Adoptions
The Children
The Children
The Children range in age from birth to teenagers. Children come from all ethnicities, and from all kinds of families. Some are single children and others are part of a sibling set who want to stay together.
Who are the children waiting for adoption?
Many children await adoption in foster homes. Most of these children have been removed from their families and their parents or guardian’s parental rights have been terminated due to abuse, abandonment, or severe neglect. Some children are available for adoption because their parents or guardians have voluntarily relinquished their parental rights. These children vary in age, ethnicity, and cultural background. Many have special needs or are more difficult to place due to one or more of the following conditions:
• They are members of a sibling group and wish to be adopted together by one family.
• They have a mental, physical, medical or emotional impairment(s).
• They are three years old or older (not infants or very young toddlers)
• They come from adverse parental backgrounds (i.e., drug addiction, mental or physical illness).
Requirements for Adopting a Child
Being a successful adoptive parent
To be successful, adoptive parents must be prepared to provide a lot of love and must be patient, tolerant, flexible, energetic, competent and have a good sense of humor. They must possess or be willing to develop special skills and abilities to assist their child in becoming a successful independent adult. Successful adoptive families must understand that adoption is a life-time commitment. You may be eligible to adopt a child if you are a resident of San Bernardino County, single or married, 21 years or older, in good physical and mental health, and approved by the County Adoption Service.
Indian Child Welfare Act
Indian Child Welfare Act – ICWA
The purpose of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is “…to protect the best interest of Indian Children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families by the establishment of minimum Federal standards for the removal of Indian children and placement of such children in homes which will reflect the unique values of Indian culture… “(25 U.S. C. 1902). ICWA provides guidance to States regarding the handling of child abuse and neglect and adoption cases involving Native children and sets minimum standards for the handling of these cases.
How Do I Get Started?
The Adoption Process
San Bernardino County Children and Family Services works with contracted Foster Family Agencies to find quality resource families for our dependents. If you are interested in adoptions, you will need to first complete the Resource Family Approval process via the contracted foster family agencies.
If you have an established familial relationship with a child in our care and would like to be considered as a placement as a relative or Nonrelative Extended Family Member (NREFM), please contact the child’s assigned social worker to start the review process.
You can also contact the San Bernardino County Adoption Services at:
(909) 891-3300 or
1-800-722-4477
County Adoption Service
1495 E Street
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Ways In Which We Will Help You Adoption does not have to take “forever.” There are children currently awaiting permanent families. Once you submit an application a social worker will contact you within a few weeks. The “getting to know you” process takes approximately 16-20 weeks. Placement can occur any time after that.
What services does County Adoption Services provide?
The County Adoption Service helps a child become a permanent member of another family. This becomes necessary when a child is not able to be safely returned to his or her family.
Additional Resources