Who Can Adopt?
Anyone caring, nurturing and over the age of 21 years can adopt. You can be married or single, straight or gay. You must have sufficient income to meet the financial responsibilities of the child/ren you are looking to adopt. Additionally you should be in good physical and mental health.

Do you accept single parent Adoptions?
Yes, we accept single parent adoption applications. The approved home study is the final criteria for acceptance and certification of an adoptive family.

What is Foster/Adopt?
The Fost/Adopt process is the continuation from foster care to permanent adoption if reunification with the birth family is not possible. Once these children are legally freed by the courts, they will make the transition to adoptive children and may join their permanent families with minimal delay.

Once the adoption is finalized, can the biological family still get custody?
No, adoption is a legally binding relationship that grants the adoptive parent(s) all legal, financial and medical rights and responsibilities of being a parent of the child.

Is financial help available for adoptive parents to care for their children?
The Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance for eligible fost-adopt children who have special needs. Special needs includes children, children of minority or ethnic groups, children with cognitive, emotional or physical disabilities and children with histories that put them at risk for special needs. Children remain eligible for AAP through their 18th birthday. They also are eligible to receive Medi-Cal benefits through the age of 21. AAP is only available for fost/adopt children, i.e.: children who have been adopted thru social services.

What is a Relinquishment?
Relinquishment is the adoptive process in which a birth mother relinquishes her child (born or unborn) directly to an Adoption Agency which will match her child with adoptive parents. This can be an open or closed adoption process.

What is an Open Adoption?
An open adoption is the adoptive process in which birth parent and adoptive parent are aware of each other's identity. This may include but is not a rule, visitation between birth parent and child and adoptive family; or simply an exchange of letters and occasional photograph. Such contact is at the sole discretion of both birth parent and adoptive parent.

What is an adoption home study?
Walden Family Services works with your family to complete an assessment of your home and ability to parent. The completed home study is used to "introduce" you as a potential adoptive family to county social workers that have children available for adoption.

How long does the adoption process usually take?
The process can typically take as little as 3 months or as much as 18 months depending on the circumstances of each adoption.