Typically, children legally available for adoption from foster care are over the age of nine. Younger children who become legally available for adoption are commonly adopted by relatives or their current foster family. If you wish to adopt a younger child from foster care, you will first need to consider becoming a foster parent. Foster parents must support the primary goal of reunification for children and their families. Learn more about foster care here.
Generally, infant adoption is facilitated through a private adoption agency or an adoption attorney. Birth parents typically choose an agency to facilitate the adoption of their infant and play a key role in selecting the adoptive family.
Children and youth up to age 16 years of age may be available for adoption from other countries. Adoption regulations vary widely by country and the process can be lengthy. Finalizing an adoption of a child as an infant is not common in international adoption. Check out the U.S. Department of State’s Intercountry Adoption to learn more.