Grand Rapids Adoption & Foster Care Resources

Whether you are a hopeful parent seeking to adopt or a pregnant woman considering an adoption plan, there are many local adoption and foster care resources in Grand Rapids. The following provides information about local adoption agencies, home study providers, and other adoption services in and around Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Additional resources for expectant mothers and adoptive parents throughout the state are included in our Michigan adoption information.

Grand Rapids Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals

When you decide to begin the adoption process, you will likely need to work with an adoption professional to get the services and support you need. Some adoptive and birth parents prefer to work with a local or regional adoption agency. If you are interested in working with an adoption professional in Grand Rapids, consider the following:

• American Adoptions
• Greater Hopes
• Adoption Associates
• Adoption Advocates

Become a Foster Parent in Grand Rapids

If you are interested in fostering a child in Grand Rapids, you will need to meet all state requirements for foster parents and complete the home study process. The requirements to become a foster parent in Michigan include:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Complete an application and training
• Provide three references
• Successfully complete the home study

For more information about foster care and foster-to-adopt placements in Grand Rapids and throughout the rest of the state, visit the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange.
The following local agencies and resources can also provide additional information about becoming a foster parent in the Grand Rapids area:

• Samaritas
• Catholic Charities of West Michigan
• Wellspring Lutheran Services

Completing the Home Study in Grand Rapids

The home study is a major component of every adoption and foster placement, and home study requirements are determined by state statutes.
In Michigan, every home study consists of personal interviews with the adoptive parents, home visits, criminal history checks, and more. For more information about what to expect during the home study process, visit our Adoption in Michigan page.
When you are ready to begin the home study process, contact any of these legally qualified home study providers in your area:
Near Grand Rapids:  

• Adoption Associates
  800-677-2367
  Adoption Associates completes home studies for families adopting children from countries throughout Africa, Asia and the Americas.

In Michigan:  

• Child & Parent Services
  248-646-7790
  Child & Parent Services is a licensed nonprofit adoption agency that provides post-adoption services and support and facilitates home studies for interstate, attorney-assisted and international adoptions.
• Keane Center for Adoption
  313-277-4664
  The staff at the Keane Center for Adoption routinely complete expert home study and post-placement services for adoptive parents who are working with adoption attorneys, out-of-state agencies and family adoptions.
• All God’s Children
  800-214-6719All God’s Children is a Hague accredited agency that offers home study services to Michigan families, including families adopting from another agency.

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

Hospitals in Grand Rapids

If you are an expectant mother and you choose adoption for your baby, you will have the opportunity to create a hospital plan, which includes 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 both your adoption plan and 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 Grand Rapids hospitals that you may be able to work with:

• Spectrum Health Family Birthplace
  100 Michigan Street NE
  Grand Rapids, MI 49503
  616-391-5000
• Mercy Health Saint Mary’s
  200 Jefferson Avenue SE
  Grand Rapids, MI 49503
  616-685-5000
• Metro Health Spartan Stores Family Childbirth Center
  5900 Byron Center Avenue SW
  Wyoming, MI 49519
  616-252-7738

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Hopeful parents and pregnant women considering adoption often have questions about Grand Rapids adoption laws, qualifications, and processes. Adoption law is determined by the state and is the same in Grand Rapids as it is in Detroit, Warren, or anywhere else in Michigan.
Read below to learn more about Michigan adoption laws for prospective adoptive and birth parents.
For Birth Parents
Many birth parents and women considering adoption have questions about consent, relinquishment and birth father rights in Michigan. Information about these and other Michigan adoption regulations is available here.
For Adoptive Families
Michigan statutes regulate the adoption expenses that can be paid by adoptive families, the requirements for finalizing an international adoption, the use of advertising and facilitators, and more. An outline of laws and laws for adoptive parents in Michigan is available on our state adoption information page.
County Courts
If you are finalizing your adoption in Grand Rapids, Michigan, find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing the adoption in your county:

• Barry County
• Ionia County
• Kent County
• Newaygo County
• Ottawa County
• Muskegon County
• Allegan County

Things to do in Grand Rapids

Whether you are visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for ICPC clearances, you may find yourself spending some time in the Grand Rapids area during the adoption process. If your adoption plans bring you to the Grand Rapids area, consider visiting:

• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
• Meyer May House
• Gerald R. Ford Museum
• Grand Rapids Public Museum
• John Ball Zoo