Charleston Adoption - Agencies, Foster Care, Home Study Info

Sunrise with the State Capitol Charleston, West Virginia
If you live in Charleston, West Virginia, and are considering adoption, either as a prospective adoptive parent or as a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, you likely have questions about local adoption resources, state laws and processes.
Here, find information about Charleston adoption agencies, area home study providers, and more.

Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals in Charleston

As a prospective birth parent or adoptive family, the professional you work with will play an important role throughout the adoption process, providing adoption services and support to ensure a successful adoption. If you prefer to work with a local or regional adoption professional, consider these nearby adoption agencies:

Foster Care Professionals in Charleston

Foster care is a state program, and the requirements and process to become a foster parent are regulated by West Virginia laws. In Charleston, prospective foster parents must be at least 21 years old, complete a home study, training course and more.
You can learn more about foster care and foster-to-adopt placements through our state adoption page or by following the links below:

Additional foster care information is available through the Bureau for Children and Families.

Home Study Providers in Charleston

Whether you choose to pursue a private infant adoption or foster care in Charleston, you will be required to complete the West Virginia home study process.
Every home study completed in West Virginia must be completed by a legally qualified home study provider. To get started on your adoption or foster care home study, contact one of these nearby professionals:

Opt to Adopt, LLC
304-657-3304
Brenda Pizatella, ACSW is the founder of Opt to Adopt and provides services for international and domestic adoptions in the form of consultations, home study preparation and pre- and post-placement reports.
Children’s Home Society of West Virginia
304-345-3894
As a licensed child-placing agency in West Virginia, the Children’s Home Society provides assessment services including orientation and training and a complete home study.

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

Hospitals in Charleston

As her due date approaches, it is up to the expectant mother to create a hospital plan for her stay. If you are pregnant and considering adoption for your baby, you will have the opportunity to make many decisions about your labor and delivery process.
When you are ready to start making your hospital plan, your adoption agency will communicate with your delivery hospital to ensure everything goes according to your wishes. As you consider your hospital plan, learn more about some hospitals in the Charleston area:

CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital
800 Pennsylvania Ave.
Charleston, WV 25302
304-388-5432
Thomas Memorial Hospital
4605 Maccorkle Ave. SW
South Charleston, WV 25309
304-766-3600

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Adoption is a legal process regulated by state laws. Below, find an overview of the statutes impacting adoptive parents and birth parents in Charleston, and learn more about state adoption laws, qualifications and processes on our Adoption in West Virginia page.
Laws for Birth Parents:
In every adoption, one of the most important legal processes for prospective birth parents to understand is consent and relinquishment. If you are considering placing your baby for adoption in Charleston, read our West Virginia adoption information to find everything you need to know about your rights, establishing paternity, executing consent and more.
Laws for Adoptive Parents:
There are many laws and regulations that adoptive parents should be aware of throughout the adoption process. Read more about West Virginia adoption laws regarding adoption expenses, adoption finalization, advertising and more here.

County Courts

Every adoption must be finalized in court. If you are adopting in the Charleston area, find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing adoption in your county below:

Things to do in Charleston

As adoptive parents, you may find yourself in the Charleston area to visit your baby’s birth parents or to bring your new baby home. Be sure to enjoy all that Charleston has to offer during your stay:

Charleston Adoption and Foster Care Resources