ADOPTION IN
Oklahoma
Adoption in Oklahoma is the legal transfer of parental rights from the biological parent(s) to the adoptive parent(s). If you are considering placing a child for adoption or adopting a child, the Oklahoma process can be overwhelming at first, but the Adoption.com team is prepared to support you and answer your questions.
Adoption Near Me
Considering Placing Your Baby or Child for Adoption? You can learn more here or call an adoption counselor 1-800-236-7898.
Domestic Infant Adoptions can be completed through Oklahoma adoption agencies/attorneys to adopt a child domestically. Click here for a directory of adoption service providers in Oklahoma.
International Adoptions must be completed through adoption agencies/attorneys to adopt a child internationally. Find an international adoption service provider here.
Foster Care Adoptions in Oklahoma can be completed through the Department of Human Services (918-794-7575). Gallery of children waiting to be adopted.
Check out OklahomaAdoption.com
Join the Oklahoma adoption group in our community!
Looking for more resources in your area? Check out the Adoption Directory for a listing of adoption professionals in your state.
I’m considering placing my baby or child for adoption.
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Oregon Adoption
By: Nancy J. Evans Hall
If you are interested in Oregon adoption, hello! You have come to the right place. While we have done our research to provide current and accurate information on Oregon adoption, the information in this guide is subject to change without notice. Adoption.com is not responsible for the consequences of relying on this information. You should seek out licensed professionals for current information. In no event shall Adoption.com be liable for any direct, indirect, special, or incidental damage resulting from, arising out of, or in connection with the use of this information.
A good place to begin your own research in addition to this article is the Oregon Adoption Guide which contains excellent information on the topic.
Currently, Oregon.gov states that 8,000 children are in foster care, and of those about 200 are available for Oregon adoption. At nwae.org, parents can find a photo listing of children currently available for adoption along with their profiles. Additionally, Adoption.com has a photo listing page of children who are ready for adoption.
Both parents need to be at least 21 years old to be eligible. However, note that the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) is a great resource for people from out-of-state interested in adopting Oregon children. As for convicted felons, depending on the crime, they may be eligible as well.
Oregon adoption statistics and information about children in the foster care system are available at cwla.org. The children in state custody for instances of child abuse and/or neglect rose from 2014 to 2015. Keep in mind that most statistics usually run a couple or more years behind absolutely current information. At that time, 55.1% were neglected, 10% were physically abused, and 8.0% were sexually abused. Again, this is very important to keep in mind when adopting from DHS. Of children living in foster care, 64% were white, 5% were black, 15% were Hispanic, 5% were American Indian/Alaskan Native, 1% were Asian or Pacific Islander, and 11% were of more than one race or ethnicity/undetermined race or ethnicity.
A home study will consider the mental and physical health of the parents, the ability to provide for a child, and any emotional issues that may need to be addressed for Oregon adoption. Parents may want to start with registering a parent profile at Adoption.com’s Parent Profiles feature. You would include a photo, what makes your family special and ideal for a child, and what you have to offer, and perhaps some specifics about the age range/gender/special needs child who might be just right for you. If you do decide to adopt a special needs child, financial assistance may be available to you.
Oregon.gov is available to offer the most up-to-date information at Oregon’s step-by-step guide. This guide provides a variety of facts regarding topics such as seeking a child from the Department of Human Services and qualifying for Oregon adoption and more general information about adoption in general. DHS also offers mandatory training for couples or singles wishing to adopt. Take it from me: such training is invaluable! It is certainly worth your time.
Adopting an infant or younger child will probably be a longer process than adopting an older or special needs child. A prospective family should discuss pertinent questions as a family unit before moving forward with an adoption. You will need to fill out an application and provide four to five references, a criminal background check, and a home study that evaluates the family’s ability to adopt according to state standards. If everything is approved, the family will be eligible to be matched with a child determined by professionals “who best matches the interests and strengths of their family.”
In Oregon, there are three different types of adoption: foster care, private infant, and non-departmental—which means adopting a child who is not in DHS custody such as adopting a stepchild or adopting a friend’s child.
An excellent tool in Oregon adoption can also be found at Adoption Publications and Data Records. There, you can find an Adoption Assistance Handbook, certification standards for adoptive families, adoption trends, and statistics. The Oregon State Bar offers information regarding the legalities involved in the state’s adoption process.
The Oregon Adoption Resource Exchange is very useful in helping to join families and children free for adoption along with containing a lot of important information. They are a password-protected site with the children’s best interests in mind. A child’s adoption status may be changed for a variety of reasons, and the website keeps current on that as well so that you do not view a child who is no longer available to prospective adoptive parents. You also must have an approved home study to access the many benefits of this site.
How much does it cost to adopt a child in Oregon? There is a general cost ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the circumstances of each case. The North American Council on Adoptable Children offers an assistance program for families adopting from the Oregon foster care system.
The initial completion stage takes four to six months; however, the time it takes for a child to be appropriately matched and moving into your home can vary greatly by the situation. There is no guaranteed timeline. There are also plenty of formal support systems available throughout the state as well as on Adoption.com and other online support groups and organizations.
If you already live in Oregon, it might be a good idea for you to become a foster parent before adoption. It is a strong, impactful introduction to the children in foster care and what kind of experiences you could face as an adoptive parent. DHS provides a great deal of support in all aspects to foster parents, so you would definitely not be alone.
A different set of circumstances apply to people who already live in Oregon and are proceeding to adopt internationally. Both state laws and the laws of the country being adopted will apply as in any state. There are a variety of state-licensed agencies that cater specifically to international adoptions.
This link is an excellent source for reviews of different adoption agencies available in Oregon that can help you with the overall process of adoption. It is always a good idea to read valid reviews for virtually everything. I know I do! Adoption agencies are no different. Know who you are dealing with before you dive in based on your eagerness to get the process in motion.
Another good resource for reaching out to others who are also involved with Oregon adoption can be found at this link. You can also visit our general adoption forums to ask others various questions about your specific situation. You can also go straight to the Oregon community here at Adoption.com’s page for the state directly. Adoption.com also has a link that takes you straight to Oregon adoption records. For community discussions on Oregon stepparent adoptions, refer directly to the stepparent forum. For more conversation-specific discussions on emotional issues post-adoption, click on the After Adoption forum discussion. There are so many more resources available here at Adoption.com!
From personal experience with adoption in general, research and then do more research on all aspects of adoption, but especially on agencies and laws before you start the process as well as what you can expect emotionally from both your and the child’s perspective. This will be so much more important than you know unless you have already been through training and adoption. Even thorough training did not fully prepare me and my husband for all the things we went through after an international adoption (details can be found in my article here). Good luck to you! Keep up hope.
Oregon Adoption Guide
The information contained on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed and qualified professional. While the content of this website is frequently updated, information changes rapidly, and therefore, some information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies, omissions, or typographical errors.
Can I Adopt in Oklahoma?
Parents must be at least 21 years old. You can be single, married, or divorced. You can own, rent, or live in a trailer home. The only income requirement is that you make enough to provide a stable living for the child. Parents must complete 27 hours of preservice training. Applicants must pass a home study including the following: background checks, medical checks, fingerprinting, family assessment, home assessment, auto insurance verification, and income verification.
What Adoption Regulations Exist in Oklahoma?
Advertising: Only licensed child-placing agencies/attorneys may advertise for compensation to assist with the placement of a child. Adoptive parents who complete a favorable home study may reach out to birth parents for the placement of their child in the home, so long as nothing of value is offered in exchange for placement of the child. § 866(A)(1)(g)-(h)
Relinquishment: Married fathers and mothers must wait until after birth to consent to an adoption. Putative fathers may consent before or after birth. Consent is irrevocable unless the court finds that revocation is in the best interest of the child and the consenting party proves: a petition to adopt was not filed within 9 months after placement; a parent with legal rights of the child did not give their consent to the adoption; that the consent came under fraud. § 7503-2.7; 7503-2.6
Birth parent expenses: The following expenses are allowed: attorney, medical, adoption counseling, living expenses, and travel expenses for the birth mother. Living expenses may not extend past 2 months after birth, while counseling expenses may extend up to 6 months after brith. § 7505-3.2(B)
Post-adoption contact agreements: Contact agreements are not legally enforceable unless the agreement is included in a written court order. § 7505-1.5
Birth father rights: Unmarried fathers may register with the Department of Human Services’ paternity registry in order to receive notice of adoption proceedings, claim or acknowledge paternity of the child, or deny paternity of the child. § 7506-1.1
Finalization: The average time between TPR and adoption finalization in Oklahoma in 2014 was 12.5 months. (acf.hhs.gov)
Is Adoption Assistance Available in Oklahoma?
Many of the children waiting to be adopted in Oklahoma have special needs. Federal (Title IV-E) and state (non-IV-E) programs exist to help adoptive parents meet their child’s needs. In Oklahoma, the maximum monthly amount ranges between $500-650. For more information on adoption assistance please visit NACAC.org.
Can I adopt a Child from another country?
It is always possible to adopt a child from another country, even if you live in the United States. Children under 18 adopted from a Hague Convention country entering the U.S. with an IH-3 visa may automatically receive U.S. citizenship.
Children adopted from a non convention country must qualify as orphans before receiving U.S. citizenship. When U.S. citizens finalize an adoption abroad, they must apply to the USCIS for an IR-3 visa for the child. An IR-3 visa classifies the child as an immigrant and may provide the child with citizenship upon arrival in the States.
Readoption in Oklahoma after a foreign adoption decree is an option but not a requirement. Parents wishing to receive a State birth certificate for their child can submit a foreign adoption decree.
State Contacts
Gallery of children waiting to be adopted: https://adoption.com/photolisting?page=1&search_type=region&range=UnitedStates
State subsidy contact:
Jacquelyn Hill-Anderson
Department of Human Services (DHS)
P.O. Box 25352
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
Phone: 405-522-4487
Fax: 405-522-2433
Email: Jacquelyn.Hill@okdhs.org
Summary
Adoptions in Oklahoma can be completed through the Department of Human Services. Hopeful adoptive parents can use adoption agencies/attorneys to help them find a child to adopt.
Parents must be at least 21 years old. Applicants can be single, married, or divorced; you can own or rent a home; you must complete a home study when applying to adopt a child; you must finish 27 hours of preservice training in order to become an adoptive parent.
Only licensed child-placing agencies/attorneys can advertise for compensation to assist with the placement of a child.
Married parents must wait until after birth to consent, while putative fathers may consent at any time. Consent can only be revoked if in the child’s best interest and certain factors are proved by the consenting part in court.
The average time between TPR and adoption finalization in 2014 in Oklahoma was 12.5 months.
