In North Carolina a single person or married couple can be an adoptive family. You must be 18-years-old to adopt and 21-years-old to foster. You do not have to own a home or have a certain amount of income to be a foster or adoptive parent. You should consider what it will mean to have a child join your family and how this will affect your family's life and the child’s life. With a full commitment and realistic expectations, foster or adoptive parents must be ready to give a child or children opportunities to develop to their full potential physically, academically, socially and emotionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.
Social Services - Foster Care
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Social Services - Foster Care
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Social Services - Foster Care
The processes of becoming a foster and or adoptive parent in North Carolina involves a thorough assessment and mutual selection process that includes home visits, interviews, and criminal background checks. North Carolina does not have a dual licensure process. This means that there are two separate approval processes for foster care and adoption. Some agencies streamline those two processes as much as possible, while others maintain two distinct tracks. North Carolina law requires that foster parents are licensed by the NC Division of Social Services with families working through their local county DSS or a licensed private agency. Adoptive parents are approved through their local county DSS or a licensed private agency.
In North Carolina families who desire to become licensed foster parents are required to complete TIPS-MAPP (Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety and Permanence – Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) or an equivalent training and assessment process. This is a minimum 30 hour course designed to inform participants about the child welfare system, the role of foster and adoptive parents, develop participants’ skills to become successful foster or adoptive parents and assess families to determine if fostering or adopting is the best fit for their family. While TIPS-MAPP is mandatory for foster parent licensure, it is strongly encouraged for families who desire to adopt from the foster care system as well. Parenting a child who has been in foster care is very different from parenting a child born to you. The information and skills you will gain from TIPS-MAPP or an equivalent are invaluable.
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Social Services - Foster Care
Foster parents must be at least 21 years old, have a stable home and income, be willing to be finger printed and have a criminal records check, maintain a drug free environment and complete all required training and be licensed by the state of North Carolina.
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Social Services - Foster Care
The children that are placed into the state foster care program have typically been neglected, abused or abandoned, and range in age from infancy through 18 years of age. Children may also be a part of a sibling group, have special needs and represent various cultural and economic groups.
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Social Services - Foster Care
Foster parents receive financial compensation from the placement agency for a child’s room, board, and other living expenses. Sometimes there are supplemental payments for the care of children with special needs.
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Social Services - Foster Care
Interested individuals and families may contact the Davie County Department of Social Services at 336-753-6250.