What is a County Number?
What is the number next to the county mean?
Each county within the state of North Carolina is given a county number. This number is frequently used to identify cases (court, child, etc.) When viewing the NC Kids website, each child has been given an ID number. Each starts with 01xxx. Either the first two digits, or the last two digits of "xxx" indicate which county the child is currently in. You can check the county numbers by viewing our North Carolina DSS List.
I'm single. Can I foster and/or adopt?
Yes!!! Single males are typically not permitted to foster or adopt females due to the fact that most of the females within DSS custody have been sexually abused, but single people are not discriminated against during the foster care or adoption process. In fact, many of the kids thrive off of a single parent household.
Do I have to foster children before I can adopt?
Do I have to become certified to foster prior to being able to adopt?
No. If you would like to adopt and chose not to foster children, you may. You must still attend MAPP class and go through the adoption process.
If I am already fostering children, does that mean I can adopt?
Yes, and no. If you have not already attended MAPP class, you will need to do so, as well as going through the adoption approval process. Because you are already licensed to foster children, does not mean you are licensed to adopt. This is a totally separate process.
If I have a criminal record, can I foster or adopt?
There is no straight answer for this. Be aware, though, as part of the approval process, you will be finger printed, and the prints will be run.
I have an illness (mental, physical, debilitating,etc.). Can I foster or adopt?
Yes. You will have to get approval from your doctor that you are capable of raising a child.
I want to adopt an infant. What are my chances?
Slim. Very few infants come into care. Social Services tries extremely hard to place infants with relatives. The best way to perhaps be handed an infant is if you were a foster parent. If for some reason, parental rights are forfeited, you may be able to adopt the child.
If I foster a child, how long will the child be in my home?
Anywhere between 1 day to years.
If I call about a child in the photo listings, does that mean I will get to adopt that child?
Maybe. Maybe not. If you have a homestudy completed, you can ask about a child right now. The child's social worker considers the families who inquire and looks for families to best meet the needs of each child. If you do not have a homestudy, you can call to receive information about becoming an adoptive parents. With your social worker, you can find the right child for your family.
How much does it cost to adopt?
There is generally no fee to adopt one of North Carolina's waiting children. In fact, adoption assistance is available most children in the state of North Carolina. Be advised, though, that if you have your homestudy done through one of the state's counties and decide to adopt from a private agency, you will be billed somewhere in the range of $1,200 for the homestudy service the state provided.
How long does it take?
The adoption process may take from a few months to over a year to be finalized, depending on the legal status of the child and the timeliness of the required court hearings. In many situations, a child resides with the pre-adoptive family throughout this process.
What help is available to adopting families?
An adoption subsidy is provided on behalf of children in foster care who have special needs. Special needs include mental, emotional or physical disabilities, but older children and sibling groups may also be considered to have special needs. The subsidy includes a monthly cash payment that is based on the child's age, and vendor payments for therapeutic and remedial assistance. Medicaid is provided. Medical assistance on a one-time basis may also be available. The cost of legal expenses will be reimbursed if the adoptive child has special needs.
Can I adopt a child of a different race?
Yes. In the home study, you will learn about the needs of children who are placed with a family of a different race. Federal law (the Multiethnic Placement Act) forbids discrimination in the placement of children on the basis of ethnicity.
Will the child's birth parents have any legal rights to the child?
Can the biological parents take a child back?
They do not retain any legal rights; however, some children may have an emotional bond with their birth parents and should stay in contact with them. Birth parents must relinquish legal custody for a child to be adopted in most states. With most agency adoptions, a child is already legally free for adoption before a placement occurs. Although they often receive a good deal of media attention, cases where a birth parent changes his/her mind occur infrequently, and almost always before an adoption is finalized.
How long will a homestudy take?
Agencies are eager to place children in appropriate families as quickly as possible, and families who are interested in children with special needs are usually given prompt attention. Expect an average of 3 to 6 months to complete your homestudy.
Can I adopt a child from a different state?
Yes. The 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) requires that states not delay or deny a placement if an approved family is available outside the state. |
