If you are interested in adoption in Oregon, 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 in Oregon.
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.
Click here to learn more about adoption in Oregon.
Do you feel there is a hole in your heart that can only be filled by a child? We’ve helped complete 32,000+ adoptions. We would love to help you through your adoption journey. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98.
