New Hanover County Department of Social Services
Other Adoption Services
Frequently Asked Questions
* My attorney said I need a “Pre-Placement Assessment”, what is it and how do I get one?
A Pre-Placement Assessment is an in-depth study of your home and is used for the purposes of adopting a child who is not related to you and who is not currently in custody of a Department of Social Services.
New Hanover County Department of Social Services will complete a Pre-Placement Assessment for residents of New Hanover County. The fee for a Pre-Placement Assessment is $1000, which includes a Report on the Adoption. There is a sliding fee scale available for qualified applicants.
To receive an initial packet of information, contact Julie Steinbeck at 798-3545.
* I need a “Report on Adoption” to adopt my step-child, how do I get one?
After your attorney has filed your petition to adopt, the Clerk of Court notifies the agency and sends an Order for Report on Proposed Adoption. After we have received this information from the Clerk of Court and verified that all required documents have been submitted, we will send you a packet of information we will need in order to complete the Report. When you receive the information, you should contact the assigned social worker identified in your packet of information. The cost for this service is $200. There is a sliding fee scale available for qualified applicants.
* Does New Hanover County Department of Social Services complete Pre-Placement Assessments or Home Studies for international adoptions?
No. You will need to seek the services of an adoption agency specializing in international adoptions for those services.
* I am an adult adoptee and want to find out information about my birth family, what information can be released from an adoption file?
Adoption files in North Carolina are not open to the public. Only non-identifying information and any health history that might be available can be shared with an adoptee. An adult adoptee can write a letter to the Department of Social Services asking for non-identifying information. You will need to include verification of your identity such as a copy of your driver’s license and your phone number so that we can contact you. Your letter should include any information you have about your adoption so that we can research our records.
There is a “confidential intermediary” program which allows private and public adoption agencies to exchange identifying information about birth parents and adult adoptees with the consent of both parties. At this time, New Hanover County Department of Social Services does not act as confidential intermediary. You can visit the NC Division of Social Services website at http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/ (click on “programs and services”, then “adoption services” and scroll for a link to “Agencies and counties with CI services”) for a list of agencies in North Carolina who can act as confidential intermediary for adoptions.
* How do I find the child I placed for adoption many years ago?
There is a “confidential intermediary” program which allows private and public adoption agencies to exchange identifying information about birth parents and adult adoptees with the consent of both parties. At this time, New Hanover County Department of Social Services does not act as confidential intermediary. You can visit the NC Division of Social Services website at http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/ (click on “programs and services”, then “adoption services” and scroll for a list to “Agencies and counties with CI services) for a list of agencies in North Carolina who can act as confidential intermediary for adoptions.