Treatment Foster Care

Adopt a Child

See Also...

Heart Gallery of Wisconsin Bureau of Milw Child Welfare

Children's Service Society believes that a family is always a family, no matter how they became one. At Children's Service Society, adoption means finding permanent homes for children. The agency offers a variety of adoption programs. No matter how a child comes to the adoption process, our goal is to place each child we serve in a loving, nurturing and stable home.

• Infant adoption
• Adopt a child in foster care

Infant adoption

Just like individuals, families come in all different shapes and sizes. The Infant Adoption Program at Children's Service Society places healthy infants with caring adoptive parents. Like you, all they've been waiting for is a family to call their own. We are not accepting new families into this program at this time. For more information about infant adoption, call Children's Service Society at (414) 453-1400 or toll-free at (800) 653-2779.

Adopt a child in foster care

In partnership with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, Children's Service Society of Wisconsin operates the Special Needs Adoption program in Milwaukee. Children's Service Society also contracts with the state of Wisconsin for the Special Needs Adoption program across southern Wisconsin. The program's goal is to find loving, adoptive families for children who are currently in foster care.

Adopting a child through the Special Needs Adoption program brings great rewards. In the words of one adoptive parent, "A lot of people are frightened away when they hear the term 'special needs.' It's overwhelming when you read about it on a piece of paper, but honestly, it becomes routine. We all have special needs. We're all unique. My children's special needs are just a small part of them. It is something they have, it is not who they are."

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.

You Must:

• 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.

Frequently asked questions about adopting a child from foster care

What is the background of the children available for adoption?

For more information about adopting a child in foster care, call Children's Service Society at (414) 475-2220.

What is the background of the children available for adoption?

The children have been removed from their families and are placed in out-of-home care, usually because of abuse and/or neglect. Some of the children available for adoption can be viewed on The Heart Gallery of Wisconsin's Web site at www.heartgallerywi.org and also in the ADOPT Magazine and on the Adoption Resources of Wisconsin Web site at www.wiadopt.com.

What does "special needs" mean?

Special needs refers to the physical, behavioral and emotional needs that the children have stemming from the difficulty some of them have seen in their lives. Many of the children in the program have been in foster care and need a permanent, safe home with a loving family. All children who have experienced the trauma of child abuse and neglect and have been separated from their biological family have some special needs. Others may be part of a sibling group. Adoptive families can have a dramatic, positive impact on these children by providing a forever family. Training, information and referrals to community resources are provided for parents to help them deal with issues that their child(ren) may experience.

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. Special Needs Adoption staff members must do an Adoptive Family Assessment (AFA)/home study and issue a foster home license as part of that assessment. 

How long does the entire adoption process take?

While every case is different, the entire adoption process from home study to placement can take six months or longer. Interested individuals can begin the process by attending an informational meeting and completing a parenting interest survey. If the needs of the family meet the needs of the program, the family then completes an application. Children's Service Society then conducts background checks and begins a home study, which will be completed within 120 days. After this, the matching process begins.

At Children's Service Society, 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.

Should I go through foster care if I want a newborn that 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 or international adoption. Children's Service Society can direct you to agencies that provide these services. 

What are the costs associated with the adoption process?

The costs associated with the Special Needs Adoption process are under $50 and are reimbursable if the child qualifies for Adoption Assistance. Costs include a charge to receive a new birth certificate and a court-filing fee. Adoptive parents also are required to undergo a physical examination by a doctor, the cost of which is reimbursable after the adoption is finalized.

Will I receive any financial help once I adopt?

As an adoptive parent, you are financially responsible for your child. This includes providing for child care for the child if you are employed. However, the vast majority of children being adopted through Children's Service Society's Special Needs Adoption program are eligible for Adoption Assistance (AA). AA is a federal program administered by the state that provides a monthly stipend and health insurance for children with special needs until age 18.

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 21 years of age. It is expected that an adoptive parent would be young enough and/or healthy enough to care for a child, and provide them with a normal childhood experience, but no upper age limit exists.

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 she or he is placed in your home. You will be asked to provide an acceptable plan for before- and after-school care if child care is needed.

There is no income requirement, other than that an adoptive parent be able to support himself or herself. 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 promoting family stability by providing clarity about who will be the adoptive parent(s).

No one may be refused an adoption application or approval based on race, religion or sexual orientation.

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. 

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.

What if I move out of state?

Once the adoption is completed, 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 must only be done in consultation with your adoption worker.

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 Children's Service Society adoption worker during the adoption process and, ultimately, is a decision you can make as a family.

Can birthparents change their mind after I've adopted?

Once the adoption is final, 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. Birthparents can change their mind after adoption, but that does not change the legality of the adoption.