Adoption Program
The Humboldt County Adoption Program, under Child Welfare Services (CWS), works to develop alternate plans for a permanent, loving family if children cannot reunify with their parents. It also provides adoption services to children in out of home care with CWS.
Adoption services include:
The children placed for adoption through Humboldt County Adoption Program are children who entered the child welfare system due to safety concerns with their parents or guardians. There are children of all ages who need a permanent family because they cannot safely return to their parents. As a result, there is a constant need for families who are willing to make a permanent commitment to a child or youth. AAP funding and health insurance is available to adoptive parents to help with the care of their adopted child.
The Adoption Process
Families who desire to adopt through the Humboldt County Adoption Program, who are not relatives or non-related extended family members of children currently in the child welfare system, need to first become licensed foster parents and complete the necessary training and home evaluation requirements for foster care approval.
The evaluation requirements and timeline for adoption approval can vary, but essentially it includes a thorough assessment of the family’s ability to provide the child a safe and stable home environment. This assessment includes interviews, medical clearances, background evaluations and training specific to adoption topics.
Adoption services include:
- Identification of the best home if a child is unable to reunify with his or her parent(s).
- Assessment of a child’s adoptability.
- Discussions with parents, relatives, children and caregivers about different permanency options for children in foster care.
- Matching children with relatives, non-related extended family members or licensed foster parents for adoption.
- Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) (funding from the California Department of Social Services) stipend evaluation and re-evaluation.
- Post-adoption services including family meetings, crisis intervention and referrals to services in the community.
The children placed for adoption through Humboldt County Adoption Program are children who entered the child welfare system due to safety concerns with their parents or guardians. There are children of all ages who need a permanent family because they cannot safely return to their parents. As a result, there is a constant need for families who are willing to make a permanent commitment to a child or youth. AAP funding and health insurance is available to adoptive parents to help with the care of their adopted child.
The Adoption Process
Families who desire to adopt through the Humboldt County Adoption Program, who are not relatives or non-related extended family members of children currently in the child welfare system, need to first become licensed foster parents and complete the necessary training and home evaluation requirements for foster care approval.
The evaluation requirements and timeline for adoption approval can vary, but essentially it includes a thorough assessment of the family’s ability to provide the child a safe and stable home environment. This assessment includes interviews, medical clearances, background evaluations and training specific to adoption topics.