Waiting Children
Meet a group of kids who are waiting for a forever home.
See our Waiting Children’s List for March 2025 here
“She was the perfect fit, and I love her so much,” shared a pre-adoptive parent after being matched with 16-year-old Lizzy, one of the many children on our Waiting Children List.
Right now, across Pennsylvania, nearly 14,000 children are in out-of-home placements, and more than 1,700 are waiting for their forever families. These kids aren’t just numbers—they’re bright, unique individuals hoping for a family to call their own. You can make a life-changing difference by opening your heart and home to a waiting child. Every child deserves a loving, stable place to grow, thrive, and feel truly at home. Will you be the answer they’re waiting for?
what does waiting children mean?
Many children in the foster care system are unable to reunite with their biological families—through no fault of their own. When that happens, they need to find a permanent home elsewhere.
At Bair, we believe every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent family. That’s why we work tirelessly to match youth and sibling groups with adoptive families who can provide them with the stability and care they need. Our team is dedicated to finding the best possible fit for each child, ensuring they have a place to call home.
how does matching service work?
The first and most important step is to become a certified foster parent. Consider becoming an approved foster family through The Bair Foundation; however, you do not need to be certified with The Bair Foundation to be considered as a potential placement for children with whom we provide matching services.
Once certified, you can be considered a potential placement for a youth in need and will have a point of contact at your organization who will work with you throughout the matching process.
When matching with a child, you will have the opportunity to learn information about the child’s history and needs to best determine if your family’s strengths and skills align well with the child’s. The child’s team of professionals will also review your family’s information. This exchange of information is all done prior to placement to ensure that the best fit is made for a successful and stable placement.
Prior to placement, it is customary for the selected family and the youth to engage in visitation with each other. This will help you both feel comfortable with each other and aid in a smooth transition into the home.
This process can vary depending upon the potential of specific procedures in either you or the child’s region; however, this is a general understanding of what the matching process typically entails.
i’m not from pa, can i adopt a waiting child?
The Bair Foundation has six offices throughout Pennsylvania. Through our adoption license in Pennsylvania, we provide services through the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
As an affiliate agency of the SWAN network, we are contracted by PA County Children and Youth agencies to provide these matching services for youth in need. Although the children on this list are from Pennsylvania, many times both they and their county of custody agency are in agreement with having the child placed outside of Pennsylvania, if the best fit match resides in another state.
waiting children’s list
Below, you’ll find a link to the latest version of our Waiting Children’s List. We encourage you to review the list to learn about these amazing kids in need of a loving, permanent home.
Every child has a Bair matching worker listed who is dedicated to speaking with families that want to learn more about youth. They assist with the matching process, from the initial inquiry to placement in your home. Whether you’re already certified or thinking about getting certified, please review our list and reach out. There is no better time to start than now!
To learn more general information about the foster-to-adopt process, please e-mail info@bair.org or call 1-800-543-7058.
Waiting Children’s List | March 2025
See our Waiting Families here: Waiting Families List | February 2025
Of the 23,000 children who age out of foster care each year, 20 percent become homeless.
Join us in our mission to help children in need before it’s too late.
Become a Foster parent