Adopting Children from Pennsylvania Foster Care

Statewide Adoption & Permanency Network (SWAN)

Gladney Center for Adoption works with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (via the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network) to find permanent families for Pennsylvania children waiting to be adopted.

The children legally free for adoption are:

• Mostly 10 years old and older
• Mostly African American or biracial
• Mostly boys
• May be part of a sibling group
• Have been victims of physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse and neglect
• Have moderate to severe cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities
• In the custody of a county Department of Children, Youth and Families agency
• They are either residing in foster care, group homes or residential/institutional settings
• Health of the children varies but is generally fair to good

We are only able to service children currently in the foster care system in Pennsylvania.

Requirements

Applicants may be married, in a committed relationship, or single men or women. Gay and lesbian families are welcome. Couples must be in a committed relationship for at least two years. Experience with special needs children is important, as is flexibility and a sense of humor!

Costs

Families will be asked to pay $3,100 for the completion of their family profile. Families reimbursed once the family profile is approved not once adoption occurs.

Procedure

Families contact Gladney Center for Adoption to schedule an individual information meeting. Following the information meeting, families choosing to move forward will submit their application to Gladney, participate in training, and participate in a family profile/home study that consists of interviews with the family conducted in the home. Specialized training may be required. The family’s home study is then distributed to social workers within Children and Youth agencies, who then decide on the appropriateness of a match.

Time Frame Estimate

Upon completion of the family profile, it is estimated that a match will occur in 6 months to 2 years. This will vary depending on the degree of special needs that a family is willing to consider. The fewer special needs you are open to, the longer you will wait to be matched with a child or children.

Travel

Counties throughout the Commonwealth of PA are working to find families for children. Families being considered as a possible match for a child or children may need to travel to the child’s county for interviews and pre-placement visits prior to the placement of the child. The number of visits is decided on a case-by-case basis and is determined by the emotional needs of the child.