Vermont foster care and adoption guidelines

Many children in Vermont—from infants to teens—currently live away from their families in foster care. These children and their families need caring people like you to help them through a difficult time. There are many ways you can help, with one option being adoption.

Contact information

Project Family

280 State Dr., HC1N, Waterbury, VT 05671-1030
Contact: Toni Yandow
1-800-746-7000
Toni.Yandow@partner.vermont.gov

Foster care and adoption licensing requirements

To become a licensed foster parent in the state of Vermont, you must be at least 21 years old, live in Vermont, and have sufficient income to support your family. For more information, please visit the Vermont Department for Children and Families.

If you are interested in adopting a child in Vermont State custody, you can visit the Vermont Department for Children and Families.

Costs to foster and adopt

There may be nominal costs associated with becoming a foster parent, though most will be reimbursed. This is also the case if you adopt a child in Vermont State custody through the state of Vermont.

If you work with a private agency, they may charge fees. Any questions about private agency fees should be answered by that agency.

If you adopt a child who is waiting in foster care in another state, there may be costs. However, when families adopt children who are in foster care and eligible for subsidy, the families may be eligible for reimbursement of some adoption-related costs, such as attorney’s fees and court fees, through the child’s state. Many families use low-cost adoption options every year.

Agency contact and orientation information

Orientation

The Vermont Adoption Consortium, the Vermont Department for Children and Families, and the Vermont Foster/Adoptive Family Association regularly sponsor workshops for adoptive parents, pre-adoptive parents, foster parents, and professionals.

Child-Placing Agencies licensed in Vermont (adoption services)

Bethany Christian Service of Northern New England
Address: PO Box 233
Barre, Vermont 05641-0233
Contact: Sheila Bailey
(802) 877-6500
sbailey@bethany.org

Friends in Adoption, Inc.
Address: 212 Main Street
Poultney, Vermont 05764
Contact: Tara Saltis
(800) 982-3678
Tara@friendsinadoption.org

LUND
Address: Hoehl Family Building, 50 Joy Drive, South Burlington, Vermont
Contact: Wanda Audette
(800) 639-1741
Wandaa@lund.org

Wide Horizons
Address: 375 Totten Pond Road
Suite 400
Waltham, MA 02451
Contact: Maryanne Ludwig
(800)-729-5330
MLudwig@whfc.org

Post-adoption support services

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

Information on children

There are 1,436 children in foster care in Vermont; 265 of these children are waiting for adoptive families.