Virginia Beach Adoption & Foster Care Resources

If you live in the Virginia Beach area and are considering adoption, either as a prospective adoptive parent or as a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, you are likely wondering about Virginia adoption laws, resources and processes. Here, find the information you need about Virginia Beach adoption agencies, home study providers and other local adoption and foster care services.

Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals in Virginia Beach

The adoption professional you choose to work with will provide pre- and post-adoption services and help guide you through the adoption process. If you are interested in working with an adoption professional near Virginia Beach, the following local professionals can help you get started:

• Adoptions from the Heart
• Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
• Graceful Adoptions
• Jewish Family Service of Tidewater

Foster Care Professionals in Virginia Beach

Becoming a foster parent can be a rewarding way to help children in need of temporary care. In Virginia, prospective foster parents must complete certain licensing requirements, including an orientation meeting, home study and training. To learn more about the requirements and process to become a foster parent in Virginia Beach, contact a local foster care professional:

• Up Center
• The Barry Robinson Center
• United Methodist Family Services
• First Home Care

For more information about foster care throughout the state, visit our Virginia adoption information page or contact your department of social services.

Home Study Providers in Virginia Beach

Whether you are interested in adopting an infant through a private domestic adoption agency or becoming a foster parent in Virginia Beach, you will need to complete a home study that meets Virginia state requirements. The home study ensures that your home is safe and suitable for raising a child. When you are ready to begin the home study process, contact a Virginia home study provider near you: Near Virginia Beach:

• Adoptions from the Heart 1-888-630-8842 Adoptions from the Heart provides home study services to families seeking private domestic adoption and international adoption.

• Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia 757-456-2366 Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia provides adoption services to birth parents and adoptive families, including home study services.

In Virginia:

• Loving Families 703-370-7140 Adoption Home Studies by Loving Families, Inc., is a small child-placing agency that will work with your placing agency to complete your home study within five to six weeks.

• Cradle of Hope Adoption Center 703-352-4806 Cradle of Hope Adoption Center is a licensed, nonprofit, Hague-accredited adoption agency providing home study, placement and post-placement adoption services to families adopting domestically and internationally.

Hospitals in Virginia Beach

Part of the adoption process for expectant mothers is to create a hospital plan. This plan explains your wishes for your hospital stay when it is time to have the baby. You will have the opportunity to decide who you’d like to see in the delivery room, how much time you will spend with the adoptive family, and more. As you consider your hospital plan, you can find some information about Virginia Beach hospitals below:

• Sentara Princess Anne Hospital 2025 Glenn Mitchell Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23456 757-507-1000

• Sentara Leigh Hospital 830 Kempsville Road Norfolk, VA 23502 757-261-6700

• The DePaul Center for Birth 150 Kinglsey Lane Norfolk, VA 23505 757-889-BABY

• The Midwifery Center at DePaul 100 Kinglsey Lane, Suite 400 Norfolk, VA 23505 757-451-0929

• Mary Immaculate Birthplace 2 Bernardine Dr. Newport News, VA 23602 757-889-BABY

• Maryview Family Birth Center 2626 High Street Portsmouth, VA 23707 757-889-BABY

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

Laws and Qualifications to Adopt in Virginia Beach

Adoptive and birth parents should work closely with an adoption professional to ensure their adoption follows all Virginia laws and requirements. More information about adoption laws, rules and regulations is available on our Virginia adoption information page. Here, find an overview of adoption regulations impacting adoptive and birth parents in Virginia Beach. For Birth Parents It is important for birth parents to be aware of their rights during the adoption process, especially when it comes to consent and relinquishment. If you are making an adoption plan for your baby in Virginia Beach, get the information you need about paternity, consent and more here. For Adoptive Parents To be eligible to adopt in Virginia Beach, you must meet certain qualifications and complete the Virginia home study process. Throughout the adoption process, you must adhere to state laws regulating adoption expenses, adoption finalization, advertising and more. These laws are outlined here. County Courts About six months after placement, your adoption must be finalized in court. You will receive information about the finalization process and your court date from your adoption professional. Find additional information about finalizing an adoption in your county:

• Gloucester County
• Isle of Wight County
• James City County
• Mathews County
• Surry County
• York County

Things to do in Virginia Beach

If you are traveling to Virginia Beach to adopt, there are many ways to spend your time in the area. Whether you are visiting your baby’s birth parents or waiting for ICPC paperwork to be processed, here are some places to visit in Virginia Beach:

• Virginia Beach Boardwalk
• Sandbridge Beach
• Military Aviation Museum
• First Landing State Park
• Neptune’s Park
• Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge