Baton Rouge Adoption & Foster Care Resources

As a prospective birth parent or adoptive family in Baton Rouge, you may have several questions about placing a baby for adoption or adopting a child in Louisiana.
There are many adoption professionals in the area who can assist you through the process and answer your questions. Read on to learn more about adoption in Baton Rouge, and find additional resources and information on our How to Adopt in Louisiana page.

Baton Rouge Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals

One of the first steps in the adoption process, both for adoptive parents and birth mothers, is to choose an adoption professional to work with. Your adoption professional will provide the services and support you need to successfully complete your adoption.
The following adoption agencies are based in the Baton Rouge area and have experience completing local adoptions:

• Elizabeth Foundation
• Beacon House Adoption Services
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge

How to Become a Foster Parent in Baton Rouge

To become a foster parent or to adopt from the foster care system in Louisiana, you will need to meet certain state qualifications and complete the Louisiana home study process. Information about these requirements is available on our Louisiana adoption page.
In addition, the following Baton Rouge foster care agencies and resources can provide additional information:

• Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services
• Volunteers of America of Greater Baton Rouge

Home Study Providers in Baton Rouge

For adoptive and foster parents in Baton Rouge, the home study is one of the most important parts of the process.
It is important to choose the right professional to complete your home study and ensure it complies with all Louisiana laws and requirements. To get started, contact a home study provider serving Baton Rouge:

• Grace International Adoption Agency
  985-246-9287
  Grace International writes home studies for domestic and international adoptions and travels to all parts of Louisiana.
• Beacon House Adoption Services
  888-987-6300
  Beacon House Adoption Services is a licensed 501c3 nonprofit adoption agency that offers domestic adoption home study services.
• Adoption Home Studies, Inc.
  985-264-8982
  Mary Marrs is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Louisiana offering adoption home studies and post-placement services.
• Open Arms Adoption Services
  318-798-7664
  Open Arms Adoption Services offers domestic and international adoption home studies, home study updates and post-placement supervision.

Hospitals in Baton Rouge

For birth parents and adoptive families, one of the most emotional parts of the adoption process is the time spent in the hospital when the baby is born. If you are making an adoption plan for your baby as a prospective birth mother, it will be entirely up to you to decide how you would like your hospital stay to go.
This is known as your hospital plan, and you can work with your adoption professional and delivery hospital to ensure everything happens as you want it to. When you are ready to begin creating your hospital plan, here are some Baton Rouge hospitals that may be able to assist you:

• Baton Rouge General Hospital
  8585 Picardy Avenue
  Baton Rouge, LA 70809
  225-763-4141
• Woman’s Hospital
  100 Woman’s Way
  Baton Rouge, LA 70817
  225-927-1300
• Ochsner Family Birthing Center – Baton Rouge
  17000 Medical Center Dr.
  Baton Rouge, LA 70816
  225-752-2470

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Birth parents and adoptive families in Baton Rouge often have questions about local adoption laws. Adoption laws and regulations are determined by the state and are no different in Baton Rouge than in New Orleans, Shreveport, or anywhere else in the state.
The following section provides an overview of the types of laws and regulations in place in Louisiana.
Adoption Laws for Birth Parents
For prospective birth parents, some of the most important adoption laws are those regarding consent and relinquishment. Louisiana adoption statutes regulate who must consent to an adoption, when and how consent can be executed, when consent becomes irrevocable, and more. This information, along with information about birth father rights, is included in our Louisiana adoption information.
Laws for Adoptive Families
Many hopeful adoptive parents wonder whether they are eligible to adopt, what adoption expenses they are permitted to pay, and the types of adoption professionals who may advertise or facilitate an adoption. An outline of these and other Louisiana adoption laws is available on our Louisiana adoption page.
County Courts
At the end of the adoption process, every adoption must be finalized in court. If you are adopting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, find information about finalizing your adoption in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Things to do in Baton Rouge

If you are adopting a child from Baton Rouge, you may find yourself spending some time in the city, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for ICPC paperwork to be processed. Here are some fun ways to spend your time if you are looking for things to do in Baton Rouge:

• Mike the Tiger Habitat
• USS Kidd
• Louisiana’s Old State Capitol
• Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
• The Old Governor’s Mansion