Adoption
Anoka County facilitates adoptions for children whose parents’ rights were terminated in Anoka County and who are currently in the foster care system. Children of all ages and backgrounds, including teens and sibling groups, are in need of a permanent home with caring adults. Our goal is to ensure that all Anoka County Children whose parents’ rights were terminated are placed in a permanent adoptive home in a timely manner.
If you would like to provide Anoka County children with a place in your heart and home, this is the place to start.
Anoka County residents interested in adopting through our county are encouraged to apply to become a child foster care licensed home. All of Anoka adoptive placements begin with the foster care process. The first step to Adopting through Anoka County is to watch the Anoka County Child Foster Care Welcome to Foster Care Video and the Foster Care Orientation. If you are still interested in Adoption via Foster Care, please complete the Online Foster Care form. https://www.anokacountymn.gov/3204/Child-Foster-Care
If you decide to pursue becoming a licensed foster care home, you will be assigned to a Foster Care Social Worker who will work with you to become licensed as a foster care provider and you will be able to connect with an Adoption Social Worker who will give you more information about the Adoption Process.
Once you connect to an Adoption Social Worker, you will learn more about children in foster care in Anoka County, Minnesota Waiting Children’s Program (Mn State Adoption Exchange) and the Reel Hope Project (a video project for youth experiencing foster care and awaiting a forever family).
To adopt a child or to become a licensed foster care provider in Minnesota, a home study is required. Home studies can be performed by the county or by private adoption agencies.
In an adoption home study, prospective families begin the process of being considered for adoption. It includes being fingerprinted, having a background check and participating in an extensive interview process as well as ongoing training on parenting children who have experienced trauma.
Anoka County only completes adoption home studies for adults who are interested in adopting children in foster care in Minnesota who are state wards. If a child is a state ward this means the parents' right for these children have been terminated and these children are now available for adoption. These children may have the following characteristics:
Children with significant special needs due to emotional, behavioral, developmental or medical/physical conditions such as experiencing significant emotional or physical neglect
Anoka County only completes adoption home studies for adults who are interested in adopting children in foster care in Minnesota who are state wards. If a child is a state ward this means the parents' right for these children have been terminated and these children are now available for adoption. These children may have the following characteristics:
- Children with significant special needs due to emotional, behavioral, developmental or medical/physical conditions such as experiencing significant emotional or physical neglect and/or abuse, traumatic situations, chronic exposure to adults dealing with addiction or untreated mental health conditions, and experiencing high mobility in their living situations.
- Sibling groups of two or more children where one child meets one or more of the conditions described above.
- Children with a high risk of developing special needs due to traumatic past experiences and/or birth family histories.
- Children with significant special needs due to emotional, behavioral, developmental or medical/physical conditions such as experiencing significant emotional or physical neglect and/or abuse, traumatic situations, chronic exposure to adults dealing with addiction or untreated mental health conditions, and experiencing high mobility in their living situations.
- Sibling groups of two or more children where one child meets one or more of the conditions described above.
- Children with a high risk of developing special needs due to traumatic past experiences and/or birth family histories.
The Public/Private Initiative is a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Human Services, County social service agencies, and private adoption agencies committed to identifying adoptive families for children under state guardianship. Recruitment tools such as the Minnesota’s Waiting Children’s Book, Thursday's Child, and child specific recruitment efforts are used to locate possible adoptive homes for state wards.
Anoka County also offers post-adoption services to adults who have been placed through Anoka County Children and Family Services or birth parents who have made adoption plans through our county. Post-adoption services include searching for birth family members and sharing information about the adoption.
We assist adoptees and birth parents who are seeking information about their adoption. Often this entails going to the www.fosteradoptmn.org website to seek assistance from their post permanency services. Foster Adopt MN can be reached at 612-861-7115.
If you want to adopt outside of the above target populations, please contact a private adoption agency. For a complete list of private adoption agencies in Minnesota, please go to the www.fosteradoptmn.org website.
We assist families who are trying to complete a step-parent adoption by directing them to the www.MNCOURTS.GOV website to find the needed forms and instructions. The adoption parent needs to complete a background clearance which we assist with. Please contact 763-324-1654 to request the background clearance application.