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Illinois Foster Care and Adoption Guidelines

 

Our goal in Illinois is to assist families with the licensing process and answer any questions or concerns that you may have about adoption or foster care.

 

Foster and Adoption Licensing Requirements

 

An agency will do a criminal background check as well as fingerprinting. The agency will come out to the home to make sure you have adequate space for a child. A physical is required, but don’t worry: You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. You need to attend 33 classroom hours. Six of those hours are for educational advocacy. If you are married, your spouse needs to attend these training classes as well. Yes, many single people foster and adopt. The process to become licensed to foster and adopt can take anywhere from three to six months to complete.

 

Costs to Foster and Adopt

 

If you adopt a child from Illinois foster care, adoption is free. If you adopt a child from foster care in another state, you may encounter some fees, but your family may be eligible for reimbursement of limited nonrecurring adoption-related costs, such as attorney’s fees and court fees, through the child’s state or federal options.

 

Agency Contact and Orientation Information

 

Please call 800-572-2390 for agency information.

 

Parent Support Groups

 

Contact the Adoption Information Cetner of Illinois to download an information packet.

 

Information on Illinois' Waiting Children

 

In foster care, the age range of children can be anywhere from infant to 18 years old. The children in Illinois who are ready to be adopted are generally school-aged children (8 years old and above) and often part of sibling groups.

There are 19,431 children in foster care in Illinois; 3,347 of these children are waiting for adoptive families.

 

Upcoming Events

 

Please call 800-572-2390 for information about events.

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