For hopeful adoptive families and prospective birth mothers alike, the adoption process requires a lot of careful thought, research, and planning. If you are pursuing adoption in the Sioux Falls area, you may be wondering what resources you have available to you. Whatever stage of your adoption journey you are on, the information provided here can help you with adoption in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Adoption Agencies and Professionals in Sioux Falls
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 Sioux Falls, consider the following:
Sioux Falls Foster Care Resources
Like adoptive parents, foster parents must meet the requirements of their state before they can care for a child. If you want to become a foster parent in South Dakota, you must fit the following criteria:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Provide a safe and stable home for a child
- Attend 30 hours of training
- Participate in in-home consultations
- Pass a home study
If you would like to learn more about fostering and available children near you, you can find a list of foster care agencies in or near Sioux Falls below:
Home Study Providers
For prospective parents, the home study is one of the most important parts of every adoption and foster care process. Consisting of interviews, background checks, home visits and a written report, the South Dakota home study helps ensure that your home is fit for a child.
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 home study provider in your area:
- DeVonne Powell, CSW-PIP
605-360-5735
DeVonne Powell has been working as a home study provider since 2008 and has experience teaching parenting classes.
- Keri Meyer, CSW-PIP
605-376-4834
Keri Meyer has worked in therapy and home study evaluations, and she is licensed to complete South Dakota home studies.
- Mary Gustafson, CSW-PIP
605-360-5738
With her experience at Child Protection Services and Children’s Home Society, she has worked for families in several capacities and has been in social work since 2002.
Visit 1800HomeStudy.com to learn more about
South Dakota home study providers.
Hospitals near Sioux Falls
As the baby’s due date draws closer, it is up to the expectant mother to create a hospital plan for her stay. If you are making an adoption plan for your baby, this will be your opportunity to decide who is in the delivery room with you, how much time you will spend with your baby and the adoptive family, and more.
When you are ready to begin planning your hospital stay, your adoption agency will work with the delivery hospital to make them aware of your wishes. Here are some local Sioux Falls hospitals that you may be able to work with:
- Avera Women’s
1417 South Cliff Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
605-322-8920
South Dakota Adoption Laws and Requirements
All adoptions taking place in Sioux Falls must comply with South Dakota adoption laws. State adoption laws regulate many steps in the adoption process, and it is important to work with your adoption professional or adoption attorney to ensure your adoption is legally valid.
To learn more about South Dakota adoption laws, visit our
South Dakota adoption page. For an overview of the legal processes that impact birth parents and adoptive families, read the following sections.
Birth Parents:
Every state has unique
consent laws designed to protect your parental rights and help you to make an informed adoption decision. Similarly, the father of the child must also terminate his parental rights, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
If you have questions or concerns about the father’s role in your adoption, speak to your adoption attorney or visit our
South Dakota adoption page.
Adoptive Families:
All families must meet the basic eligibility requirements of their state in order to be able to adopt. Additionally, you may have to meet extra requirements put in place by your adoption professional. Speak to your particular professional if you have any questions or concerns, and view our
South Dakota adoption information to learn more.
County Court Information
Following placement, your adoption will need to be finalized in court. If you are finalizing your adoption in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing your adoption in your
Minnehaha County or in
Lincoln County.
Things to Do in Sioux Falls
When families adopt from outside of their home state, they must remain in the birth mother’s state for 7-10 days to wait for legal clearance. If you are adopting in Sioux Falls from out of state, here are some things you can do during your time in the city:
