Indiana Foster Care and Adoption Guidelines

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office, and we will be happy to assist you. In addition, someone in our office will be following up with you to answer any questions or concerns you may have as you navigate the preparation process.

Email: info@ifcaa.org
Phone: 888-25-ADOPT (888-252-3678)

Things You Should Know

• Foster and Adoption Licensing Requirements
• Foster and Adoption Costs
• Agency Contact and Orientation Information
• Parent Support Groups
• Information on Indiana's Waiting Children
• Upcoming Events

Foster and Adoption Licensing Requirments

Foster Parent Requirements:

• Complete licensing packet issued by your county of residence
• Complete 20 hours of training
• Do criminal background checks and CPS checks as required by the state of Indiana
• Complete homestudy process with the county or agency that is working with you

Adoptive Parent Requirements:

• Complete application packet issued by the county or agency with whom you are working
• Complete 26 hours of training, do criminal background checks and CPS checks as required by the state of Indiana
• Complete homestudy process with the county or agency that is working with you
   

Foster and Adoption Costs

In some cases, you may be required to pay for your criminal background checks and CPR/First Aid classes if you choose to do them on your own, outside of the training process.

In some counties, you may be required to pay for your homestudy at first and will later be reimbursed for it. Please contact us about this.

Agency Contact and Orientation Information

Indiana has 92 counties and each county has different resources available. Since there is so much information regarding the preparation process, we would like to start out by talking to you on the phone or emailing you - whichever you prefer.

Parent Support Groups

Support groups vary across the state and change frequently. For information regarding a support group near you, please contact the Indiana Foster Care and Adoption Association.

Information on Indiana's Waiting Children

There are 11,257 children in foster care in Indiana; 3,195 of these children are waiting for adoptive families.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events including conferences, adoption fairs, and Heart Gallery events, can be found at:

• The Indiana Foster Care and Adoption Association
• The Indiana Department of Child Services