If a child is waiting for an adoptive family, they are not A-OK. Let’s face it… Countless children in our very own country are in foster homes, group homes, hospitals and institutions. Every year, thousands of children age-out of the system, simply because they were never adopted. This is not OK.

 

Adoption STAR created the A-OK program to identify families for children waiting in U.S. foster care. Adoption STAR does not create foster homes for children, but certifies families to adopt children from foster care. Adoption STAR creates matches between waiting children and families. Adoption STAR prepares families for the match, works with them through the entire journey pre-placement, placement, post-placement and post adoption.

 

Adoption STAR believes that every child needs and deserves a forever family and that there is a forever family for every child. Permanency planning is our number one goal for children in foster care.

Adoption STAR can help you adopt a child who is currently in foster care in New York, Ohio, Florida or other states. These children range in age from toddlers to 21 years old, with most of the children in need of adoption from age 9 to 20. The children we advocate for are legally available for adoption. Many have siblings and they hope to join a family together.

 

Some children have developmental delays, physical or emotional challenges. Many of these children have experienced neglect and abuse in their past.

Even though there are more children in foster care than there are adoptive parent applicants, families describe long wait times, cite experiences with no referrals or situations where children were removed from their home because they were not actually freed for adoption. The system is sadly broken. Adoption STAR has created a program that works with you every step of the journey.

 

Additionally,

 

• Adoption STAR can help you adopt a child who is already legally freed for adoption and waiting for their forever family without having to go through the hassle of a county or a public agency.
• Adoption STAR places older children legally available for adoption – you do not need to take the risk of first being a child’s foster family and risk having to say goodbye to that child.
• Adoption STAR does not have a waiting list to begin the educational and home study process.
• Adoption STAR does not believe in waiting lists for older child or infant adoption.
• The Adoption STAR A-OK program provides you a family advocate who works to identify a child or children for you.
• Adoption STAR does not have a high turn around of staff. Very sadly the average time a social worker works in the county foster care field is 6 months. A child in care may have experienced a revolving door of social workers and foster families.
• Adoption STAR doesn’t give up. We are passionate and committed and work tirelessly to make matches between children and families.
• Since 2000, Adoption STAR has placed hundreds of children in permanent families. Adoption STAR’s founder and CEO has been in the adoption field advocating on behalf of children since 1988.

Yes, most states have a requirement that children of a certain age give their consent to be adopted. The age varies by state. Fourteen is the most common consent age, but some states require kids as young as ten years old to provide consent to adoption.

Yes, in many states you are able to do this. We never outgrow the need for family. Being adopted at 18 or older provides someone an immediate family and extended family.

If you reside within New York, Florida and Ohio, we can work with you to welcome an older child or children who are already legally available for adoption into your family. Nationwide, there are many children waiting to be adopted. We will help you find the right child, or children, for your family.

 

If you reside outside of these states, we will consider you on a case-by-case basis.

Both couples and singles are welcome to adopt from Adoption STAR.

 

We welcome LGBTQIA+ families!

 

We love working with families who are flexible and realistic about the needs of children in foster care. You must be resilient, committed, and it is an extra bonus to have a sense of humor. You need to understand that love is not enough. You do not need to have a lot of money or own your home, but you do need to be resourceful and be committed to obtaining outside help, resources, and participating in post adoption support.

 

We want families who believe, along with us, that no child of any age is unadoptable.

 

We want families who believe, along with us, that every person has the right to a forever family and unconditional love and support.

 

We want families who believe, along with us, that it is never too late for a family.