Directory of Public and Licensed California Adoption Agencies
The Adoption Services Branch oversees Agency, Independent, and Intercountry Adoption services throughout the state. Additionally, the CDSS Adoption Regional Offices provide Independent Adoption services in 55 counties and Agency Adoption services to counties that do not have their own public adoption services. This Branch can be contacted at:
California Department of Social Services
Adoption Services Branch
744 P Street, MS 8-12-521
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-8089
Within the Adoption Services Branch, the Adoptions Policy and Support Bureau provides administrative oversight of, and support and services to, all public and licensed private adoption agencies, certifies adoptions, maintains the adoption database including adoption files for agencies that have closed, provides administrative oversight and application of the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP), and provides oversight of the Adoption Service Provider program.
For regulatory, policy, and current public and private Agency, Independent, and Intercountry adoption services and questions, please email the Adoption Policy Unit at APU@dss.ca.gov.
For post-adoption services or questions about closed adoption files, please email the CDSS Post Adoption Services mailbox at cdsspostadoptionservices@dss.ca.gov.
For regulatory, policy, services, and questions about the Adoption Assistance Program, please email the Adoptions Assistance Program and Monitoring Unit at AAP@dss.ca.gov.
TYPES OF ADOPTIONS – The following four types of adoptions are available in California for children under 18 years of age:
- Agency and Relinquishment Adoption: Adoption of children who are placed for adoption by a public or licensed private adoption agency that has custody of the child as the result of either the parent(s) voluntarily relinquishing their legal rights to the agency or involuntary termination of parents’ legal rights by the court.
- Independent Adoption (I): Parent(s) place directly with prospective adoptive parent(s) for the purpose of adoption. Only the CDSS Adoption Regional Offices and delegated counties (Alameda, Los Angeles, and San Diego) provide services under the Independent Adoption Program.
- Role of the adoptive parents in an Independent Adoption: Once the placement is made, the prospective adoptive parent(s) must file a petition in the superior court of the county in which they reside. They must include the Adoption Placement Agreement with the petition.
- Role of the CDSS Adoption Regional Offices or delegated county adoption agency: The CDSS Adoption Regional Offices or delegated county agency is required by law to investigate the adoptive family home and circumstances of placement to determine whether the child is a proper subject for adoption and whether or not the prospective adoptive family will enable the child to develop to their best potential. The agency must complete the investigation and submit a report to the court with recommendations regarding the adoption within 180 days of the filing of the adoption petition, unless an extension has been granted by the court.
- Intercountry Adoption: Adoption of foreign-born children for whom federal law makes a special immigration visa available. Intercountry adoption may be finalized in the child's native country or in California.
- Stepparent Adoption: Stepparents may adopt the children of their spouses. For more information, please review the California Superior Court Stepparent Adoption Self-Help Guide.
FEES - Fees are set by law for public agencies (maximum of $500 for agency adoptions of children who are dependents of the court and $4,500 for an independent adoption). Private agencies charge varying fees depending on the services provided.
TYPES OF ADOPTION LICENSES - The following is a listing of the types of licenses issued to private adoption agencies.
- Full-Service (FS): An adoption agency licensed and authorized to assume care, custody, and control of a child relinquished to their care. It also authorizes the agency to recruit prospective adoptive parent(s), locate children for adoption, act as an intermediary between the parties to an adoption, assess birth parents and prospective adoptive parents, place a child for adoption, supervise that adoptive placement to finalization, and to remove a child from an unsuitable adoptive placement.
- Noncustodial (NC): A noncustodial adoption license authorizes an agency to recruit and assess prospective adoptive families, locate children for adoption, and act as an intermediary between the parties to an adoption. In cooperation with full-service agencies, noncustodial agencies are allowed to place and supervise adoptive placements to finalization. A noncustodial agency cannot assume care, custody, and control of a child through a relinquishment, nor can they remove a child from an unsuitable placement.
- Intercountry (ICA): A license that authorizes an adoption agency to provide adoption services and to finalize the adoption of foreign-born children either in the child’s native country (Non-Custodial) or in California (Full Service). An agency listed as an Exempted Provider can only complete an adoption homestudy or provide post-adoption services for a family.
TYPES OF OFFICES THAT PROVIDE ADOPTION SERVICES:
- CDSS ADOPTION REGIONAL OFFICES - CDSS Adoption Regional Offices provide independent adoption services in specific counties (see areas served on the CDSS Adoption Regional Offices website). In addition, CDSS Adoption Regional Offices provide agency adoption services in those counties that do not have a public adoption program or who have contracted out some of their adoption services.
- COUNTY (PUBLIC) ADOPTION AGENCIES - The majority of county child welfare departments provide agency adoption services for court dependent children. In addition, three CDSS delegated counties (Alameda, Los Angeles, and San Diego) provide independent adoption services as well.
- LICENSED PRIVATE ADOPTION AGENCIES - Private adoption agencies are licensed to provide direct adoption services. These services vary from agency to agency and are defined by their license. Questions about specific services provided should be addressed to the individual agency or by contacting the Adoption Policy Unit.
Click on the image below to view a list of agencies that provide various types of adoption services: