Chattanooga Adoption & Foster Care Resources

If you live in or near Chattanooga and are considering adoption, either as a prospective adoptive parent or as a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, you likely have questions about local adoption resources, laws and processes. Here, find information about Chattanooga adoption agencies, home study providers and other local adoption and foster care services.
For more information about adoption and foster care throughout Tennessee, visit our state adoption information page.

Adoption Professionals and Adoption Agencies in Chattanooga

Whether you are a prospective birth parent or an adoptive family, the professional you choose to work with will guide you through the adoption process and ensure you receive the necessary services and support to complete your adoption in Chattanooga.
If you live in Chattanooga and are interested in working with a local or regional adoption agency, the following adoption professionals can help you complete your adoption in accordance with all Tennessee requirements:

• New Beginnings
• Greater Chattanooga Christian Services

Additional adoption agencies and resources can be found on our Tennessee adoption page.

Foster Care Professionals in Chattanooga

Foster care programs, requirements and processes are determined by the state. In Chattanooga, foster parents must meet the following Tennessee requirements:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Be a resident of Tennessee
• Complete 23 hours of PATH training
• Complete a home study

Some agencies have additional training or requirements for the parents they work with. Contact a local foster care agency for more information about the process to become a foster parent in the Chattanooga area:

• Camelot
• Holston United Methodist Home for Children
• Omni Visions
• Youth Villages
• Partnership for Families, Children and Adults

For more information about foster care throughout Tennessee, visit our Tennessee adoption information page or the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.

Home Study Providers in Chattanooga

Whether you are interested in adopting an infant through a private domestic adoption agency or becoming a foster parent in Chattanooga, you will need to complete a home study that meets Tennessee state requirements.
The home study process in Tennessee includes personal interviews with the prospective parents, a home inspection, criminal history checks and more. The person or agency conducting the home study must be legally qualified to complete the home study process. Here are some trusted home study providers in your state:

• Options 4 Adoption, Inc.
  770-928-1871
  Options 4 Adoption is licensed in the state of Tennessee as a nonprofit child-placing agency that offers home studies for domestic and international adoptions, post-placement supervision and home study updates.
• Adoption Promises
  731-415-7503
  Adoption Promises has served all of Tennessee for over 12 years, offering domestic and international home studies, post-placement supervision and home study updates.
• Adoption Assistance
  859-236-2761
  Adoption Assistance is a Kentucky and Tennessee licensed nonprofit adoption agency providing home studies for domestic and international adoptions, adoption training, post-placement services and home investigations for independent adoptions.
• New Beginnings International Children’s & Family Services
  855-862-4784
  New Beginnings provides quality, professional domestic and international home study services for adoptive parents in Tennessee.

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

Hospitals in Chattanooga

When it is finally time for the baby to arrive, it is up to the prospective birth mother to create a hospital plan for her stay. If you are making an adoption plan for your baby, you will have the opportunity to decide who will be 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 hospitals in Chattanooga that you may be able to work with:

• Parkridge East Hospital
  941 Spring Creek Rd.
  Chattanooga, TN 37412
  423-894-7870
• Erlanger Baroness Hospital
  975 East Third Street
  Chattanooga, TN 37403
  423-778-7000
• Erlanger East Hospital
  1751 Gunbarrel Road
  Chattanooga, TN 37421
  423-778-8700

Laws and Qualifications to Adopt in Chattanooga

Adoption is a legal process, and each state has its own legal requirements for adoptive and birth parents. Detailed information about adoption laws, qualifications and processes in Chattanooga and throughout the rest of the state is available on our Adoption in Tennessee page. Below is an overview of some of the regulations impacting adoptive parents and birth parents in Chattanooga.
For Birth Parents:
Every adoption involves the legal termination of the birth mother’s and father’s parental rights. If you are considering placing your baby for adoption in Chattanooga, get the information you need about birth father rights, executing consent and more here.
For Adoptive Parents:
To be eligible to adopt in Chattanooga, you must meet certain qualifications and complete the Tennessee home study process. Throughout the adoption process, adoptive families must adhere to state laws regulating adoption expenses, adoption finalization, advertising and more. These laws are outlined here.
County Courts
Chattanooga adoptions must be finalized in court. If you are adopting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing your adoption in your county:

• Hamilton County
• Marion County
• Sequatchie County

Things to do in Chattanooga

If you are an adoptive parent and your child is born in or around Chattanooga, you will likely find yourself in the area visiting your baby’s birth parents or waiting for ICPC clearances. If you are looking for ways to spend your time in Chattanooga before returning to your home state, here are some of the top attractions in the area:

• Tennessee Aquarium
• Lookout Mountain
• Walnut Street Bridge
• Creative Discovery Museum
• Raccoon Mountain Caverns