Arizona foster care and adoption guidelines
We're happy to have the opportunity to walk you through the foster care and adoption process in Arizona. We will answer your adoption questions and assist you in making the process a positive experience.
See information and resources related to COVID-19 on Arizona’s website.
On this page:
- State contact information
- Foster and adoption licensing requirements
- Costs to foster and adopt
- Agency contact and orientation information
- Post-adoption support services
- Information on Arizona's children
State contact information
877-KIDS-NEED-U (877-543-7633)
FosterAdoption@AZDCS.GOV
En español
- Erline Armenta: Erline.armenta@azdcs.gov; 602-255-2639
Foster and adoption licensing requirements
Qualifications to foster or adopt
You could make a wonderful parent to a waiting child if you:
- Are single, married, divorced or widowed
- Meet minimum age requirements (21 to foster, 18 to adopt)
- Own or rent your home or apartment
- Pass an FBI and local criminal background check and have a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety
- Are lawfully present in the United States
Getting started
You’ll begin by contacting a licensed adoption agency in the county you live in (this does not mean you will have to adopt from the county you live in). When contacting contracted agencies, please specify that you want to adopt from foster care to ensure you receive the correct information.
Read more about getting started to become a foster or adoptive parent in Arizona and see Arizona’s Go-to Guide, a comprehensive guide for foster and kinship families, with information for adoptive families as well.
More about fostering
While adoption is permanent, fostering is usually providing temporary care for a child while their birth family works with a social worker to improve the situation so that the child can return to his/her birth family.
Learn more about steps of the process to becoming a foster parent.
Costs for fostering and adopting
Foster care
In Arizona, being licensed to become a foster care parent is basically free!
Adoption
Most of Arizona’s contracted licensing agencies charge an $800 adoption certification fee. This fee is reimbursed to families when a waiting Arizona child from the US foster care system (who is legally free for adoption) is placed into their home for the purposes of adoption. So, ultimately, adopting an Arizona child from foster care is free.
Arizona families who are licensed foster parents caring for a child free for adoption may not need to be certified to adopt the child if the Arizona Department of Child Safety agrees.
Families can, and do, adopt children from foster care in other States every year. When families adopt children who are in foster care and eligible for subsidy, the families may be eligible for reimbursement of limited nonrecurring adoption-related costs through the child’s State and federal options.
Agency contact and orientation information
- View orientation schedule.
- Find a licensed agency.
- Find the Department of Child Safety by calling 877-KIDS-NEED-U (877-543-7633) or emailing FosterAdoption@AZDCS.GOV.
Post-adoption support services
Locate post-adoption and guardianship support services in Arizona, including parent support groups.
Information on Arizona's children
In Arizona, the greatest need is for families who will care for teens and large sibling groups.