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Why adopt from foster care?

Making the decision to grow your family by adopting from foster care is an incredible rewarding and life-changing experience.

While over 1,000 children in Washington are adopted from foster care each year, there are still many more who need adoptive families to step forward.

If you're ready to make a difference, there are children in every community throughout the state who need a family to encourage their growth, listen to their ideas, and root for them. When families step forward and provide kids living in foster care with the permanency they deserve, they are able to thrive.

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What you need to adopt in Washington state.

In Washington, every family that intends to adopt from foster care needs to complete a licensing process, or what's commonly referred to as a home study. The home study is a comprehensive evaluation and report that shows your family is qualified to adopt a child.

A home study tends to include training, interviews, background checks, and other state requirements to ensure a home is safe and ready. The information gathered in the home study will also ensure your family is equipped to parent a youth in foster care and will indicate what age range, gender, and number of youth your family is interested in adopting.

While a home study can be different from a foster care license, in Washington state, the licensing process for adoption and foster care are very similar.

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Ready to take the next steps?

If you're ready to start exploring adopting from foster care, the best place to start is to find an agency that will help you complete a home study. Here in Washington state, families have the option to complete a home study through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) or through a private agency. There are positives to either path, so it's best to contact DCYF and a few private agencies in your area to learn more and find the best fit for your family.

Fill out this form to be contacted by a DCYF liaison who will give you more information about completing a home study though DCYF.

View a list of Washington state agencies that specialize in foster care or adoption.

Learn more about finding the right agency for your family by reading our article on the 5 questions to ask an agency.

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