Different information is available for New York City residents, please visit the New York City foster and adoption guidelines.

Licensing Requirements for Foster or Adoption

Adoptive and foster families vary in age, income, lifestyle, financial and marital status. Some adoptive families are headed by a single, working parent. Some are two-parent families with birth children. Some have children already and some don’t. There is no "typical" adoptive or foster family.

Whether you are single or married, older or younger, renter or homeowner, you may apply to foster and/or adopt a child. You need to be:

• willing to learn about the unique needs of a child;
• patient and loving;
• energetic and giving;
• able to provide a secure environment; and equipped to meet the needs of a growing child.

You do not need to:

• have parenting experience;
• be married;
• own your own home; or
• earn a high income.

The process of adopting, from application to finalization, can be a lengthy one. It may take six months or more from the time you apply before a child is placed in your home. After the child is placed in your home, it will take at least three to twelve months before the adoption is finalized in court.

Additional Adoption Information:

Details and information about each step in the adoption process can be found on the NYS Office of Children and Families (OCFS) website.

View Publication: “How to Adopt a NYS Waiting Child”.

All public and most voluntary (private) adoption agencies require prospective adoptive families to be dually certified/approved as foster families. For more information, see foster care licensing information below.

Additional Foster Care Information:

Detailed information on every step of the fostering process is available on the NYS OCFS foster care website.

Does it Cost to Foster or Adopt?

Public agencies and, generally, private agencies do not charge a fee to foster and/or adopt children who are in the legal custody and guardianship of the public agency/foster care system.

However, some private agencies charge fees for families that wish to adopt a child outside of New York State. The child’s state may reimburse the family for some or all of these fees.

Completing an adoption in court generally requires an attorney and the payment of legal fees and any court costs.

Families adopting New York State children with special needs are eligible for reimbursement of limited nonrecurring adoption-related costs, such as lawyer and agency fees, through New York. Families adopting children from other states with special needs may be eligible for reimbursement of limited, nonrecurring adoption-related costs through the child’s state or federal options.

Parent Support Groups

County specific contact information for NYS Foster and Adoptive Parent Support and groups and experienced adoptive/foster parent volunteers available to provide information and support for prospective families can be found on the NYSCCC on-line County at a Glance Information Directory.

Agency Contact and Orientation Information

Adoption Agency Contact Information:

In New York State, there are more than 130 adoption agencies. Each of New York's 58 social services districts (public agencies) has an adoption unit, and more than 70 authorized voluntary (private) agencies statewide also work with adopting families.

Choosing an agency is a very important step. Talk to different agencies and adoptive parents or adoptive parent support groups to learn how the agencies work with prospective adoptive parents.

View a list of New York State agencies on the NYS OCFS website.

Contact and service information for adoption services in specific NY counties can be found on the NYSCCC on-line County at a Glance Information Directory..

Foster Care Agency Contact Information:

Each of New York's 58 social services districts (public agencies) has its own foster care unit to recruit, certify and supervise local foster boarding homes. In addition, more than 100 New York State child welfare agencies contract with local social services districts to provide therapeutic foster boarding home services. Contact the local social services district for more information about foster care services and agencies in specific NY State counties. See the NYS OCFS website for a list of local Departments of Social Services.

Para información en español, contacte:

Y para información de contacto de agencias en Nueva York que podrán ayudarle en español, por favor visite esta pagina: Personas de habla hispana disponsibles.

Information on Children

There are 25,397 children in foster care in New York State. Of these, 621 children are legally freed and waiting for an adoptive family and 3,051 children have a goal of adoption. To learn more about waiting children visit the NYSCCC waiting children pages.

2009 Sustainable Respite Mini-Grant Awarded

The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids in partnership with NACAC (North American Council on Adoptable Children) has awarded 1 of the 20 mini-grants to We Have a Heart, New York who will partner with Leake and Watts Services, Inc. (contracted with ACS) to improve the availability of and excellence in respite care.

Strong respite care programs require community involvement and partnerships. Such programs are the most effective way to assure that respite care will be available to families for years to come.

Valentina Staton

1031 E. 222 Street

Bronx, NY 10469

(646) 685-1653

evangstaton2006@optonline.net