Adopting in Washington

Birth parents/legal guardians, the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS), or a child-placing agency may place a child for adoption in Washington.

DSHS works with Families for Kids - Recruitment Resources to provide adoption information and training. All potential adoptive families are required to have a social worker visit their home and prepare an Adoptive Home Study. Other requirements include: family interviews, a home inspection, medical reports, financial report, references, verification of employment and a background check.

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An agency can be used to find an infant that needs an adoptive home. Agencies can help facilitate a Domestic adoption in the United States or an International Adoption outside the U.S.

Individuals that choose to grow their family through a Domestic Adoption will be matched with a birth mother who has created an adoption plan for her child. Some birth parents want to select the family who will adopt their child. The agency will choose a few adoptive families to present to the birth mother. She will review their picture profiles, birth mother letter, and then make a selection or request to meet the adoptive family in person.

International Adoption is when adoptive families look into other countries to find a child that needs a home. Children who qualify for adoption in other countries must be classified as orphans by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). The adoptive family will need to submit the I-600A form, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, and the I-600 form, Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative. The adoptive family will need to complete all the required paperwork, before they can be assigned a child and get permission to visit the child in their country. Children who are adopted internationally can be re-adopted once in the United States.

Back to the main Washington Adoption page.