Burlington Adoption & Foster Care Resources

If you live near the Burlington, Vermont area and are considering adoption, you may be overwhelmed by all there is to know about local adoption resources, laws and processes. The following provides information about Burlington adoption agencies, home study providers and other local adoption and foster care resources to help answer your questions.
Our adoption in Vermont page provides additional information about adoption and foster care throughout the state.

Adoption Agencies and Professionals in Burlington

Prospective birth parents and hopeful adoptive families should work closely with an adoption professional throughout the process. This professional will provide education, counseling and the adoption services you need to complete your adoption.
When choosing an adoption agency, some people prefer to work with an adoption professional in their area. The following adoption professionals are based in the Burlington area and have experience completing local adoptions:

• Lund
• Murdoch, Hughes, & Twarog, Attorneys at Law, P.C.

Burlington Foster Care Resources

If you live in Burlington, Vermont, 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 Vermont home study requirements, is included in our state adoption information.
The following local agencies and resources can also provide additional information about becoming a foster parent in Burlington:

• Vermont Adoption Consortium
• Vermont Department for Children and Families

Home Study Providers

The home study is a major milestone in every adoption and foster care process, and home study requirements are determined by the state. In Vermont, 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 Vermont.
When you are ready to begin the home study process, contact any of these legally qualified home study providers in your area:

• Wide Horizons for Children
  800-729-5330
  At WHFC, you can complete a domestic or international home study regardless of where you live in the country.

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

Hospitals near Burlington

If you are a pregnant mother considering adoption, you will eventually need to create a hospital plan. Your adoption specialist and healthcare provider can assist you with this part of your adoption plan. When arranging for your hospital stay, you should consider where and how you want to give birth and who you want to be there with you.
As you think about your hospital trip, you can find more information about hospitals near you:

• University of Vermont Medical Center
  111 Colchester Avenue
  Burlington, Vermont 05401
  802-847-3830

Vermont Adoption Laws and Requirements

Hopeful parents and pregnant women considering adoption often have questions about Burlington adoption laws, qualifications and processes. Adoption laws are determined by the state, and are the same in Burlington as they are anywhere else in Vermont.  Read below for an overview of some of the adoption laws regulating adoption in Burlington.
Birth Parents:
Many birth mothers and fathers have questions about the laws, rules and qualifications for placing a baby for adoption in Burlington. Each state determines when and how birth parents can give consent at the time of an adoption.
Information about adoption consent, relinquishment, paternity and more is available in our Vermont adoption information.
Adoptive Families:
Hopeful adoptive parents in Vermont 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 Vermont is available on our Vermont adoption page.

County Court Information

All adoptions must be finalized in court, a proceeding which occurs around six months after placement. Following a number of post-placement visits, you will be asked to appear in court for the final hearing. At that time, your adoption specialist will provide you with more information.
Find your local court to learn more about court proceedings in your area.

Things to Do in Burlington

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

• The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum
• Fleming Museum
• Mount Mansfield