Requirements - The Bair Foundation

There is no age limit; an adoptive or foster parent must be at least 21 years old.
Couples or single women and men, with our without children, may apply for adoption. (Both parents must apply and both must complete all procedures and paperwork in order to be placed with a child.)
Applicants are required to have a stable income sufficient to meet existing family needs.
Applicants may own or rent their residence.
Persons who are active with the protective services unit of a child welfare agency are NOT eligible to adopt or foster.
Applicants must be in reasonable good health.
A physician must complete an agency health form and TB test for all individuals 18 years or older living in the applicants household.
No parent or any member of the family household may have been convicted of any offense related to child abuse or other violent assaultive behavior. A police clearance, child abuse registry clearance and FBI Clearance of all applicants and household members age 14 and over is required by Pennsylvania state law.

Become a Foster or Foster-to-Adopt Parent

Request your information packet about foster care and foster-to-adopt

Attend a foster to adopt parent informational meeting and pre-service training.
Complete the application process
Home study is scheduled and completed
Once certification is complete, you will begin the process of being matched with a child or sibling group.
You will then learn about the child or children for whom you are being considered.
Meet the child and begin visits. The child will transition to your home for a minimum of 6 months prior to adoption.
To finalize your adoption, you will go to Family Court and legally adopt the child or children. You will have full parental rights and responsibilities as if the child were yours by birth.