Nashville Adoption & Foster Care Resources

Whether you are interested in adopting a child or placing a baby for adoption in the Nashville area, there are many local resources available to you. This guide provides information about Nashville adoption agencies, home study professionals and other adoption and foster care services in the area.
Additional resources for expectant mothers and adoptive parents throughout the state can be found on our Tennessee adoption page.

Nashville Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals

When you are ready to begin the adoption process, you will likely need to work with an adoption professional to receive the services and support you need to complete the adoption.
Some adoptive families and birth parents prefer to work with a local or regional adoption agency. The following adoption agencies have locations in Nashville and can ensure that you meet all Tennessee requirements as you move through the adoption process:

• Miriam’s Promise
• Agape Nashville
• Catholic Charities of Tennessee
• Small World Adoption Agency

Become a Foster Parent in Nashville

If you live in Nashville, Tennessee, and are interested in fostering a child, you will need to meet certain state requirements for foster parents and complete the home study process. Information about foster parent eligibility, as well as Tennessee home study requirements, is included in our state adoption information.
For more information about foster care and foster-to-adopt placements in Nashville and throughout the rest of the state, visit the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
The following local agencies and resources can also provide additional information about becoming a foster parent in Nashville:

• Omni Visions, Inc.
• Camelot

Completing the Home Study in Nashville

The home study is a major milestone in every adoption and foster care process, and home study requirements are determined by the state. In Tennessee, the process includes at least one visit to the home and interviews with all members of the household. For more information about what to expect during the home study, visit our guide to Adoption in Tennessee.
When you are ready to begin the home study process, contact any of these legally qualified home study providers in your area:
Near Nashville:  

• 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.

In Tennessee:  

• 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.

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

Hospitals in Nashville

If you choose adoption for your baby, it will be up to you to plan your hospital stay. Your hospital plan will include your preferences for who is in the delivery room with you, how much you will interact with your baby and the adoptive family, and more.
The delivery hospital will be aware of your hospital plan ahead of time to ensure a smooth labor and delivery process. When you are ready to make your hospital plan, here are some local Nashville hospitals you may be working with:

• Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital
  2000 Church Street
  Nashville, TN 37236
  615-284-2229
• Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital
  1700 Medical Center Parkway
  Murfreesboro, TN 37129
  615-396-4502
• TriStar Centennial Women’s Hospital
  2221 Murphy Ave.
  Nashville, TN 37203
  615-342-1000
• Vanderbilt Center for Women’s Health
  719 Thompson Lane, Suite 27100
  Nashville, TN 37204
  615-343-5700

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Hopeful parents and pregnant women considering adoption often have questions about Nashville adoption laws, qualifications and processes. Adoption laws are determined by the state, and are the same in Nashville as in Memphis, Knoxville and anywhere else in Tennessee.  Read below for an overview of some of the adoption laws regulating adoption in Nashville.
For Birth Parents
Many birth mothers and fathers have questions about the laws, rules and qualifications for placing a baby for adoption in Nashville. Information about adoption consent, relinquishment, paternity and more is available here.

For Adoptive Families
Hopeful adoptive parents in Tennessee must meet certain age and residency requirements and follow all laws regulating adoption expenses, finalization, the use of advertising, and more. An outline of laws and regulations for adoptive families in Tennessee is available on our Tennessee adoption page.
County Courts
Following placement, your adoption will need to be finalized in court. If you are finalizing your adoption in Nashville, Tennessee, find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing your adoption in your county:

• Cannon County
• Cheatham County
• Davidson County
• Dickson County
• Hickman County
• Macon County
• Maury County
• Robertson County
• Rutherford County
• Smith County
• Sumner County
• Trousdale County
• Williamson County
• Wilson County

Things to do in Nashville

Many parents who adopt from Tennessee end up spending some time in Nashville, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for their ICPC paperwork to be processed. If your adoption plan brings you to the Nashville area, consider visiting:

• Ryman Auditorium
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
• The Johnny Cash Museum
• Belle Meade Plantation