Spokane Adoption & Foster Care Resources

For adopting families and expecting mothers alike, adoption can be a long process that requires a great deal of education, preparation, and professional guidance. If you are in the Spokane area and wondering how to begin the adoption process, the following collection of resources will help you with everything you need.

Spokane Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals

The first step in an adoption is choosing an adoption professional. Many people reach out to an adoption agency because they are full-service professionals, so they provide everything you need for your adoption. Whether you choose to work with an agency, it is important to know that you must have a social worker to complete your home study and an attorney to legally complete your adoption.
Below, you can find a list of Spokane adoption agencies and other professionals:

• Adoption Services of Spokane
• Antioch Adoptions
• Mark Iverson, PS Adoption Services
• Lutheran Community Services

Foster Care Professionals in Spokane

Families looking to adopt older children in their area should consider foster care. In order to be foster parents in the state of Washington, hopeful parents must meet these requirements:

• Be 21 years of age or older
• Be financially stable
• Complete all necessary training and licensing orientation

To begin the foster care process or to learn more about foster care in your area, follow the links below for information on your local professionals:

• Foster Parent Association of Eastern Washington
• Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Home Study Providers

During a home study, a state-licensed social worker will conduct a background check, a home inspection, and a series of interviews to ensure that your home is safe for a child. This is one of the most important steps of the adoption process, as it signifies that you are officially ready to adopt.
To get started on your home study or learn more, contact one of the home study providers listed below:
Near Spokane:

• Cindi Fuller, MSW
  509-328-6274
  An independent provider who works with Spokane-based Adoption Services of Spokane, Cindi Fuller is licensed to complete home studies for domestic, international, relative, and stepparent adoptions.

In Washington:

• Your Adoptive Family
  206-408-7219
  This licensed, nonprofit agency will provide all of the pre- and post-placement assessments you need for your adoption.
• Faith International Adoptions
  253-383-1928
  As a Hague-accredited agency, Faith International Adoptions is qualified to provide both international and domestic home studies for families.

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

Hospitals in Spokane

As the due date for the baby approaches, mothers pursuing adoption should begin planning their hospital and labor experience. By working with your adoption specialist and healthcare provider, you can be sure to have a positive hospital stay. When making a hospital plan, consider where you would like to give birth, who you want there with you, and how much you would like to see your baby.
For more information, you can contact one of the following hospitals or maternity centers in your area:

• Providence Holy Family Hospital
  5633 North Lidgerwood Street
  Spokane, WA 99208
  509-482-0111
• Rockwood Midwifery Center
  910 West Fifth Avenue, Suite: 300
  Spokane, WA  99204
  509-755-5205
• Valley Hospital
  12606 East Mission Avenue
  Spokane Valley, WA 99216
  509-924-6650

Washington Laws and Requirements to Adopt

Everyone involved in the adoption process should take care to understand the legal aspects of the process, as well as their individual rights. To learn the details of the laws and regulations of your state, visit our How to Adopt in Washington page.
For information on consent laws for birth parents and eligibility requirements for adoptive families, see the sections below.
Birth Parents:
You should become familiar with your state’s consent laws so that you understand your rights as a birth parent in the adoption process. In Washington, you may consent to an adoption before the birth of the child, but it cannot be presented to a court until at least 48 hours after the child is born.
The father’s parental rights must also be terminated. In some cases, his explicit consent is not needed to move forward with your adoption plan. If you believe this applies to you, or you are concerned about gaining the father’s consent for any reason, speak to your adoption specialist or attorney about your options.
Adoptive Families:
Washington adoption eligibility laws state that anyone who is over 18 and “legally competent” can adopt a child, so as long as you complete a home study, you can legally adopt in Washington. Your adoption professional may have different or additional requirements, so be sure to take this into consideration when choosing an agency or other professional.

County Court Information

If you adopt a child, you will eventually have to finalize your adoption in court. This usually takes place about six months after you take your baby home. When the time comes for you to appear in court, your adoption professional will give you more information. To learn about court proceedings in your area, you can view the Spokane County court’s adoption information.
Things to Do in Spokane
If you adopt in Spokane but you live out-of-state, you should plan stay in Washington for 7-10 business days when you travel there for your adoption. This allows time for legal clearances to go through so you can take your baby home. In the meantime, you can visit some of the following Spokane locations:

• Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
• Manito Park
• Spokane State Park
• Riverfront Park
• Cat Tales Zoological Park