Adopting through Arizona’s foster care system is a meaningful way to provide a permanent, loving home to a child who needs one. This process, often called foster-to-adopt, involves working with the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and following specific steps.
Step-by-Step Guide to Foster-to-Adopt in Arizona
Step 1: Orientation and Application
Attend a free information session offered by DCS or a licensed adoption agency. Afterward, submit your application to become a foster/adoptive parent.
Step 2: Training
Complete required training such as:
- Foster Parent College
- PS-MAPP (Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting)
These courses prepare you for parenting children with trauma histories or special needs.
Step 3: Home Study and Licensing
A licensed social worker will evaluate your home, lifestyle, relationships, finances, and readiness to adopt. This includes background checks and safety inspections.
Step 4: Placement
Once approved, you may be matched with a child. In most cases, the child will live with you as a foster child first while parental rights are addressed.
Step 5: Finalization
After the court terminates the biological parents’ rights and a bonding period has passed, you’ll attend a court hearing to legally finalize the adoption.
Why Families Choose Foster-to-Adopt
- There is a critical need for families open to adopting older children or sibling groups
- Most children adopted through DCS are eligible for state subsidies
- It’s a path filled with purpose—but also requires patience, flexibility, and emotional resilience
Modern Law partners with you from the licensing phase through finalization, helping you handle paperwork, court procedures, and agency communications.
