Counties served by the Sacramento Regional Office
Independent Adoption
- Alpine
- Amador
- Calaveras
- El Dorado
- Lake
- Nevada
- Placer
- Sacramento
- Yolo
- Yuba
Adoption Information Meetings
For general information on the adoption application process and other adoption services provided by the Sacramento Regional Office, please call (916) 309-3650.
Post Adoption Services
Post Adoption Services (PAS) are available through the Sacramento Regional Office to adoptive families in four counties (Amador, Calaveras, Yolo, and Yuba). Post Adoption Services includes support and guidance to families that have finalized their adoption but could still benefit from supportive assistance. Services are provided by two licensed, private adoption agencies that have contractual arrangements with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
Amador and Calaveras: Post Adoption Services to these two counties are provided by Wayfinder Family Services through a contract with the CDSS. Services include a quarterly newsletter with information on events, training opportunities, adoption parenting articles and website resources; workshops with a focus on special needs children; socialization and networking activities for adoptive families; library access to books and videos on a variety of adoption topics; therapist training and support. To inquire regarding services, please contact Jacklyn Schofield at (209) 533-5380.
Yolo and Yuba: Post Adoption Services to these two counties are provided by Wayfinder Family Services through a contract with the CDSS. An Information, Support, and Referral (ISR) service can be accessed by telephone or in person. Services include direction and troubleshooting about adoptive parenting and adoption related issues, information about workshops, special events for adoptive families, and information about community resources. In addition, a lending library is available, offering books and tapes on a broad range of topics related to the special needs of adoptive families. Adoptive parent support groups are available in Yolo and Yuba counties. A monthly newsletter about upcoming events and opportunities is available by request. For Yolo PAS services, please contact Jacklyn Schofield at (209) 533-5380. For Yuba PAS services, please contact Leslie Damschroder at (530) 879-3861.
Valley Exchange Matching Picnics
The Sacramento Regional Office and several northern area public and private adoption agencies work together to provide special events to bring together children who need adoptive homes and families who are seeking to adopt one or more children. Families with an approved adoptive homestudy need to arrange attendance through their adoption agency representatives. Picnics are held in Sacramento and occur in May and October. For more information about the Valley Exchange Matching Picnic, please contact your adoption agency representative.
Children Available for Adoption
In an effort to utilize the power of the Internet and to bring children and families together, the California Kids Connection program was developed as California's registry of children waiting to be adopted and families wanting to adopt. The program offers both a secure website accessible only to California licensed adoption agency personnel and a public site accessible to any Internet user.
The California Kids Connection public website is available to anyone using the Internet. Visitors to this area of the website may view and indicate their interest in specific children by sending an immediate email to the adoption agency identified for each child. This site features children for whom legal clearance has been granted by the court.
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) establishes procedures for the adoption of children coming into California from another state and for children who are leaving California to be adopted by individuals who live in other states.
Information about ICPC forms and procedures for Agency adoptions is available at licensed public or private adoption agencies. Information regarding ICPC for Independent adoptions is available at CDSS Adoptions Regional Offices. Residents of Alameda, Los Angeles, or San Diego Counties should contact the licensed public adoption agencies in their county of residence.
To obtain a copy of licensed adoption agencies, please visit the Directory of Public and Licensed California Adoption Agencies website or call 1 (800) KIDS-4-US.
Inter-Country Adoptions
You can adopt a child from another country through California's Intercountry Adoption Program. To obtain information about the program requirements, contact a private adoption agency licensed to provide these services in the county where you reside. To obtain a copy of licensed adoption agencies, please visit the Directory of Public and Licensed California Adoption Agencies website or call 1 (800) KIDS-4-US.
For further details on Intercountry adoptions, please visit the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website or contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service National Customer Service Center at 1 (800) 375-5283.