYFS Adoption Registry

• Registration (also available to birth family members)
• Non-identifying background information
• Limited search services
• Information and referral

For more information please contact:

NJ Department of Children and Families

Division of Youth & Family Services

Adoption Registry

P.O. Box 717

Trenton, NJ 98625-0717

609-292-8816 or 609-984-6800