"finding adoptive homes for children"
The Facts and Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

The Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is responsible for assuring that children who cannot remain with their birth families are placed in safe and nurturing homes.

When DFCS determines that it is not safe for a child to remain in the home of a caregiver, the child is placed in foster care. Foster care is intended to be a temporary home away from home while the agency works with the child’s family to eliminate or minimize the issues that cause the agency to be involved. It is DFCS’ goal to return children safely to their families once the issues that led to the child’s coming into foster care have been resolved.

In some cases, families never resolve the issues and children cannot be returned home.  In these cases, it is the agency’s responsibility to assure permanency for the child. In many cases this means placing the child with an adoptive family.

At any given time in the state of Georgia there are approximately 15,000 children in foster care. Of these 15,000 children, approximately 2,200 have a goal of adoption and many of these children are without an adoptive home.

Who are the children?Most of the children in foster care have endured some form of abuse or neglect. Some may have medical, emotional and/or behavioral needs. Children in foster care come from all racial and ethnic groups. Most are school aged and have brothers or sisters that they need to be placed with. There are also a large number of teenagers.

Most of the children needing adoptive homes are considered "special needs"

SPECIAL NEEDS CRITERIA - EFFECTIVE March 1, 2010

  • A child who has been in the care of a public or private agency or individual other than the legal or biological parent for more than 24 consecutive months.

  • A child with a physical, mental, or emotional disability, as validated by a licensed physician or psychologist.

  • A child who is a member of a sibling group of two or more placed in the same home.