for families
Who Can Foster and Adopt
- Adoption Laws and Resources for LGBT Families
- Adoption Resources for Military Families
- Adoption and Foster Care Resources for Minority Families
- Global Adoption Resources
How to Adopt
- Common Myths About Adoption
- Deciding to Pursue Adoption
- Applying to Adopt
- Completing an Adoption Home Study
- Getting Approved to Adopt
- Being Matched with a Child
- Receiving an Adoptive Placement
- Legalizing an Adoption
- Being an Adoptive Parent
How to Foster
- Deciding to Pursue Fostering
- Applying to Foster
- Completing a Foster Home Study
- Getting Approved to Foster
- Receiving a Foster Placement
- Being a Foster Parent
Register with AdoptUsKids
State Adoption and Foster Care Information
Post-Adoption Resources
Request to Be Contacted
Connecticut Foster Care and
Adoption Guidelines
Thanks for considering adoption and/or fostering. Please feel free to contact the Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents, Inc.
- Phone (Teléfono):1-888-543-4376 (KIDHERO)
- Email (Correo Electrónico): kidhero@cafap.com
Things You Should Know
- Foster and Adoption Licensing Requirements
- Agency Contact and Orientation Information
- Parent Support Group Contacts
- Information on Connecticut's Waiting Children
Foster and Adoption Licensing Requirements
Connecticut’s children are primarily in care because of abuse or neglect. They come from all ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. They are individual children as well as sibling groups. Ages of the children range from infant to 18 years old.
As a prospective parent, you are expected to be a role model for the child, develop positive self-esteem, assist in the transportation to and from medical appointments, and provide educational support. The minimum qualifications are:
- You must be 21 or older
- Able to provide a loving, supportive home environment
- Have sufficient income to meet your own financial needs
- Must be of good character (local police and FBI check required)
- Able to attend 10-week training program with modified programs possibly available (couples, including partners, are required to become licensed and attend all training sessions)
- Must have a completed homestudy
- Have two or more bedrooms in home (foster children can share the same bedroom with a child of similar age and sex, but not the same bed)
The benefits to adoption are:
- No legal fees for public adoptions
- Financial and medical benefits are available for the child until adoption is finalized
- Eligibility for adoption tax credit
Agency Contact and Orientation Information
Detailed information about foster care licensing requirements, orientation sessions, and children available for adoption can be found at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
A number of private agencies have contracts with the department to provide foster care for children who have extraordinary emotional, behavioral, or medical needs. Foster parents approved by these agencies receive on-going support and training. These agencies operate under somewhat different treatment models so expectations, training, and monthly reimbursement to foster parents may vary. The following private agencies have programs for children with exceptional needs and would welcome you to contact them.
- ‘r kids Family Center
Contact: Randi Rubin-Rodriguez
Phone: 203-865-5437
Email: randi@rkidsct.org
Address: 45 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511
- A Better World Adoptions
Phone: 860-677-0470
Email: abetterworldadoptions@comcast.net
Address: 74 Batterson Park Road, Farmington, CT, 06032
- Boys and Girls Village
Phone: 203-877-0300
Address: 528 Wheelers Farms Road, Milford, CT 06461
- Connecticut Adoption and Family Services
Phone: 860-444-0553
Fax: 860-444-6527
Address: 2 Union Plaza, Suite 300, New London, CT, 06320
- Catholic Charities, Inc.
Phone: 860-889-8346
Address: 839-841 Asylum Ave., Hartford, CT, 06105
- Children’s Community Programs
Phone: 203-786-6403
Address: 446A Blake Street, New Haven, CT 06515
- Community Care Services
Contact: C. Forsyth
Phone: 860-372-4795
Email: cforsyth@communitycareservices.com
Address: 2189 Silas Dean Highway, Suite 7, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
- Community Residences, Inc.
Contact: Jennifer Kay
Phone: 860-621-1600, Ext. 117
Address: 732 West Street, Suite 12, Southington, CT 06489
- Community Health Resources
Contact: Nicole Crenshaw
Phone: 860-646-3888 ext. 356
Email: NCrenshaw@CHRHEALTH.org
Address: 587 East Middle Turnpike, Manchester, CT 06040
Contact: Sandra Gifford
Phone: 860-456-3215 ext. 119
Email: SGifford@CHRHEALTH.org
Address: 1491 West Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226
- Dare Family Services
Contact: Jeremy Smith
Phone: 860-291-8688
Address: 1184 Burnside Avenue, Suite E, East Hartford, CT 06108
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Family and Children’s Agency
Contact: Robert Cashel
Phone: 203-855-8765
Address: 9 Mott Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850 -
Institute of Professional Practice/Professional Parenting Program
Contact: Martha Wick-Glaser
Email: mglaser@IPPI.org
Local Phone: 203-389-6956
Toll-Free Phone: 888-968-4489 ext.134
Address: 1764 Litchfield Turnpike, Woodbridge, CT 06525 -
Jewish Family Services
Contact: Elaine Benevides
Phone: 203-389-5599, ext. 115
Address: 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515 -
Klingberg Family Centers
Contact: Linda Stanger
Email: lindas@klingberg.org
Phone: (860) 224-9113
Address: 370 Linwood Street, New Britain, CT 06053 -
Luthern Community Service of Southern New England
Phone: 860-376-8583
Address: 2139 Silas Deane Hwy, Suite 201, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 -
New Opportunities
Contact: Kristie Elliott
Email: kelliott@newopportunitiesinc.org
Phone: 203-575-4286
Address: 232 North Elm Street, Waterbury, CT 06702 -
North American Family Institute
Contact: Deana Miranda, MSW
Phone: (860) 560-7324
Address: 146 Wyllys Street Hartford Square West, 1-305, Hartford, CT 06016 -
Rainbow Adoptions
Contact: Dr. Lori Snow
Phone: 860-677-0032
Address: 29 W. Main Street, #101, Avon, CT, 06001 -
The Village for Families and Children
Contact: Rosario Berrio
Email: rberrio@villageforchildren.org
Phone: 860-297-0598, Ext. 741
Address: 331 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114 -
Thursday's Child
Contact: Iris Arenson-Fuller
Phone: 860-242-5941
Address: 227 Tunxis Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002 -
Waterford County School
Contact: Christopher Lacey
Email: CLacey@waterfordcs.org
Address: 2 Clinic Drive, Norwich, CT 06360 -
Wheeler Clinic
Contact: Penny Kobler
Email: pkobles@wheeler.org
Phone: (860) 793-7277
Address: 88 East Street, Plainville, CT 06062
Parent Support Group Contacts
Most families want the support of others who have had the experience of fostering and adoption. A current list of all support groups in Connecticut can be found through the Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents.
Information on Connecticut's Waiting Children
On any given day, there are more than 4,000 children in foster care, many of whom are in need of permanent homes. To learn more about children available for adoption, please contact the Connecticut Department of Children and Families by calling 800-842-6347. Those who live out of state can email karen.miskunas@ct.gov.
