Winston-Salem Foster Care & Adoption Resources

Whether you are a family hoping to grow through adoption or a pregnant woman considering adoption, you will need help along your journey through the process. Here, you will find contact information, educational resources, and adoption information for every stage of adoption in the Winston-Salem area.

Winston-Salem Adoption Agencies and Professionals

Prospective birth parents and hopeful adoptive families both have the option of working with an adoption agency in their area. When you choose to adopt with an agency, you will have an adoption specialist to guide you through the process and provide education, counseling, and comprehensive adoption services. Below, you can follow the links to adoption professionals in or around Winston-Salem:

• Children’s Home Society of North Carolina
• American Adoptions

Foster Care Professionals in Winston-Salem

In order to be a foster parent, families must meet the requirements of their state and their chosen agency or professional. To become a foster parent in North Carolina, you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Complete a background check
• Pass a home study
• Become licensed through a training program

If you are interested in becoming a foster family, contact one of your local foster care professionals:

• Forsyth County Department of Social Services
• The Children’s Home

Winston-Salem Home Study Professionals

Before you can adopt a child, you must first pass a home study. Consisting of a background check, a home inspection, and a series of interviews, the home study ensures that your home is fit for a child. Below, you can find a list of licensed home study providers near Winston-Salem and in North Carolina. Near Winston-Salem:

• Children’s Home Society of North Carolina 336-896-0022 Along with other pre- and post-adoption services for birth parents and hopeful families, this agency is licensed to help North Carolina families complete their home studies.

In North Carolina:

• Nathanson Adoption Services 704-553-9506 Nathanson Adoption Services offers home studies across the state of North Carolina, as well as guidance through any post-adoption requirements.

• NC Homestudies 704-258-4029 NCHS is licensed to complete home studies for families across North Carolina. Additionally, they provide counseling services to families hoping to adopt.

• 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.

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

Hospitals Near Winston-Salem

If you are an expecting mother pursuing adoption, you will need to consider your hospital plan as your due date approaches. As the prospective birth mother, you can work with your adoption specialist and healthcare provider to determine the kind of labor and delivery experience you want to have. Here, you can find the contact information for hospitals near Winston-Salem:

• Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital 180 Parkwood Drive Elkin, NC 28621 336-527-7000

• Davis Regional Medical Center 218 Old Mocksville Road Statesville, NC 28625 704-873-0281

• Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center 3333 Silas Creek Parkway Winston-Salem, NC 27103 336-718-5000

Laws and Requirements to Adopt in Winston-Salem

All adoptions must comply with the laws of the state in which they take place. Each state has its own criteria and requirements, so make sure you are familiar with North Carolina adoption laws when you begin the process. Read on for an overview of what prospective birth parents and adoptive families need to consider when pursuing adoption. Birth Parents: Women considering adoption must be sure that the rights of both birth parents are properly terminated; this ensures the success and legal validity of your adoption. After the birth of the child, you will be asked to sign relinquishment papers and consent to the adoption. In the state of North Carolina, you may sign these papers and terminate your rights any time after giving birth, but not before. You and your adoption professional will also work together to make sure the father’s parental rights are properly terminated. If he is present and agrees to the adoption, he can give his consent at any time. If he is unsupportive or cannot be located, your specialist can work with you to move forward without his explicit consent. For more information about consent laws and the termination of parental rights, visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Adoptive Families: When considering adoption, prospective families must be sure that they fit the eligibility requirements of their state before proceeding. In the State of North Carolina, any adult who passes a home study is legally able to adopt (with the exception that spouses cannot adopt each other). The adoption professional you choose to work with may have additional requirements; these criteria will vary from agency to agency. Make sure you are familiar with an agency’s requirements before you contact them to begin your adoption.

County Court Information

All adoptions must be finalized in court after the placement of the child. This usually takes place around six months after placement, following a series of post-placement visits from a social worker. After that, your adoption specialist or attorney will inform you about when you need to appear in court to complete your adoption. Visit the Clerk of Forsyth County Superior Court website to learn more about the court in your area.

Things to Do in Winston-Salem

If you are traveling to Winston-Salem to adopt, you should expect to remain in North Carolina for 7-10 business days before you can return home. While you are in the Winston-Salem area, here are some suggestions for places you can visit:

• Reynolda House Museum of American Art
• SciWorks
• Historic Bethabara Park
• Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art