Charlotte Adoption & Foster Care Resources

For adoptive families and expecting mothers alike, adoption is a long and intricate process. If you live in the Charlotte area and are considering adoption, you may be wondering how adoption in North Carolina works and how to begin the process.

Whether you’re looking for adoption resources, trying to find a professional, or simply wondering where to start, the resources provided here will help you pursue adoption in the Charlotte area.

Charlotte Adoption Agencies and Professionals

Adoption agencies are professionals that provide full pre- and post-adoption services to birth parents and adoptive families. By working with an agency, you can receive counseling, education, assistance with finding a match, and guidance through each step of the process. If you are interested in working with an agency, you can contact one of the following Charlotte professionals:

• American Adoptions
• Another Choice for Black Children
• Bethany Christian Services

Foster Care Professionals in Charlotte

Foster parents have to meet certain requirements and complete training in order to care for children. In North Carolina, foster parents must:

• Be over 21 years old
• Complete a background check
• Pass a home study
• Complete required training and become licensed

If you would like to become a foster parent in Charlotte, contact one of the following agencies for more information:

• Alexander Youth Network
• Elon Homes and Schools for Children
• Children’s Home Society of North Carolina
• Access Family Services

Charlotte Home Study Providers

All families must complete a home study before they can adopt or foster a child. When you select a home study provider, your social worker can give you detailed information of what the process entails. Generally, a home study involves a collection of documents, along with a home inspection and interview.
Consult the following links to find a licensed North Carolina home study provider.
Near Charlotte:

• Nathanson Adoption Services
  704-553-9506
  The specialists at Nathanson Adoption Services are licensed to provide home studies, as well as other pre- and post-adoption services, in the Charlotte area.
• Triangle Adoption Services
  919-906-0270
  Agency director Susan Brown has been working to help families complete adoptions for over twenty years. Triangle Adoption services has social workers located in multiple areas of North Carolina.
• NC Homestudies
  704-258-4029
  NCHS is licensed to complete home studies for families across North Carolina, and they also provide counseling services for families hoping to adopt.

In North Carolina:

• Christian Adoption Services
  704-847-0038
  Along with providing home studies and other adoption services to prospective families, this agency also has a 24-hour hotline for pregnant women in need of support.
• Carolina Adoption Services
  336-275-9660
  Located in Greensboro, this agency is licensed to provide services to families in North and South Carolina.

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

Charlotte Hospitals

Birth mothers should begin planning their hospital trip as their due date approaches. If you are an expecting mother and considering adoption, you will work with your adoption specialist and the professionals at your hospital to determine the kind of hospital experience you want. Below is the contact information for a few hospitals in the Charlotte area:

• Carolinas Medical Center
  1000 Blythe Boulevard
  Charlotte, NC 28203
  704-355-2000
• Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
  200 Hawthorne Lane
  Charlotte, NC 28204
  704-384-4000
• Carolinas Healthcare System University
  8800 North Tryon Street
  Charlotte, NC 28262

Eligibility and Adoption Laws in Charlotte

Because each state has unique adoption requirements, you should become familiar with North Carolina’s adoption laws before you begin the process. Here, you can find an overview of adoption requirements for birth parents and adoptive families. Contact your adoption professional for more detailed information.
Birth Parents:
Birth parents should be aware of their rights during the adoption process, especially when it is time to consent to the adoption. If you are pursuing adoption, you will typically be asked to sign relinquishment papers after the child is born. In North Carolina, a birth mother may consent to an adoption at any point after the birth of the child, but not before.
The rights of the birth father must also be terminated properly; failure to do this can jeopardize the legal validity of the adoption. Be sure you fully understand North Carolina’s consent laws before terminating your parental rights.
Adoptive Families:
Prospective adoptive families in Charlotte must meet the eligibility requirements set forth by the state of North Carolina. While there are no restrictions based on factors like race, age, or marital status, families must complete their home study to ensure that they can raise a child in a safe environment. Furthermore, the agency you work with may have unique requirements. Before you begin to pursue an adoption plan, be sure that you meet any and all eligibility criteria.

County Courts

Adoptions must be finalized in court, a proceeding that usually takes place about six months after placement. Your adoption specialist will inform you about your court date and what you will need to do. Below, you can find information about the courts in and around your area.

• Catawba
• Chesterfield (SC)
• Alexander
• Anson

Things to Do in Charlotte

If you are not from Charlotte and traveling there to adopt, you can expect to be there for about 7-10 business days before you can return home. During that time, here are some places you can visit in Charlotte:

• Carowinds
• NASCAR Hall of Fame
• Discovery Place
• Bechtler Museum of Modern Art