7 Step Journey to Foster Care or Adoption

This is your guide to the foster care/adoption journey. There are seven basic steps of this journey. Click on a step below to learn more about the foster care/adoption journey.


Please be aware that the steps in this journey and time it takes will vary somewhat from agency to agency.


Step 1: Getting Started Step 2: Initial Orientation Step 3: Pre-Service Traiing Step 4: Application Process Step 5: Mutual Assessment and Homestudy Step 6: Licensing and Approval Step 7: Placement

Learn More

Print the 7 Step Journey (also known as the Family Pocket Guide) (PDF 1.3 MB/15 pages)


Tip Sheet: Adopting a Child from Foster Care (PDF 448 KB/1 page)


AdoptUsKids collaborates with foster/adoption contacts for all 50 U.S. states and for the U.S. territories. We also have AdoptUsKids contacts who can provide information about adopting if you live outside of the U.S. and wish to adopt a child from U.S. foster care.


If you have questions about foster care or the adoption process, or if you need help getting started, please call AdoptUsKids at 1-888-200-4005, email info@adoptuskids.org or request to be contacted so that someone may assist you.