Knoxville Adoption & Foster Care Resources

As a family hoping to grow through adoption or a pregnant woman considering adoption for your baby, you have access to a variety of services and support throughout the adoption process. Here, you will find local resources and adoption information for Knoxville, Tennessee.

Knoxville Adoption Professionals and Adoption Agencies

Prospective birth parents and hopeful adoptive families often choose to work with an adoption professional for guidance throughout the process. This professional will provide education, support and the adoption services you need along the way.
If you would like to work with an adoption professional in your area, consider the following Knoxville adoption professionals:

• Harmony Family Center
• Bethany Christian Services

Additional adoption and foster care professionals and services may be found on our Adoption in Tennessee page.

How to Become a Foster Parent in Knoxville

Prospective foster parents in Knoxville must meet the requirements of the state and their chosen agency. In Tennessee, that means meeting certain age and residency requirements, complete a home study and attending training.
If you are interested in becoming a foster family, contact a local foster care organization:

• Omni Visions, Inc.
• Holston United Methodist Home for Children
• Youth Villages

Additional foster care information is also included in our Tennessee adoption information and through the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.

Home Study Providers in Knoxville

Consisting of personal interviews, background checks, a home evaluation and more, the Tennessee home study is one of the most important steps in achieving your adoption or foster care goals.
Your adoption professional or other home study provider will help you understand the home study process and ensure you are in compliance with all Tennessee laws and requirements. To get started, contact a home study provider 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 Knoxville

If you are an considering adoption as an expectant mother, you will need to consider your hospital plan as your due date approaches. As a prospective birth mother, you can work with your adoption specialist to plan the labor and delivery experience you want to have.
When you are ready to begin creating your hospital plan, here are some Knoxville area hospitals that may be able to assist you:

• Parkwest Medical Center
  9352 Park West Blvd.
  Knoxville, TN 37923
  865-373-1000
• Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
  1901 Clinch Ave.
  Knoxville, TN 37916
  865-541-1111
• University of Tennessee Medical Center
  1924 Alcoa Highway
  Knoxville, TN 37920
  865-305-9300

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Adoptive parents and birth mothers must comply with all Tennessee adoption laws throughout the process. These laws and regulations impact many steps in the adoption process, and it is important to work closely with your adoption professional or adoption attorney to ensure your adoption is being completed legally.
Detailed information about Tennessee adoption laws is available on our Tennessee adoption page. Below, find an overview of the legal processes that impact adoption in Knoxville.
Adoption Laws for Birth Parents
To protect your rights throughout the adoption process, there are several Tennessee laws in place regulating adoption consent, relinquishment, paternity establishment, and more. Find this information, along with other Tennessee adoption laws, here.

Laws for Adoptive Families
As you begin considering adoption in the Knoxville area, you should become familiar with Tennessee adoption requirements.  Tennessee statutes regulate who is eligible to adopt, how much money can be spent on an adoption, how advertising may be used in connection with adoption, and more.  
County Courts
Following the placement of the child, every adoption must be finalized in court. Your adoption professional will work with you to coordinate the finalization process and help you complete your adoption. Find more information about the courts in your county below:

• Anderson County
• Blount County
• Knox County
• Loudon County
• Union County

Things to do in Knoxville

At some point in the adoption process, you may find yourself spending some time in Knoxville, either to visit prospective birth parents or to wait for ICPC clearances before returning home with your new baby. Here are some local sights and activities to enjoy during your stay:

• Tennessee Theatre
• Market Square
• Ijams Nature Center
• East Tennessee History Center
• Knoxville Zoo
• World’s Fair Park