Adoption Services

Adoption is a legal procedure in which permanent new parents are provided for a child when his or her birth parents are unable or unwilling to provide care. There are four types of adoption programs available to prospective parents:

	Adoption of children in the Arizona Department of Economic Security System (DES)
	Private Adoption
	Grandparent, Step-parent and Relative Adoption
	Foster/Adopt Conversions

Adoption Requirements

Many people feel they may not have the qualifications to adopt a child, which keeps many from exploring the possibility of adopting. Basic requirements for adoption include:

	You must be over 18 years of age
	You can be either married or single
	Persons in your home 18 years of age or older must be fingerprinted and submit a current physician’s report
	Parents must attend pre-adoption training classes

You may qualify to adopt even if:

	You do not own your own home
	You do not have a separate room for your adoptive child
	Your income is modest and you do not have a bank account

BFCS Adoption Services provide a comprehensive program that includes:

	Orientation – held monthly
	Pre-service training classes
	Foster-adopt program aimed at increasing the number of children in foster care who will be formally adopted by their foster families.
	Support groups for parents
	Advanced Training