Buffalo Adoption and Foster Care Resources

Whether you are interested in adopting a child or are considering placing your baby for adoption in the Buffalo area, there are many local resources available to you. The following provides information about local adoption agencies, home study providers and other adoption and foster care services in and around Buffalo.
Additional resources for expectant mothers and adoptive parents throughout the state can be found on our New York adoption information page.

Buffalo Adoption Professionals

Whether you are ready to begin the adoption process or are simply looking for more adoption information, local adoption professionals can be great resources for the services and support you need. The following adoption agencies are based in Buffalo and are experienced in meeting the needs of adoptive and birth parents in New York:

• Adoption Star
• Catholic Charities of Buffalo
• ANA Adoptions

Become a Foster Parent in Buffalo

If you are interested in fostering a child in or near Buffalo, New York, you will need to meet all state requirements for foster parents and complete the home study process. A licensing worker will visit all prospective foster homes and meet with foster family members to ensure that all requirements are met.
For more information about foster care and foster-to-adopt placements in Buffalo and throughout the rest of the state, visit the Office of Children and Family Services.
The following local agencies and resources can also provide additional information about becoming a foster parent in the Buffalo area:

• Child & Family Services
• Baker Victory Services
• Gateway Longview

Completing the Home Study in Buffalo

The home study is a major component of every adoption and foster placement, and home study requirements are determined by state statutes.
Information about home study requirements, qualifications and approval are available on our Adoption in New York page.
When you are ready to begin the home study process, contact any of these legally qualified home study providers serving the Buffalo area:

• Dr. Judith S. Lee, LCSW
  212-957-3938
  Dr. Judith S. Lee, LCSW provides home studies, home study updates and post-placement supervision reports for New York State residents.
• Adoptions from the Heart
  1-800-355-5500
  Adoptions From the Heart (AFTH) provides home study services for all types of adoption.

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

Hospitals in Buffalo

If you are an expectant mother making an adoption plan for your baby, you will have many choices throughout the adoption process, including complete control over your hospital stay. You will create a hospital plan, which includes your preferences for who is in the delivery room with you, how much you will interact with 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 hospitals that you may be able to work with:

• Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
  565 Abbott Road
  Buffalo, NY 14220
  716-826-7000
• Oishei Children's Hospital
  818 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
  (716) 323-2000
• Sisters of Charity Hospital
  2157 Main Street
  Buffalo, NY 14214
  716-862-1000

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Hopeful adoptive parents and pregnant women considering adoption in Buffalo commonly have questions about local adoption laws, qualifications and processes. Adoption laws are determined by the state and can be found on our New York adoption information page. Below is an overview of some of the types of laws and regulations impacting adoptive and birth parents in Buffalo.
For Birth Parents
Many birth mothers and fathers have questions about the laws, rules and qualifications for placing a baby for adoption in Buffalo. Information about adoption consent, relinquishment, birth father rights and more is available here.
For Adoptive Families
Adoptive parents will need to meet certain eligibility requirements before adopting or fostering a child in New York. State laws also regulate adoption expenses that can be paid by adoptive families, adoption finalization requirements, and more. These laws and regulations for adoptive families in New York are available on our state adoption information page.
County Courts
The final step in the legal adoption process is finalization. If you are finalizing your adoption in Buffalo, New York, find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing your adoption in Erie County.

Things to do in Buffalo

Many parents who adopt from sunny New York end up spending some time in Buffalo, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for their ICPC paperwork to be processed. If your adoption plan brings you to Buffalo, consider visiting the following local attractions:

• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House Complex
• Canalside
• Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park
• Forest Lawn
• Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site