Adoption FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about adoption.
FAQ’s
Families with a current West Virgina homestudy can inquire to adopt a child.
If you are not a certified Foster/Adoptive Provider with a current homestudy we can help you get certified. Just inquire Request Foster/Adopt Information — Home Page (missionwv.org) or call 304-562-0723.
Out of state Families may inquire about WV Youth who are considered for out of state placement. To adopt a WV Youth eligible for out of state placement you must be a licensed foster/adoptive home in your state and have a supervising agency.
When Infants and toddlers are removed from their home, they are placed in temporary care usually with kinship/relatives or with a fostering family. If the youth is not able to return to their birth family usually those relative or fostering families adopt those young youth. It would be rare for a young child not to be adopted by relatives or their fostering family therefore they would not be listed on the Adoption Gallery.
When a youth Is removed from their home and placed in legal custody of WV DoHS, they are considered a “youth in care.” They are in the temporary custody of the DoHS. The 6000+ youth in temporary care includes all those youth which may be with kinship, foster families, residential care, and other placements. When a youth is removed from their family it is the goal that they be returned to their family when it is safe and in their best interest. If youth cannot be returned safely to their birth parent/s then the parental rights may be legally terminated and at that point the youth become candidates for adoption. Youth who are in the permanent custody of DoHS with a plan of adoption are the youth listed on the Adoption Photo Gallery. It should be noted youth 12 and older must consent to being adopted. If a youth has not consented to adoption, they will not be listed on the Adoption Photo Gallery.
Youth in foster care have already experienced great loss. They have lost their parents, other family members, and friends. Often, they have also lost their school and teammates.
In many cases, the only connection they still have is to their brothers or sisters. It is considered in the best interest of the children to be placed together unless there’s an important reason to separate them. In WV, separating siblings requires the sanction of the court.
In cases where siblings cannot be placed together, it is sometimes deemed beneficial for them to maintain visits with each other, even after they are placed in different families.
According to WV Adoption Policy, Adoption assistance payments may be made to parents to adopt a youth with special needs.
Families of youth that qualify receive monthly financial and medical subsidy as well as a one time non-recurring adoption expense payment and/or reimbursement for adoption attorney fees.
Families may also be eligible for an adoption tax credit.
According to WV Code 49-4-112, children are considered special circumstances/special needs because of one or more of these conditions.
- They have a physical or mental disability.
- They are emotionally traumatized.
- They are older children (age 8 or older).
- They are part of a sibling group placed together.
- They are a member of a racial or ethnic minority.
It should be noted the most correct, current term is “youth with additional needs.”
There is no cost to adopt a child from foster care. There may be very minimal costs to ready your home for foster/adopt certification. However, once you are certified foster/adoptive parent there is no cost to adopt a child from foster care.
Hopefully we have answered your questions about adopting a child from care. If you have other questions, please feel free to contact Mission WV at 304-562-0723 or by email at BSSARE@wv.gov.
If you are ready to proceed to view youth waiting for a family, please proceed to our Adoption Photo Gallery.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you are ready to proceed to view youth waiting for a family, please proceed to our Adoption Photo Gallery.