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The Adoption Process | Frequently Asked Questions | Resources
The Adoption Process
Adoptive families can have a dramatic, positive impact on children by providing a forever family.
Basic requirements to become an adoptive parent:
You can:
- Work full-time, part-time or be a stay-at-home parent.
- Be single or married.
- Be a homeowner or renter.
- Be any race or a different race than the child.
- Have children of your own or not.
- Be 21 years of age or older. No upper age limit exists, although it is necessary that adoptive parents be young enough and/or healthy enough to raise children to adulthood.
- Attend a new family informational meeting.
- Participate in an adoptive home assessment and attend training.
- Pass a criminal background and caregiver check.
- Have no prior history of involvement with a child welfare agency due to an upheld allegation of child abuse or neglect.
- Possess sufficient verifiable sources of income.
- Meet physical home environment requirements.
- Have love and patience to share.
To request information about adopting a child in foster care, contact us.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Special Needs Adoption
What is the background of the children available for adoption?
What does "special needs" mean?
Do I have to be licensed for foster care in order to adopt?
How long does the entire adoption process take?
Should I go through foster care if I want a newborn who might become available for adoption?
What are the costs associated with the adoption process?
Will I receive any financial help once I adopt?
Are there any age, education, employment, income, housing or other restrictions that would prevent adoption?
What if I'm not in perfect health?
What if I have a police record?
What if I move out of state?
Once I adopt, will contact with the biological parents end?
Can birth parents change their mind after I've adopted?
What is the background of the children available for adoption?
The children available for adoption have been removed from their families and are placed in out-of-home care, usually because of abuse and/or neglect. The adoption worker will make every effort to find the kind of child you want, but it will largely depend on the children available at the time of your request, and the length of time you are willing to wait.
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What does "special needs" mean?
Special needs refers to the physical, behavioral, and/or emotional needs that the children have stemming from the difficulty some of them have experienced in their lives. All children who have experienced the trauma of child abuse and/or neglect and have been separated from their biological family, have some special needs. Others may be part of a sibling group. Training, information and referrals to community resources are provided for parents to help them deal with issues that their child(ren) may experience.
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Do I have to be licensed for foster care in order to adopt?
To adopt in Wisconsin, you must be licensed as a foster parent. Families must participate in the home study process and will be issued a foster home license as a part of that assessment.
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How long does the entire adoption process take?
While every case is different, the entire adoption process from home study to placement takes an average of six months to a year. Interested individuals can begin the process by attending an orientation meeting and filling out an application. Background checks are then conducted and a home study begins. After this, the matching process begins. Your adoption worker guides you through every step, answering your questions, addressing your concerns and being responsive and sensitive to all of the people involved in the process.
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Should I go through foster care if I want a newborn who might become available for adoption?
Newborn placements are rare, even in foster care. Foster care is temporary, and many foster children are reunited with their families. If you are only interested in adopting a newborn, you should consider other types of adoptions, such as independent, international, domestic or private adoption.
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What are the costs associated with the adoption process?
The costs associated with the Special Needs Adoption process are less than $50 and are reimbursable once the adoption is finalized. Costs include a charge to receive a new birth certificate and a court-filing fee. Adoptive parents are also required to undergo a physical examination by a doctor, the cost of which is reimbursable after the adoption is finalized.
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Will I receive any financial help once I adopt?
As an adoptive parent, you are financially responsible for your child. This includes providing for daycare for the child if you are employed. However, the vast majority of children being adopted from foster care are eligible for Adoption Assistance. Adoption Assistance is administered by the state and provides a monthly stipend and health insurance for children with special needs until age 18.
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Are there any age, education, employment, income, housing or other restrictions that would prevent adoption?
The only age requirement is that an adoptive parent must be at least 21 years of age. No upper age limit exists, although it is necessary that adoptive parents be young enough and/or healthy enough to raise children to adulthood.
There is no specific education level requirement. What is important is your ability to love and parent a child.
Adoptive parents may work as other parents do. However, you will be encouraged to spend time with the child when he or she is placed in your home. You will be asked to provide an acceptable plan for before- and after-school care if day care is needed.
There is no income requirement, other than that an adoptive parent be able to support himself or herself and the child he or she is adopting. Any money received for the support of the child cannot be the sole source of income for the family.
Home ownership is not a requirement for adoption. However, the home should have enough space and household equipment to promote a safe, comfortable environment, and meet foster home licensing requirements.
In order to adopt in Wisconsin, you must be legally married, never married, widowed, or divorced. Married couples must have been married for one (1) year prior to applying to adopt. Only one person of an unmarried couple may adopt a child. In other words, two (2) single people (living together) may not adopt the same child. Finally, people who are separated from, but not divorced from, a spouse are not eligible to adopt. These requirements benefit an adopted child by providing clarity about who will be adoptive parent(s) and promoting family stability.
No one may be refused an adoption application or approval based on race, religion or sexual orientation.
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What if I'm not in perfect health?
All adoptive parents are asked to provide a medical statement. If you have problems that would interfere with your ability to parent, your health issues will be reviewed carefully with you and your physician and a decision will be made as to your eligibility to adopt on an individual basis.
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What if I have a police record?
All criminal history must be carefully reviewed as part of any adoption process. There are some crimes that will permanently prevent you from adopting, because they will prevent you from being approved as a caregiver for children. Some crimes make it necessary for you to participate in a "rehabilitation review" process. Remember that you must have been convicted of the crime in question in most cases.
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What if I move out of state?
Once the adoption is complete, you are free to move wherever you wish. If you are receiving Adoption Assistance and provide proper notice, it will follow you wherever you live in the majority of cities. Moving out of state prior to the completion of the adoption is not recommended, and can only be done in consultation with your adoption worker.
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Once I adopt, will contact with the biological parents end?
Many adopted children maintain contact with their biological family, if the adoptive family decides it is in the best interest of the child. This is discussed with the adoption worker during the adoption process and, ultimately, is a decision you can make as a family.
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Can birth parents change their mind after I've adopted?
Once the adoption is finalized, you are the child's legal parent. In fact, Wisconsin has some of the most stringent adoption laws that benefit the child and the adoptive family.
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Resources
Administration for Children and Families, Division of Children and Family Services
AdoptUSKids
Adoption Resources of Wisconsin
Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare
Child Welfare League of America
Children's Service Society of Wisconsin
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
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