Lafayette Adoption & Foster Care Resources

Whether you are interested in adopting a child or placing a baby for adoption in the Lafayette area, there are many local resources available to you. This guide provides information about Lafayette adoption agencies, home study professionals and other adoption and foster care services in the area.
Additional resources for expectant mothers and adoptive parents throughout the state can be found on our Louisiana adoption page.

Lafayette Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals

When you are ready to begin the adoption process, you will likely need to work with an adoption professional to receive the services and support you need to complete the adoption.
Some adoptive families and birth parents prefer to work with a local or regional adoption agency. The following adoption agencies have locations in Lafayette and can ensure that you meet all Louisiana requirements as you move through the adoption process:

• Catholic Social Services
• St. Elizabeth Foundation
• A Bond of Life Adoptions

Become a Foster Parent in Lafayette

If you live in Lafayette, Louisiana, and are interested in fostering a child, you will need to meet certain state requirements for foster parents and complete the home study process. Information about foster parent eligibility, as well as Louisiana home study requirements, is included in our state adoption information.
For more information about foster care and foster-to-adopt placements in Lafayette and throughout the rest of the state, visit the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services.
The following local agencies and resources can also provide additional information about becoming a foster parent in Lafayette:

• Office of Child Welfare – Lafayette Parish
• Louisiana Heart Gallery
• Immaculate Heart of Mary’s Church

Completing the Home Study in Lafayette

The home study is a major milestone in every adoption and foster care process, and home study requirements are determined by the state. In Louisiana, the process includes at two visits in the home and a third visit in the home or office, plus in-person interviews with each member of the household and any adult children who do not live in the home. For more information about what to expect during the home study, visit our guide to Adoption in Louisiana.
When you are ready to begin the home study process, contact any of these legally qualified home study providers in your area:

• Beacon House Adoption Services888-987-6300
  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 Services318-798-7664
  Open Arms Adoption Services offers domestic and international adoption home studies, home study updates and post-placement supervision.

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

Hospitals in Lafayette

If you choose adoption for your baby, it will be up to you to plan your hospital stay. Your hospital plan will include your preferences for who is in the delivery room with you, how much you will interact with your baby and the adoptive family, and more.
The delivery hospital will be aware of your hospital plan ahead of time to ensure a smooth labor and delivery process. When you are ready to make your hospital plan, here are some local Lafayette hospitals you may be working with:

• Lafayette General Medical Center1214 Coolidge Street
  Lafayette, LA 70503
  337-289-7991
• Women’s and Children’s Hospital4600 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy
  Lafayette, LA 70508
  337-521-9100

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Hopeful parents and pregnant women considering adoption often have questions about Lafayette adoption laws, qualifications and processes. Adoption laws are determined by the state, and are the same in Lafayette as in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and anywhere else in Louisiana.  Read below for an overview of some of the adoption laws regulating adoption in Lafayette.
For Birth Parents
Many birth mothers and fathers have questions about the laws, rules and qualifications for placing a baby for adoption in Lafayette. Information about adoption consent, relinquishment, paternity and more is available here.
For Adoptive Families
Hopeful adoptive parents in Louisiana must meet certain age and residency requirements and follow all laws regulating adoption expenses, finalization, the use of advertising, and more. An outline of laws and regulations for adoptive families in Louisiana is available on our Louisiana adoption page.
County Courts
Following placement, your adoption will need to be finalized in court. If you are finalizing your adoption in Lafayette, Louisiana, find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing your adoption in Lafayette Parish.

Things to do in Lafayette

Many parents who adopt from Louisiana end up spending some time in Lafayette, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for their ICPC paperwork to be processed. If your adoption plan brings you to the Lafayette area, consider visiting:

• Vermilionville
• Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
• Acadian Village
• Lake Martin Rookery
• Lafayette Science Museum
• Evangeline State Park
• Children’s Museum of Acadiana