Frequently asked questions
Families that adopt are as diverse as the children who need homes. Each has their own life experiences, education, income, occupations and lifestyles. The most important thing is to be ready to make a commitment to love and care for a child.
- You can be single, married, or have a domestic partner
- You can live in a house or apartment, but must have a room for the child
- You can work inside or outside the home
- You must be at least 21 years of age or older
- You must make enough money to support your family
- You must be able to physically care for a child
- You must pass a child abuse and criminal background check
- All people are considered regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual orientation
It may take from four to six months for the training, homestudy (family assessment) and criminal history check to be completed. It could take up to a year or longer for a child to live with you depending on your personal circumstances and the child you want to adopt. Families that want a younger child usually wait longer than families open to older children, sibling groups, or children with disabilities.
Children that need an adoptive home are like any other children. They come in all ages, shapes and sizes and have their own personalities, interests and potential. Many may need some extra support, sometimes due to abuse and neglect or sometimes due to the grief of losing their families.
Many children waiting for a home are:
- Over the age of 5
- Part of a sibling group that needs to live together
- Part of a racial, ethnic, or cultural minority
- In need of support for a physical, mental, developmental or emotional disability
If the adopted child has special needs that cost
more than what the family can afford, they may qualify for the Adoption
Assistance Program.
You can adopt an adult. ODHS is not involved in those adoptions. An attorney can give
you more information on how to complete an adult adoption.
You can find an
attorney through the Oregon State
Bar Association.
There are three types of adoptions:
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Foster care adoptions happen when a child in the foster care system cannot be safely returned home to their parents. Relatives or other people that are close to the child will be considered first. If no home is found, then the child can be adopted by another family that has been screened.
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Private infant adoptions are done through private adoption agencies licensed by the state. These agencies work directly with parents that want to place their newborn baby with an adoptive family.
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Independent adoptions are for children that are not in the foster care system. Many families that want to adopt their stepchildren, relatives, friends, or neighbors use this process.
Get more information about
Private and Independent (Non-Departmental) adoptions.
Adoption is a commitment for life and a way to help children feel loved
and safe as part of a family. Adoptive parents have permanent legal rights and responsibilities. This
means they are responsible for these children as if they were their own biological children.
These children also need parents who can:
- Accept their sense of loss and need to heal
- Share their sense of humor
- Work with social workers, teachers, therapists and community partners
- Be willing to keep them connected to their birth family when appropriate
- Support racial and cultural diversity
For more information about the adoption process you can review our Step-by-Step Adoption Guide. You can also contact a local ODHS Child Welfare office or a Special Needs Adoption Coalition (SNAC) agency:
Adopting a child from foster care
If you are considering adopting a child in foster care and want more information or help starting the process, connect with a local ODHS Child Welfare office or Special Needs Adoption Coalition (SNAC) agency.
Child Welfare officesSNAC agencies Step-by-step adoption guide
Children waiting for adoption
Sometimes children in foster care can't be safely returned home. In these cases, an adoption plan is possible. Adoption can help these children feel loved, safe and part of a family. Visit one of the websites below to see some of the children in Oregon who are waiting for adoption.
Northwest Adoption Exchange
Oregon Adoption Resource Exchange
If you are an ODHS worker, licensed private adoption agency or family with an approved home study, you can log in to the
Oregon Adoption Resource Exchange to see all of Oregon's waiting children. You need to be
preauthorized to use this website.