Newark Adoption & Foster Care Resources

Families hoping to adopt or pregnant women considering adoption in Newark may be unsure of what resources are available to them. Here, you can find everything you need to know to complete your Newark adoption from start to finish.
Read on to find information about Newark adoption and foster care professionals, home study providers, hospitals, and more.

Adoption Agencies and Professionals near Newark

As a prospective birth parent or adoptive family, the professional you work with will play an important role throughout the adoption process, providing adoption services and support to ensure a successful adoption. If you prefer to work with a local or regional adoption professional, consider these nearby adoption agencies:

• Family & Children’s Services
• Golden Cradle Adoption Services
• Adoptions from the Heart

Newark Foster Care Professionals

Families looking to adopt older children in their area should consider foster care. In order to be foster parents in the state of Washington, hopeful parents must meet these requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be at least 10 years older than the child in your care
• Complete 27 hours of PRIDE training
• Pass a SAFE adoption home study

To begin the foster care process or to learn more about foster care in your area, follow the links below and find information on nearby professionals:

• Children’s Aid and Family Services
• New Jersey Department of Children and Families
• The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey

Home Study Professionals

Regardless of the adoption or foster care professional you choose to work with, you will need to complete a New Jersey home study before a child can be placed in your care. Whether you are fostering or adopting, the home study ensures you are ready to provide a suitable home for a child.
Information about the home study process is available on our Adoption in New Jersey page. The following home study providers can provide additional information about completing the home study in your area:
Near Newark:

• Homestudies & Adoption Placement Services
  201-836-5554
  This Hague-accredited, New Jersey-licensed agency has all of the necessary qualifications to help New Jersey families with the home study process.

In New Jersey:

• Family Options
  732-936-0770
  A licensed, nonprofit adoption agency, Family Options provides home study services as well as education and support for families.
• Adoptions from the Heart
  1-888-630-8842
  Contact Adoptions from the Heart to get started on your home study and receive adoption education and other related services.

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

Hospitals near Newark

If you are an expectant mother pursuing adoption, you will need to consider your hospital plan as your due date approaches. As a prospective birth mother, you can work with your adoption specialist and healthcare provider to determine the type of labor and delivery experience you want to have.
When you are ready to begin creating your hospital plan, here are some Newark area hospitals that may be able to assist you:

• Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
  201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
  Newark NJ 07112
  800-843-2384
• Clara Maass Medical Center
  1 Clara Maass Drive
  Belleville NJ 07109
  973-450-2000

Laws and Adoption Requirements in New Jersey

Adoption is a legal process, and couples and individuals considering adoption often have questions about adoption laws and qualifications in Newark. To adopt or place a child for adoption in Newark, you must follow all New Jersey adoption laws. Read on to learn more about adoption requirements for birth parents and adoptive families in New Jersey.
Birth Parents:
Birth parents must legally terminate their parental rights before an adoption can take place. Each state’s consent laws are different and must be followed in order for the adoption to be legally recognized. In New Jersey, a mother must wait 72 hours after the birth of a child before she can give legally recognized consent.
The birth father can consent to the adoption at this time as well. If he denies paternity prior to the child’s birth, then this is also recognized as a surrender of parental rights. If you have any questions about the rights of your child’s father or obtaining his consent, speak to your adoption professional.
Adoptive Families:
In the state of New Jersey, the law allows anyone over 18 to adopt, as long as they are at least 10 years older than the child being adopted. Additionally, you must also meet the adoption requirements of your agency or professional. These requirements may include factors such as age, marital status, religious affiliation, and more. Be sure you meet all of the necessary criteria before moving forward in your adoption plan.

County Court Information

After you take your child home and complete your follow-up assessments, you will finalize your adoption in court. After your hearing, the process will be officially complete. Your adoption specialist will let you know what you need to do when the time comes, and in the meantime you can visit the New Jersey Courts for more information on proceedings in your area.

Things to Do in Newark

After you adopt a baby in Newark, you will need to remain in New Jersey for 7-10 business days if you live in another state. This allows time for legal clearances to process so you can bring your baby home. In the meantime, here are some places in Newark you can visit:

• Newark Museum
• Branch Brook Park
• Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
• Military Park