Become an Adoptive Family

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Adopting From Foster Care

Have you ever thought about becoming a foster or adoptive parent to an older child in need of a family? There are over 3,000 children in Pennsylvania’s foster care system waiting to be adopted*.

The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, an affiliate of Pennsylvania’s Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) is here to help you navigate this journey and provide support from beginning to end.

*CWLA 2018 Pennsylvania State Fact Sheet

For more details, email foster@chomepgh.org or download an informational packet!

How Does the Process Work?

Step 1

The process begins by attending an informational session. These sessions are held monthly. See flyer for upcoming dates!

Step 2

Once a family decides to work with The Children’s Home, they will begin by completing required training hours, as well as completing their adoption application.

Step 3

The family works with a social worker to complete their home study and foster parent certification. This includes meetings virtually or at our office and a home safety walk-through at your home.

Step 4

Once a family is certified they can begin to match for a child!

Step 5

Placement of a child into your home

Step 6

Monthly foster home visits and support

Step 7

Finalization of the adoption

What are the criteria to adopt from foster care through The Children’s Home?

As most children available for adoption through Pennsylvania’s foster care system are ages 6 and up, sibling groups, or children with special needs, The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh is not the best fit unless you are looking for a child that meets one of these criteria. We also ask that you live within 90 minutes of The Children’s Home, due to the travel time needed for foster home visits.

To view some of the waiting children, go to http://www.adoptpakids.org/ or email foster@chomepgh.org to learn more about who the children are. Families can choose to match with out-of-state children in foster care as well as children within Pennsylvania.

Why The Children’s Home?

Here at The Children’s Home, we have been doing adoptions since 1893. Our staff who work with our adoptive families are knowledgeable and educated and we feel strongly about good communication and support throughout the whole process. We offer counseling services for families prior to certification, support through matching and placement, and post placement services for after finalization. We are passionate about our adoption from foster care services and in finding forever families for children in need! Additionally, The Children’s Home is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) as an adoption, foster care and private children and youth social service agency, is an affiliate member of SWAN, and maintains contracts with local, statewide and out-of-state counties for pre-adoption placement services.

What is the fee to adopt from foster care?

The adoption of children from foster care in Pennsylvania is largely subsidized through Pennsylvania’s Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN). In most cases, there is little to no cost for adoptive families who adopt a child from Pennsylvania. Families who choose to match both within PA and in other states will owe the cost of their home study upfront, $1600, which is non-reimbursable.

Ready to get started?

If you would like to attend an upcoming orientation meeting to learn more about adoption from foster care, please see the attached flyer for dates or contact Melanie Garbark to RSVP. If you would like general information on our program or the adoption from foster care process, please email foster@chomepgh.org or call 412-441-4884 and ask to speak with a social worker about adopting from foster care.

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