Utah foster care and adoption guidelines

Thank you for considering adopting a child from foster care or fostering in Utah.

State contact information

For adoption:
Raise the Future
801-265-0444

For foster care:
Utah Foster Care Foundation
877-505-5437

En espanol:
801-994-5205

Foster care and adoption licensing requirements

Qualifications

Must be 21 years old or older
May be single, married, divorced or widowed
May rent or own your own home or apartment
May already have children in your home or not have children
May work outside the home
May have a small or large income

Process

There are three major steps and three separate agencies involved in completing the process to become a resource family for foster, adopt or foster/adopt. Each of the three agencies provides a different service and interacts with the family at different stages in the adoption process. You must contact Utah Foster Care to schedule an initial consultation before registering for the training. To schedule a consultation, please call 877-505-5437.

First step: training and application

Twenty-four hours of in-person training plus additional hours of online training is required and can generally be completed in one month. The training prepares families for the experience of providing care to children who have been removed from their birth family and need foster, foster/adopt or adoptive families.

A completed application is required before one can foster-to-adopt in Utah. Utah Foster Care provides this application and can assist with its completion. A certificate is issued after the required training is completed.

Second step: assessment and licensing

The state office of licensing determines if a family and their home meet the minimum requirements for health and safety. They conduct a home study. A license may then be issued if the family and their home meet the minimum requirements.

Third step: approval

The Utah Division of Child and Family Services reviews the training certificate, home study, license, and the application. The division may approve, defer, or deny a family for placement of children in their custody.

Consult the Utah Division of Child and Family Services for adoption and foster care information.

Costs to foster and adopt

Generally the cost to adopt through the foster care system is nominal compared to other adoption avenues.

Up front, there are fees for background checks associated with being licensed (generally less than $20). There may also be costs associated with bringing a residence into compliance with state regulations. These vary widely. Finally, there are legal fees associated with the adoption proceedings. The state reimburses up to $2,000 of these costs–which generally covers costs to families.

Agency contact and orientation information

If you are brand new to the adoption process, it is highly recommended that you attend Raise the Future’s foster care and adoption orientation webinar.

Utah Foster Care offers public information nights statewide. Please call 877-505-5437 or visit Utah Foster Care for more information.

To get started with the process to foster or adopt through the state of Utah, please contact Utah Foster Care. They will refer you to the office closest to where you reside and then arrange for an orientation. Please call 877-505-5437 or visit Utah Foster Care for more information.

Post-adoption support services

See a comprehensive list of post-adoption and guardianship support services and support groups available to families who live in Utah.

Information on Utah's children

Children available for adoption reflect the state diversity. You may see Utah’s waiting children at the state adoption website.

The children who are placed in foster care by the Division of Child and Family Services range in age from infants to teenagers. They come from many different backgrounds and reflect the cultural diversity of the state. On any given day in the state of Utah, 2,400 to 2,800 children are in state custody and guardianship because their primary caretakers are no longer able to care for them.

There are about 150 children at any given time waiting for adoption from foster care. There is a need for adoptive families for older children, sibling groups, and children with significant needs. These children need safety, acceptance, love, and nurturing in a permanent family setting in order to grow into happy, productive adults.