Welcome!

This site assumes that you have chosen to adopt from the state while living in North Carolina. Although much of the information provided within this site is valid for private agency adoptions, it is important that you realize that this information is geared for requirements of the North Carolina's Department of Social Services.

Why should you adopt or foster from the state verses a private agency? There is no reason other than money. All children that are or were in a bad situation need a loving home - whether that be from a private agency or the state. The state, however, can provide monetary assistance, or/and medical benefits for the children. If adoption is the route you desire, the ENTIRE process can be free, or as low as $40 for final court fees. Going through a private agency can cost up to $20,000 for the same type.

A common misconception is that children from a private agency are less apt to have medical or behavioral problems. It is important to realize that all children in foster care or children looking for permanent families have at some point lost their birth parents for one reason or another. Because a child is in private adoption care verses state run adoption care, does not mean that one child is better than another. They ALL have their stages of grief to go through.

• What are the criteria to become foster or adoptive parent(s)?
  
  
• How can I be a good parent?
  
  
• Where can I learn more about if this is what I really want to do?
  
  
• We/I want to adopt an infant. Can we/I?
  
  
• I have LOTS of questions. Where can I begin to look?
  
  
• Where can I find a list of children waiting to be adopted?
  
  
• What is a "Home study"?