New York City Adoption and Foster Care Resources

As a prospective adoptive or birth parent in New York, you likely have many questions about how to adopt or place a baby for adoption in NYC. There are many adoption and foster care resources and professionals in your area who may be able to assist you. Learn more about adoption in New York below, and find additional information about adoption laws, processes and qualifications on our New York State page.

New York Adoption Professionals

To begin the adoption process, many hopeful adoptive parents and pregnant women considering adoption first choose an adoption professional to help guide them through the process. You have many choices when selecting an adoption professional. If you are interested in working with an adoption agency or attorney near New York City, consider the following:

• Spence-Chapin
• Alliance for Children
• Open Arms Adoption Network
• Family Focus Adoption Services
• Gladney Center for Adoption
• Bethany in New York

Many national adoption agencies and other professionals throughout New York State also serve the New York area.

How to Become a Foster Parent in New York

Being a foster parent or adopting from the foster system can be a rewarding way to grow your family. Prior to beginning the foster care or foster-to-adopt process in New York, all prospective parents must meet certain state requirements. These requirements can be found on our state adoption information page. If you are ready to become a foster parent or if you have additional questions, contact a foster care professional in the NYC area:

• You Gotta Believe
• Administration for Children’s Services
• Little Flower
• JCCA

Home Study Providers in New York City

For adoptive and foster parents, the home study is one of the most important parts of the process. The New York home study process includes criminal records checks, financial information, personal interviews and more. For more information about what to expect during the home study process, visit our Adoption in New York State page. It is important to choose the right professional to complete your adoption home study and ensure it complies with all state laws and requirements. To get started, contact a licensed home study provider in New York:

• 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 New York

One of the most emotional parts of the adoption process, both for birth parents and adoptive families, is the time spent in the hospital when the baby is born. It is entirely up to the birth mother to decide how she would like her hospital stay to go. If you are making an adoption plan for your baby, you will work with your adoption professional and your delivery hospital to ensure everything happens exactly as you want it to. When you are ready to begin creating your hospital plan, here are a few of the New York City hospitals that may be able to assist you:

• John H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health 207 East 84th Street New York, NY 10028 646-754-3300

• New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital 233 Broadway New York, NY 10279 646-962-5662

• Lenox Hill Hospital 100 E. 77th Street New York, NY 10075 212-434-2000

• Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center 1650 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10457 718-239-8389

• New York Methodist Hospital 506 Sixth Street Brooklyn, NY 11215 718-780-3000

• Jacobi Hospital 1400 Pelham Parkway South Bronx, NY 10461 718-918-5000

• Richmond University Medical Center 355 Bard Ave. Staten Island, NY 10310 718-818-2170

• Beth Israel Medical Center 10 Union Square East New York, NY 10003 212-844-8590

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Many local adoptive and birth parents have questions about New York adoption laws and regulations. These laws are determined by the state of New York and are the same in NYC as they are in Buffalo, Syracuse, and anywhere else in the state. The following provides an overview of the types of laws regulating New York adoptions. Adoption Laws for Birth Parents Some of the most important adoption laws for prospective birth parents are those regarding consent and relinquishment. Information about executing consent, protecting birth father rights and more is included in our New York State adoption information. Laws for Adoptive Families Hopeful adoptive parents often wonder what types of adoption professionals they can work with, what adoption expenses they can pay, and even whether they meet the eligibility requirements to adopt in New York. This information, along with other New York adoption laws and home study information, can be found here. County Courts At the end of the adoption process, every adoption must be legally finalized in court. If you are adopting in New York, New York, find information about finalizing your adoption in your county below:

• Bronx County
• Kings County (Brooklyn)
• New York County (Manhattan)
• Queens County
• Richmond County (Staten Island)

Things to do in New York

If you are adopting a child from New York City, you may find yourself spending some time in the city, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for ICPC clearances. Here are some fun local attractions to visit if you are looking for ways to spend your time in New York:

• Central Park
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
• Top of the Rock Observation Deck
• Broadway
• Grand Central Terminal
• Empire State Building
• Statue of Liberty
• Times Square