Pages - Adoption

Frequently Asked Questions

Adoption from Foster Care at

New Hanover County DSS

* Are there different types of adoption?

Yes.
* International Adoptions occur when a family works with a private adoption agency to adopt a child from another country.
* Step-parents may adopt their spouses’ children.
* Family members may adopt a child to whom they are related in Relative adoptions. (see non-DSS adoptions for more information on step-parent, relative and independent adoptions).
*Adoption from foster care involves a child in custody of a Department of Social Services who is unable to return to birth family and is in need of a permanent, adoptive family.

The information below is in regards to Adoption of children in foster care through New Hanover County Department of Social Services.

* Who are the children in foster care?

Children can enter DSS custody from birth until 18. Nationwide, over half the children in foster care are over the age of 10 years. Children in foster care are from all racial and socio-economic backgrounds. They have been abused, neglected or are without an appropriate adult to care for them. Many children in foster care have special needs, including health issues, behavioral issues, special educational needs, and mental health diagnosis.

* How do children become available for adoption through DSS?

Children enter foster care due to a number of issues related to abuse or neglect or dependency. Dependent children are those children without an appropriate adult caretaker. DSS has the responsibility to work with birth parents and other extended relatives to address safety issues so that the child can return home. Although each family’s situation is different and a Judge makes the final ruling, the Department is required to make a recommendation about a child’s long term plan within one year of the child entering foster care. The Department also makes diligent efforts to identify extended relatives who could care for the child. When that cannot be done, the agency pursues other long term plans for the child, including adoption.

Some parents come to their own conclusion that it is in the best interest of their child to make a plan of adoption on their own. They can sign relinquishments of their parental rights so that the child can be adopted. Other times, there is a court process involved which would terminate the parental rights, allowing the child to be adopted.

* Who are the adoptive families through DSS?

Most families who adopt through DSS provide foster care first. We find that by the time a child goes through the process of becoming available for adoption, he/she has bonded with the foster parents and many times it is this foster family who adopts the child. There are times when it isn’t the right match for the current foster parent to adopt the child and in those cases we look to our other families interested in adoption to make a connection. Our families come from all different racial backgrounds and live in all communities across the county. We have many single parents as well as couples who adopt.

* Can unmarried couples adopt?

Unmarried couples can foster. In that situation both adults are fully licensed as foster parents, however, when it comes time for adoption, only one party can actually petition the court to adopt.

* Can families adopt a child of a different race?

Yes. There is actually a federal law which prohibits agencies from leaving a child in foster care holding out for a family of the same race when there are appropriate families of another race available.

It is important for families who adopt a child of a different race to honor the child’s culture and incorporate his culture into their new family traditions.

* What are the requirements to become and adoptive family through DSS?

The process of becoming an adoptive parent is quite in-depth. The basic requirements are:

Adoptive families must go through an in depth home study process.

They must pass multiple back ground clearances.

The home must pass a fire and environmental inspection.

Families who license as foster parents must complete a 30 hour pre-service training course.

There is no minimum income requirement, but families must be able to meet their own financial obligations and have enough income to support an additional child.

A social worker is assigned to assist families through the process.

* What can I expect from a home study?

The home study is a way for an agency to get to know you, teach you about adoption, and prepare you to adopt a child from foster care. The information that may be included in the home study are: family history, educational history, employment history, physical well being, personality traits, home and community life, criminal record check, description of your family and a description of a child who you would foster or adopt.

* How much does it cost to adopt?

There is no cost to adopt a child who is in foster care in North Carolina. Persons interested in adopting children who are not in agency custody, or adopting a child from another country, need to check with the appropriate private adoption agencies concerning the cost of this service.

The Department does charge fees to complete step-parent, relative and independent adoptions. Fees range from $200-$1000 depending on the services required (See Non DSS adoptions for more information).

* Why adopt through DSS?

Probably the best reason is to make a difference in the life of a child right here in your own community.

Another advantage is that there isn’t a cost involved with adoption from foster care. Having an adoption home study completed for the purposes of an international adoption, for example, can be very costly. There is no fee for the completion of a home study when the family works with us to adopt a child from foster care.

Many children who are adopted from foster care qualify for ongoing adoption assistance benefits.

For children who are adopted in their teens there is even help for college available.

* What is Adoption Assistance?

Children who have been the victims of abuse or neglect may have ongoing special medical, emotional or psychological needs. Adoption Assistance is designed to help families address those needs.

Each child is assessed to determine which benefits he /she qualifies for. These benefits can include:

                   * Medicaid
                   * monthly financial assistance (varies with age of child),
                   * $2400 a year for costs associated with special Medical/psychological/educational needs.

Adoption Assistance can also cover $2000 of legal fees associated with finalizing an adoption.

Each child is assessed for benefits prior to being adopted. The adoptive parent is notified of the child’s known special needs and whether the child qualifies for adoption assistance prior to the adoption becoming final.

* What happens to children if an adoptive family isn’t identified?

Unfortunately, that’s all too real for some children. Studies show that each year there are 26,000 children who turn 18 in foster care without an adoptive family. These children are vulnerable to a host of adverse situations.

Only 54% have earned a high school diploma or GED
Only 2% have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher
30% are without health insurance
25% have been homeless
84% have become parents at an early age

* What information will be shared with adoptive families about the child they adopt?

Families who foster prior to the adoption will likely know a great deal about the child they adopt, but at a minimum the following information is provided, if available.

Age of biological parents
Their race, nationality and ethnic background
General physical appearance of biological parents
Detailed medical histories of the child, biological parents, and their relatives
As much as the agency is aware, the extent of abuse or neglect the child has suffered.

* What challenges do families face when considering adoption from foster care?

Probably the greatest challenge of adoption from foster care is that it is unknown at the time a child is placed in a home whether the child will later need an adoptive family. The Department’s first responsibility is to work with birth family for the child to return home. We don’t know at the time of placement what the outcome will be, so our families have to be prepared to let go of a child they’ve grown to love.

We find that families who are most successful at fostering to adopt come to us with a philosophy that there are many children in the community who need them –some for a few days, others a few weeks or months and still others forever. These families are prepared to take care of a child for however long the child needs.

* It sounds very difficult for a family to love a child and then let that child go. Is there support available for these families?

Yes. Support comes in many ways. First, it takes the right kind of family to do this - families have to come to this program with a certain philosophy. They also need a strong support system of family or friends. In addition, we have many other foster and adoptive families with similar experiences who are available for support. These are families, who although they may have experienced some hurt, have found the rewards to be great and have continued with the program. Also there is a social worker assigned to work with the family throughout the process. The social worker is another member of the support team.

* How can the community take action?

Become a foster/adoptive parent
Tell your friends about our program
Invite us to speak at a group meeting