Choose an adoption agency

Find an agency that meets your needs

In Washington, families who want to adopt a child or youth from foster care must first become licensed foster parents.

Types of agencies

You can choose to get licensed in one of two ways: through the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) or through a private child placing agency (CPA).

State agency: Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)

With DCYF, families are supported by a licensing specialist. To keep things moving, you’ll need to take the lead to ask for help and stay connected. Once licensed, you’ll work directly with youth caseworkers. This approach gives parents greater independence and responsibility.

Private agency: Child placing agency (CPA)

CPAs are often nonprofit agencies that partner with DCYF to provide foster care licensing and support. With a CPA, you’ll have a dedicated caseworker who will guide you and may offer extra training, support groups, and post-adoption services.

Each CPA is different; some focus on specific placements or family types, such as youth with higher needs or certain faith communities. As you make your selection, it will be helpful to ask questions to find an agency that fits your values.

Costs

No matter which option you choose, licensing is free. You will only pay the final legal fees once the adoption is complete.

Choosing the right agency for you

• Timeline: You don’t need to select an agency right away, but you’ll need to decide by the time you finish Caregiver Core Training.
• Access: You will have access to the same youth through either DCYF or a CPA.
• All family support: Northwest Adoption Exchange supports agencies that welcome and work with all families.

If you have questions about finding an agency that will be a great fit for your family, please contact us.

Five questions to ask an agency

What makes your agency different?
This question will help to identify what an agency values and how that shapes their work. The right agency should have values that match yours and should be able to explain how their approach benefits youth and families.

How does your process work from start to placement?
The answer to this question will help you know what your responsibilities will be and what the agency will do. For example, who makes a formal inquiry about a youth—you or the agency? What type of support will they provide?

What fees do you charge?
This question will give you the answer to exactly what costs you can expect so there are no surprises later. State child welfare agencies will be largely free of cost, while most private agencies will have fees for the application, home study, and adoption.

Do you support out-of-state adoption?
This question will answer if the agency supports making inquiries on youth who are in a different state. If your agency is not supportive of inquiring on youth in other states, it could prevent you from adopting a youth from another state. Chances are, there are youth in your state who need you and who you would be a good fit for. But knowing what your options are is important, particularly if you live near a state border.

Have you worked with families like ours?
This question will identify if and how the program would fit the needs of your family. Knowing that an agency has (or hasn't) helped families like yours can be important information in deciding if an agency can be an effective advocate on your behalf.

Agencies in Washington state

The following agencies are licensed by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families to complete home studies and issue foster licenses along with adoptive home studies.

State-wide agencies

These agencies serve families across Washington state:

• Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families
• Community & Family Services Foundation
• Kid Sense LLC.

Eastern and Central Washington agencies

• Foster First, serving families in Yakima, Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco), and Wenatchee
• Fostering Solutions, serving families in Yakima, Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco), Ellensburg, Selah, Prosser, Grandview, Ganger, Wapato, Toppenish, Sunnyside
• K Connections, serving families in Yakima and Wenatchee

Western Washington agencies

• Lorene’s Place II, serving families in King and Pierce Counties
• Synergy Foster Support Services, serving families in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Lewis Counties.
• Youthnet, serving families from Whatcom County to Pierce County

Agencies in other states

Looking for information on agencies in Oregon? Check out resources from our Oregon partners.

Oregon

• Oregon Adoption Resource Exchange
• Oregon Department of Human Services