About Foster Care & Adoption
Information on Children
Children enter foster care because their birth families cannot care for them safely.
There are 9,017 children in foster care in Tennessee; 1,717 of these children are waiting for adoptive families.
Thank you so much for considering adoption and/or fostering as an option for your family!
Click here to view the Adopt Us Kids waiting children.
Licensing Requirements for Foster or Adoption in TN
To be approved as an adoptive parent in TN, you:
- Can be married, single or divorced;
- May or may not have other children;
- Can own or rent where you live;
- May be employed or not employed, but must be able to meet your own financial needs;
- Must be at least 18 years old; and
- Must be a resident of the State of Tennessee.
TN Foster Parents can:
- Be single or married;
- May or may not have other children;
- Can own or rent where you live;
- May be employed or not employed, but must be able to meet your own financial needs;
- Must be in sufficient good health;
- Must be 21 years of age; and
- Must be a resident of the State of Tennessee.
Does it Cost to Foster or Adopt?
It is free to foster.
The legal fees at the very end of the process are the only fees that you will pay if you work with your local DCS office to complete the adoption process and if the child is waiting in TN.
If you work with your local DCS office to complete the adoption process and the child is waiting in foster care in another state, it may be possible for the child’s state to purchase the services of your DCS office. Or, there may be fees. If you work with a nonprofit or private agency instead of DCS, the nonprofit or private agency may charge additional fees.
However, when families adopt children who are in foster care and eligible for subsidy, the families may be eligible for reimbursement of limited nonrecurring adoption-related costs, such as attorney’s fees and court fees, through the child’s state and/or federal options. Adopting does not have to be expensive! In fact, many families choose low-cost options every year. Please call us if you have questions.
Click here to see the adoption fees of most agencies in Tennessee.
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