Columbus Adoption & Foster Care Resources

If you live in the Columbus, Georgia, area and are considering adoption, either as a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy or as a prospective adoptive parent, you are likely wondering about Georgia adoption laws, rules and qualifications.

Below, find the information you need about local adoption agencies, home study providers and other Columbus adoption and foster care resources.

Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals in Columbus

Your adoption professional will provide pre- and post-placement services and support through each step of the adoption process. These professionals have offices in Columbus and can provide detailed information about adoption in your area:

• Lifeline Children’s Services
• Open Door Adoption

Foster Care Professionals in Columbus

If you are interested in adopting through the foster care system or providing temporary care as a foster parent, you must meet certain state requirements and become licensed through a local foster care agency. In Georgia, prospective foster parents must meet certain age requirements and undergo a background check and home study process.

To learn more about the requirements and steps to become a foster parent in Columbus, contact a foster care professional in your area:

• Benchmark Family Services
• Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services
• Lifeline Children’s Services
• Muscogee County DFCS
• Chattahoochee County DFCS
• Harris County DFCS
• Marion County DFCS

Additional Georgia foster care information is available on our Adoption in Georgia page or by calling 877-210-KIDS (5437).

Home Study Providers in Columbus

Whether you are growing your family through private domestic infant adoption or through the Georgia foster system, you will be required to complete a home study prior to placement. The home study is an important step in every adoption and foster care process.

When you are ready to begin the adoption home study, contact a Georgia home study provider near you:

• Options 4 Adoption
  770-928-1871
  Options 4 Adoption is licensed in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee as a nonprofit home study agency. Services include home studies for domestic and international adoptions, post-placement supervision and home study report updates.
• A Adoption Advocates of Georgia
  770-778-2751
  A Adoption Advocates of Georgia is a nonprofit licensed child-placing agency serving all of Georgia that conducts home studies for international adoptions, domestic adoptions and post-placement requirements
• The Adoption Authority, Inc.
  800-747-5145
  The Adoption Authority, Inc. is a licensed child placement agency in Georgia and Florida that completes domestic and international home studies, home study updates and post-placement reports.

Visit 1800HomeStudy.com to learn more about Georgia home study providers.

Hospitals in Columbus

As an expectant mother making an adoption plan, you will have the opportunity to plan your hospital stay when the baby arrives. Your hospital plan will determine who you see in the delivery room, how much time you will spend with the adoptive family, and more.

As you consider your hospital plan, find information about Columbus hospitals below:

• Midtown Medical Center
  710 Center Street
  Columbus, GA 31901
  706-571-1000
• Francis Hospital
  2122 Manchester Expressway
  Columbus, GA 31904
  706-596-4000
• Martin Army Community Hospital
  6600 Van Aalst Blvd.
  Fort Benning, GA 31905
  762-408-5151

Laws and Qualifications to Adopt in Columbus

An attorney is required in every adoption to ensure the adoption follows all Georgia laws and requirements. Your attorney can explain the legal adoption process and ensure all of your rights are protected. However, many adoptive and birth parents are interested in learning more about adoption laws, rules and regulations. Here, find an overview of the adoption regulations impacting adoptive and birth parents in Columbus.

Birth Parents                                             

It is important for birth parents to be aware of their rights during the adoption process, especially when it comes to consent and relinquishment. If you are making an adoption plan for your baby in Columbus, get the information you need about paternity, consent and more here.

For Adoptive Parents

To be eligible to adopt in Columbus, you must meet certain qualifications and complete the Georgia home study process. Throughout the adoption process, you must adhere to state laws regulating adoption expenses, adoption finalization, advertising and more. These laws are outlined here.

County Courts

Following the birth parents’ consent and the adoption placement, every adoption must be finalized in court. Your adoption professional can assist you through the finalization process. Find additional information about finalizing an adoption in your county:

• Chattahoochee County
• Harris County
• Marion County
• Muscogee County

Things to do in Columbus

If you are traveling to Columbus to adopt, there are many ways to spend your time in the area. Whether you are visiting your baby’s birth parents or waiting for ICPC paperwork to be processed, here are some places to visit around Columbus:

• National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center
• Columbus Riverwalk
• National Civil War Naval Museum
• Columbus Museum
• Coca Cola Space Science Center