As a private domestic adoption agency, American Adoptions is not involved with foster care in Iowa. However, if you are interested in foster parenting or adopting from foster care, we think it’s important that you have access to as much information as a possible. It’s a great way to help a child in need and to grow your family! With that in mind, then, we’ve gathered some information to help you learn about foster care adoption in Iowa.

But, if you want more information about private domestic infant adoption in Iowa, you can reach out to us today through our free online form.

How do you complete a foster care adoption in Iowa?

Learning about the adoption process in Iowa can sometimes help you when deciding whether or not to pursue it. To complete a foster adoption in Iowa, you will:

Step 1: Decide whether you are interested in becoming a foster parent or adopting from foster care in Iowa. Foster parenting is providing a child in need with a temporary home until they can go back to their biological parents; adopting from foster care is adopting a child whose biological parents have already had their rights terminated and who is living in a foster home.

Step 2: Contact a foster agency in your county.

Step 3: Complete parenting classes. These will most likely be either PS-MAPP (Permanence and Safety-Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) or PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information Development and Education) classes, depending on the foster agency you work with.

Step 4: Complete an application that gives your foster agency information about you, your home, and your desire to adopt. You will also let them know what you’re comfortable with in terms of adoption situations, such as the age range of children you’re willing to adopt.

Step 5: Complete a home study, just like you would for a private domestic adoption. 

Step 6: Wait for placement after the completion of your home study. This may happen almost immediately or it may take a few months, depending on the preferences you indicated in your adoption application. After your child has been placed with you, you’ll undergo a finalization hearing to receive your final decree of adoption.

Who can adopt a foster child in Iowa?

The requirements for adopting from foster care in Iowa state that a foster parent must be at least 21 years old and can be:

• Single or married

• A home renter or owner

• An apartment resident or living in a house

• A first-time parent or someone who already has children

How much does adopting from foster care in Iowa cost?

One of the benefits to adopting from the foster care system is the cost, or lack thereof. You should plan to pay for adoption-related costs like medical exams, court filings or safety classes, but these costs usually don’t exceed $300. It is also possible than a foster agency may charge you a small fee for their services, but many don’t charge anything at all.

Foster Children for Adoption in Iowa

Iowa is currently in need of families willing to foster teens, kids with special needs, and sibling groups. Iowa also needs more African American, Latino and Native American foster and adoptive parents. To learn more about the children in Iowa’s foster care system, you can visit Iowafosterandadoption.org.

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.