Foster Care &  Adoption

The Children’s Home is looking for some “ordinary people” interested in doing some extraordinary things.  By opening your heart to a child in need of a loving home, you not only change their life forever… but you just might transform your own as well!  Let’s talk about it-

 Foster Care Services

The Children’s Home offers short- and long-term foster care for children up to twenty one years of age.  Most of our children are school age as this age range represents some of the greatest need in our community.  Many of our children have siblings and keeping them together is a priority.  Because of the abuse, neglect or abandonment they have suffered, most of our children have emotional, behavioral and/or mental health challenges.  To love and serve them as they deserve, we look for foster parents who are willing to become partners with our staff and other professionals with the goal of helping each of these children reach their full potential.  Whenever possible, we help young people reunite with their birth families.  When this is not possible, we carefully match them with loving, “forever families” through our adoption program.

 Adoption Services

The Children’s Home’s Foster-to-Adopt program is designed to ensure that our adoptive children and families are well matched and have the knowledge, experience and support that they need to be successful.  We walk with our families through the entire adoption process and even provide post-adoption services including case management, in-home consultation, educational resources and support groups.  All of these services are provided at no cost to our children or their adoptive families.

 Frequently asked questions

How many children are in foster care?

There are about 475,000 children in foster care in the US (nearly 10,500 in North Carolina).  Most are in the custody of the Department of Social Services due to abuse or neglect. 

How many children are currently available for adoption?

In North Carolina, over 1,500 children are legally available and awaiting adoptive homes.  There are another 1,600 children awaiting court action that will allow them to be adopted. 

Who can foster and/or adopt?

The Children’s Home does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, marital or employment status.  You can be single or married but you must be at least 21 years old.  You have to be in generally good health and financially independent.

How can I afford to become a foster or adoptive parent?

We do not charge fees for our foster care placements or our adoptions.  Our families receive monthly stipends to help offset some of the daily needs of children in their care and adoptive families may also receive financial assistance to help their adopted children pay for college.