Adoption Navigator

What is Adoption?

Adoption is the legal process through which a new legal family is formed in place of the child's birth family. It is a beautiful, life-changing experience, not only for the child finding a home, but also for the family generously opening their hearts to embrace a new member. Adoption is forever.

Who can adopt children from foster care?

Adoptive parents come from many walks of life. They can be single, married, divorced, or widowed. It doesn't matter if they own or rent their home, as long as it's safe, welcoming, and filled with love. Adoptive parents must be:

• 21 years of age or older 
• Financially able to meet their own family’s needs
• In good physical, emotional, and mental health
• Have enough space in their home for the children
• Able to pass a criminal background check and child protection clearance

Ideally, adoptive families have:

• Experience with children 
• A sense of humor 
• A good support system 
• A flexible lifestyle and expectations 
• A willingness to learn 
• The ability to make a long-term parenting commitment 
• An enjoyment of the challenge of parenting 

Who are the children?

Children in foster care range in age from infants to teenagers. They may have an emotional or physical illness, have experienced neglect, abuse, or abandonment. They may have experienced a breakdown in the family, or the death of a parent. Many children in foster care are eventually able to reunify with their own families. However, those who cannot return home safely need a permanent alternative plan. For children waiting to be adopted:

• Have often experienced abuse and/or neglect.
• May have special developmental, medical, educational, and emotional needs as a result of their difficult life experiences.
• May be a part of a sibling group who need to be adopted together. 
• Have often experienced significant losses in their lives and are grieving. 
• May need to maintain a connection with their birth family.
• May be older teens who long to be part of a family. 
• May live in group homes and will need patience and understanding as they make the transition to life in a family. 

TAKE STEPS TO BECOME CERTIFIED

The first step in adopting from foster care is becoming certified as a foster caregiver. Louisiana offers dual certification, allowing families to be certified for both fostering and adopting. Some families prefer only to foster, while others are solely interested in adopting. Dual certification ensures they are certified for both options. Here are the certification steps:

1. Register for an informational meeting in your region. It's held online and easy to register. Just CLICK HERE.

2. Get fingerprinted and complete background checks.

3. Participate in Pre-Service Training online, including one in-person class.

4. Submit an application with supporting documents.

5.  Work with DCFS to complete your Home Study.

6. Become certified!

GATHER YOUR DOCUMENTS

To complete the application process, prospective foster parents must provide the following:

• Current driver’s license
• Car insurance and registration 
• Social Security card
• Birth certificates of everyone in the household
• Proof of marital status such as:
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Divorce Decree for all former marriages
  • Death Certificate (if applicable)
• Proof of income (pay stubs, tax forms etc.)
• Pet immunization records
• 5 personal references (including 3 who are not relatives)
• One reference from the prospective foster parent's employer
• Contact information for any adult children of the prospective foster parent