If:

• you are interested in providing a safe and loving home to a child;
• you have patience and wisdom to share;
• you are willing to learn about fostering or adoption;

then you could be a wonderful parent for a child who truly needs you!

North Carolina Division of Health and Human Services improves outcomes for the children of North Carolina. We do this by acting as an advocate for the children and families we serve. We invite you to contact us with any questions you may have regarding foster or adopting in North Carolina. We are available Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

Contact Information

North Carolina Division of Health and Human Services

Tammy Johnson (and team members)

325 N. Salisbury Street, 2411 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-2411

1-877-625-4371 (toll-free)

nc.kids@ncmail.net

Para información en español, contacte:

Tammy Johnson

nc.kids@ncmail.net

Licensing Requirements for Foster or Adoption

You will need to consider what it will mean to have a child come into your family and how this will affect your lives and that of the child. Foster or adoptive parents must be ready to give a child or children opportunities to develop to their full potential – physically, academically, socially and emotionally – with realistic expectations and unconditional support and love. That is the most important requirement.

Adoption Requirements:

You must be at least 18 to become an adoptive parent.

You can adopt if you are single, married, divorced or widowed; own or rent; have parenting experience or none at all; already have children in your home or not.

If you meet these basic qualifications, then you're off to a great start!

Adoptive applicants will also be finger printed and have a criminal record check completed.

While NC law does not specify the number of training hours to become an adoptive parent, most adoption agencies provide training to those who want to be foster or adoptive parents.

Please visit our website for more information about adoption.

Foster Care Requirements:

The minimum age to become a foster parent is 21.

You can foster if you are single, married, divorced or widowed; own or rent; have parenting experience or none at all; already have children in your home or not.

Like adoptive applicants, foster applicants will also be finger printed and have a criminal record check completed.

You will need to complete all required training and be licensed as a foster parent. To do this, you will attend 30 hours of preparatory training called Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting/Group Preparation and Selection (MAPP/GPS). Many other families, like yourself, will also participate in the classes, and you will be able to learn from each others’ experiences.

To find out more on how to become a licensed foster parent call 1-877-625-4371 or view more foster care information online.

Does it Cost to Foster or Adopt?

You can work with your county department of social services or a licensed private agency to foster or adopt for free.

Some private agencies not under contract with the State of North Carolina may charge a fee for their services.

To learn which private agencies are under contract with the State of North Carolina, please call or email us.

Parent Support Groups

North Carolina Foster and Adoptive Parent Association

NCFAPA is a statewide organization of adoptive, foster and kinship parents, child welfare professionals and child advocates who promote quality foster and adoptive services through collaborative advocacy, education, resources and networking. For more information, visit their website at: www.ncfapa.org. NCFAPA can also be contacted at PO Box 26170, Greensboro NC 27402-6170 or via email at office@ncfapa.org.

Family Resource Centers (FRC)

Family Resource Centers are a community-based, centralized source for family support services provided through information and referral, on-site programming or home-based strategies. Services established at a FRC target families and children from birth through elementary school-aged and are provided for all family members. Examples of service models may include parent education, after-school programs and information and referrals services. Contact your local County Department of Social Services to locate a FRC in your area.

Family Support Network (FSN-NC)

The FSN locations across the state provide support and information to families caring for children with special needs and for those individuals serving families. Call toll free 1-800-852-0042 or visit www.fsnnc.org for more information.

Post-adoption Services:

For families of adoptive children from the foster care system.

Mountain Youth Resources

Mountain Youth Resources is a private, non-profit service agency designed and organized to provide specialized services to address the needs of troubled children, youth and their families. Mountain Youth Resources provides individualized care and treatment to meet the high level of needs of this special group of young people and their families. Serves 31 counties. For more information, please call 1-866-586-6739 or visit www.mountainyouthresources.org.

Martin County Community Action

Serves 22 counties. For more information, please call 1-866-803-0134.

Children’s Home Society

Serves 41 counties. For more information, please call toll-free 1-800-632-1400.

Another Choice for Black Children

Serves 36 counties. For more information, please call toll-free 1-800-774-3534.

Appalachian Family Innovations

Serves 21 counties. For more information, please call (828) 350-9830. Please check with your local county department of social services for a listing of local and area support groups.

Agency Contact and Orientation Information

Once the county location of your family is determined, NC Kids will provide you with a list of private agencies that contract with the state of North Carolina, as well as the contact person at your local county department of social services.

Each county department of social services and private agency has their own orientation schedule. You can contact your local County Department of Social Services to inquire about their orientation session.

There are five private adoption agencies that currently contract with the state of North Carolina in providing adoption services to families interested in adopting children from foster care. These agencies include the following:

View a list of questions to consider when selecting an agency.

View a list of Licensed Private Child-Placing Agencies that provide adoption services in North Carolina.

View a list of Licensed Private Child-Placing Agencies that provide foster care in North Carolina.

Information on Children

There are 10,698 children in foster care in North Carolina; 3,137 of these children are waiting for adoptive families.

The children in foster care are from all walks of life and range from young children to young adults. Of the thousands of children in foster care, approximately half are placed in foster homes. The rest of the children live with relatives or are placed in group homes. Most will return to their birth families, but about one-third of them will not, and, once their birth parents’ rights are terminated, they will need adoptive families.

The majority of children who already need an adoptive family are school-aged children or sibling groups who need to be placed together in a family.

Upcoming Events

Please call or email us for more information about events at 1-877-625-4371.