North Carolina is facing a significant need for individuals and families to participate in A Foster Care Program. If you’ve considered fostering or adoption, NC Kids offers resources and support to guide you through the process. Across our state, countless children are in need of safe, nurturing homes as they navigate challenging family situations. The primary aim when a child enters foster care is family reunification, but when this isn’t possible, these children become eligible for adoption, needing permanent, loving families. To understand more about how children enter foster care and the requirements to become a licensed foster parent, we encourage you to watch the Foster Parent Orientation video.
Why a Foster Care Program is Crucial for North Carolina Children
When reunification with their biological families isn’t achievable, adoption becomes a vital path to permanency for children in foster care. Every child awaiting adoption deserves a “forever family” to call their own. If you possess patience, understanding, and a desire to offer a stable home, you might be the ideal parent for a child who urgently needs you. Children in North Carolina’s foster care program who are waiting for adoption include:
- Children with diverse special needs, encompassing physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities.
- Sibling groups who need to stay together.
- Teenagers seeking supportive homes during their adolescent years.
- Children from minority ethnic backgrounds, particularly African American males, who are overrepresented in the system.
For deeper insights into becoming a foster or adoptive parent, answers to frequently asked questions, details about the children who need foster and adoptive families, and valuable resources for current foster and adoptive families, explore this website. You can also find helpful information in North Carolina’s “You Don’t Have to be Perfect to be a Perfect Parent” brochure, accessible at the bottom of this page.
NC Kids: Your Partner in the Foster Care Program
NC Kids plays a pivotal role in assisting prospective families as they begin their journey into foster care and adoption. We bridge the gap between children needing adoptive homes and families ready to open their hearts and homes by:
- Showcasing children who are waiting for adoption on our website and the national Adopt US Kids platform. These online resources highlight children who are legally free and waiting for their forever families.
- Maintaining a comprehensive database of children available for adoption and families who are interested in adopting from the foster care system. This central system allows for efficient matching and placement.
- Providing dedicated matching services to connect waiting children with pre-approved families who are registered with NC Kids. Our goal is to create lasting and loving family connections.
Furthermore, we offer a range of essential services to support the foster care program:
- Comprehensive foster care and adoption support services designed to assist families at every stage.
- Community outreach and support services focused on recruiting and retaining foster and adoptive families, ensuring a strong network of caregivers. We also offer technical assistance to County Departments of Social Services and private Child Placing Agencies.
NC Kids collaborates closely with agencies, children, and families to strengthen the foster care program in North Carolina. It is important to note that NC Kids is a support organization and not a direct adoption or foster care agency; we do not make placement decisions. Recommended questions to ask when selecting a licensed child-placing agency for foster care and/or adoption. can guide you in choosing the right agency for your foster care or adoption journey.
Essential Resources for Navigating the Foster Care Program
Who Can Foster and/or Adopt
How to Foster and/or Adopt
Meet the Children
Post Adoption Support and Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
The North Carolina Heart Gallery
Get Involved with the Foster Care Program Today
For more detailed information about participating in a foster care program, please reach out to our hotline at 877-625-4371 or send us an email at [email protected]. Your interest can make a life-changing difference for a child in North Carolina.
