Madison Adoption & Foster Care Resources

If you are a resident of Madison, Wisconsin, and are considering adoption as a prospective adoptive parent or a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, you likely have questions about Wisconsin adoption laws, resources and processes. Here, find information about Madison adoption agencies, home study providers, foster care information and more.

Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals in Madison

The adoption professional you choose to work with will play an important role throughout your adoption journey. Whether you are a prospective birth parent or adoptive family in Madison, your adoption agency or adoption attorney will help guide you through each step of the process and ensure you receive the services and support you need for a successful adoption.
If you prefer to work with a local agency or attorney, consider the following Madison adoption professionals:

• Adoptions of Wisconsin
• Adoption Choice
• Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin

Foster Care Professionals in Madison

Foster care laws and processes are determined by the state. In Madison, foster parents must meet all Wisconsin requirements for foster parents and complete a certified home study before a foster child can be placed in their care.
Some agencies also require prospective foster and adoptive parents to undergo additional training or meet additional requirements. Contact a foster agency in your area for more information about becoming a foster parent in Madison:

• Dane County Department of Human Services
• Family Works Programs, Inc.
• Community Care Resources
• Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Additional information about foster care and foster-to-adopt placements in Wisconsin is available through the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

Home Study Providers in Madison

Whether you choose to pursue domestic infant adoption or foster care in Madison, you will be required to complete the Wisconsin home study. Information about the home study process and home study requirements in Wisconsin is available here.
It is important to work with a legally qualified home study provider. To get started on your adoption or foster care home study, contact one of these area home study professionals:

• Adoption Choice
  800-255-6305
  Adoption Choice Inc. is a Wisconsin licensed nonprofit child placing agency with offices in Green Bay, Milwaukee and Madison. The agency provides services for international, domestic, independent, out-of-state, relative and stepparent adoptions.
• Adoptions of Wisconsin
  608-821-8220
  Adoptions of Wisconsin, Inc. (AOW) is a full-service licensed adoption agency providing services for interstate, independent, stepparent, relative and LGBT adoptions, as well as home studies for embryo adoption.

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

Hospitals in Madison

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 the labor and delivery process, including who will be in the delivery room with you, who gets to hold the baby first, how much time you spend with the adoptive family, and more.
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 local maternity hospitals in Madison:

• Mary’s Hospital
  700 S. Park Street
  Madison, WI 53715
  608-251-6100
• UnityPoint Health – Meriter
  202 S. Park Street
  Madison, WI 53715
  608-417-6228

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Adoption is an emotional and social journey, but it is also a legal process regulated by state laws. Below, find an overview of the types of laws impacting birth parents and adoptive families in Madison, and learn more about state adoption laws, qualifications and processes on our Adoption in Wisconsin page.
Laws for Birth Parents:
Every adoption involves the legal termination of the birth mother’s and father’s parental rights. If you are considering placing your baby for adoption in Madison, get the information you need about birth father rights, executing consent and more on our Wisconsin adoption page.
Laws for Adoptive Parents:
Throughout the adoption process, Madison families must adhere to Wisconsin laws regulating adoption expenses, adoption finalization, advertising and more. These laws are outlined on our How to Adopt in Wisconsin page.
County Courts
Every adoption must be finalized in court. If you are adopting in the Madison area, find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing adoption in your county below.

• Dane County
• Iowa County
• Green County
• Columbia County

Things to do in Madison

If you are a prospective adoptive parent and your child is born in or around Madison, you will likely find yourself spending some time in Wisconsin as you visit prospective birth parents or as you wait for your ICPC paperwork to be processed. If you are looking for ways to spend your time in Madison before returning home, here are some top attractions in the area:

• Olbrich Botanical Gardens
• Wisconsin State Capitol
• Madison Farmer’s Market
• Henry Vilas Zoo
• State Street