ADOPTION FAQs

What will I learn about the child's history?

The county is required to provide adoptive parents with all the information they have about the child. This includes the child's health and education history, the child's placement and behavioral history, the reason for removal from the family, and may include relevant parental health history if known.

Will the birth parents know who I am or where I live?

Many of our adoptive families enjoy by mutual consent, positive relationships with birth parents or relatives, former foster parents or other people important to the child. We encourage families to be as open as possible in recognizing the importance of these connections.

Will the child have any contact with the birth parents or family?

Some children may continue to visit until the court terminates the parents' rights. After that, children have a "good-bye" visit with the parents. After the child's adoption is finalized, it is up to you to decide with whom the child has contact, how often, etc. The amount of contact that is best for a child depends on many factors, such as age, quality of prior relationships with parents, siblings, extended family and other caregivers.

Will the birth parents ever be able to get the child back?

When the court has finalized the adoption, the birth parents no longer have any claim to the child and cannot petition to be reunified. Some parents do appeal the decision to terminate their rights, and this appeal can delay the adoption. About 99% of these appeals are decided in the favor of terminating the rights. After the adoption is finalized, you have all the same rights as if the child were born to you.

What is the adoption costs?

The California Department of Justice requires a fee for fingerprinting and Child Abuse Index clearances. TLC covers these costs for foster parents. TLC requests a $500 fee from adoptive families, which can be reduced or waived for financial reasons. Expenses incurred during the application process-adoption fee, fingerprinting, medical exam, etc.-are reimbursable up to $400 per adopted child.

Adoptive parents are also eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $10,960 (with some income limits), even without qualifying expenses. TLC provides a monthly payment of $845 for all ages until the age of 18. Medical and dental expenses are covered by Medi-Cal. Each child obtains therapy as needed and there are scholarships available for special activities.