Resources for Foster and Adoptive Families

There is no shortage of choices for those who want to expand their families by adopting or taking in a foster child. Groups in the Bay Area facilitate both domestic and international adoptions with most open to adoptions by traditional and nontraditional families.
Adoption Agencies
San Francisco
Adoption Connection – Jewish Family and Children’s Services runs this organization, which serves families across the country. Provides home study services, counseling, birth mother outreach and more. 1710 Scott St. 415-851-4636.
Adopt International – This nonprofit facilitates domestic and international adoption for traditional and non-traditional families. Provides home study services and instruction in issues that provide for the healthy adjustment of children and parents. 1000 Brannan St. #301. 415-934-0300.
East Bay
Across the World Adoptions – This group creates nurturing families through inter-country adoptions. 399 Taylor Blvd. #102, Pleasant Hill. 925-356-6260.
Adopt-Now– Nancy Hurwitz Kors has helped hundreds of adoptive parents build their families over the last 30 years. 1250-I Newell Ave. #245, Walnut Creek. 925-938-6600.
Bethany Christian Services – The San Francisco Bay Area office coordinates infant adoptions and provides pregnancy support. 11501 Dublin Blvd., Dublin. 650-937-9193.
Heartsent Adoptions – This is a nonprofit domestic and international adoption agency that provides support, education and kindness to adoptive parents and children. 93 Moraga Way #100, Orinda. 925-254-8883.
Pact, An Adoption Alliance – This nonprofit serves adopted children of color through adoption placement, education and support. 5515 Doyle St., Emeryville. 510-243-9460.
Sweet Beginnings Adoptions – This group connects families who want to adopt with expectant mothers who are interested in an adoption plan. The organization provides home study referrals, profile design referrals, networking with agencies and attorneys, medical and social background assessment and ongoing support after placement. Concord. 925-408-7699.
Silicon Valley and South Bay
Bay Area Adoption Services – This group finds and supports able and loving families for orphaned or abandoned children worldwide. Provides home study services, education and preparedness workshops and screening and counseling for expectant mothers. 465 Fairchild Drive #215, Mountain View. 650-964-3800.
The Family Network – This organization handles domestic, international and embryo adoption services. Provides home studies, relinquishment of parental rights, interstate compact agreements, coordination with immigration and more. 2959 Park Ave. #D, Soquel. 831-462-8954.
Adoption and Foster Care Facilitators
San Francisco
City and County of San Francisco Human Services Agency – Screens and trains for resource families who provide temporary or permanent homes for children. Individuals, couples, all sexual orientations, homeowners, renters accepted.  415-558-2200.
Marin County and North Bay
Marin County Children and Family Services: Foster Our Future – Screens and trains resource families for temporary or permanent placement of children. Individuals, couples, all sexual orientations, homeowners, renters accepted.  415-473-2200.
TLC Child and Family Services – Screens and trains resource families for temporary or permanent placement of children. Single adults, couples, empty-nesters, renters, homeowners, self-employed, retirees, LGBTQ welcome. Options are available to offer temporary and permanent care for children. 1800 N. Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol. 707-823-7300.
East Bay
A Better Way – Founded in 1996 as a foster family program, this group now provides foster and adoption services, training, parent advocacy and behavioral health services. 3200 Adeline St., Berkeley. 510-601-0203.
Alternative Family Services – This organization facilitates foster care, adoptions, mental health services and services for youth aging out of foster care. 401 Roland Way #100, Oakland. 510-839-3800.
Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services – Screens and trains for resource families who provide temporary or permanent homes for children. Individuals, couples, all sexual orientations, homeowners, renters accepted. 866-313-7788.
Families for Children – This licensed adoption and foster care agency finds permanent families for thousands of kids in foster care and provides short-term homes for children temporarily removed from their biological parents. Provides home studies, support groups, concurrent planning and matching, parent training, 24-hour emergency support and post adoptive support. This group is welcoming to lesbian, gay, transgender, queer or questioning families. 490 Chadbourne Road, #G, Fairfield. 707-435-0166. 255 Ygnacio Valley Road #100, Walnut Creek. 925-210-1130.
Family Builders – This group finds permanent loving families for children in the foster system. This group welcomes traditional families, single parents – both men and women, gay, bisexual and transgender families and multiracial families. 1900 Embarcadero #303, Oakland. 510-536-5437.
Pathway to a Home – The Alameda County Social Service Agencies finds loving families to foster or adopt children. Provides classes and information and works with lesbian, gay, transgender, queer and questioning families. 510-259-3575.
Peninsula
Aspiranet – Screens and trains families to provide temporary or permanent homes for children. Other services include programs include behavioral health services and assistance for kids aging out of foster care. 400 Oyster Point Blvd. #501, South San Francisco.
San Mateo County Human Services – Screens and trains for resource families who provide temporary or permanent homes for children. Individuals, couples, all sexual orientations, homeowners, renters accepted. One Davis Drive, Belmont. 650-802-7637.
Silicon Valley
Bill Wilson Center – Screens and trains families for foster care or adoptions. 3490 The Alameda, Santa Clara. 408-243-0222. 
Kinship Center – Adoption from foster care, infant adoptions, conversions, independent adoption services and birth parents. 481 N. First St., San Jose. 408-554-2550.
Rebekah Children’s Services – This nonprofit started a foster care program in 1987 and added adoptions in 2002. Its program is designed to serve children and adoptive and foster families. Offers consultations with staff, 24-hour telephone support, financial assistance for care of the child, information and support for long-term adoptive child benefits. 1600 W. Campbell Ave. #201. 408-871-4900.
Santa Clara County Social Services – Screens and trains resource families who provide temporary or permanent homes for children. Individuals, couples, all sexual orientations, homeowners, renters accepted. 333 W. Julian St., San Jose. 408-755-7100.
Uplift Family Services – Screens and trains resource families who provide temporary or permanent homes for children. Also provides programs in addiction prevention, family preservation, therapeutic services, mental health and much more.  251 Llewellyn Ave., Campbell 408-379-3790.
Adoption Consulting and Counseling
San Francisco
Devon Rubin – This licensed clinical social worker assists individuals and couples considering adoption. She can provide guidance in determining if this is the right plan, what type of adoption is best and provide preparation for a home study. She also provides parent coaching and counseling for adopted parents and teens. 801 Portola Drive #202. 415-423-4864.
Nina Anderson – This licensed clinical social worker offers counseling, education and consulting services to those working to forming a family. She specializes in adoption, infertility, reproductive technology and surrogacy. 801 Portola Drive. #203. 415-871-7902.
East Bay
Family Attachment and Adoption Center – This is a consortium of therapists providing services to children, adolescents, families and individuals with attachment difficulties and adoption issues. Oakmore Professional Building, 1425 Leimert Blvd. #302-A, Oakland.
Adoption Lawyers
San Francisco
Adams, Romer, Stoeckenius & Wotherspoon – This firm has helped families adopt for more than 70 years. Provides assessment of adoption risks and rewards and concerns for husband-and-wife couples, same sex couples, single women and men. 201 Spear St. #1100 (by appointment only). 415-643-4523.
Gyemant Paris Law – This firm advises both adoptive parents and birth parents and helps all families, including heterosexual, same-sex couples and single parents. The firm also works with sperm donor and egg donor arrangements, embryo donation and third-party parent agreements and advises couples entering the IVF process. 1330 Castro St. 415-513-5502.
East Bay
Family Formation Law Office – This team has extensive experience in adoption and surrogacy both professionally and personally. 3685 Mt. Diablo Blvd. #203, Lafayette. 925-945-1880. .
Adoption Financial Aid
Gift of Adoption Fund – This charity provides financial assistance for adoptions. 877-905-2367.
Adoption Support
San Francisco
Parents Place Post-Adoptive Support Group – Jewish Family and Children’s Services runs this program, which connects adoptive parents and leads them in exploring how adoption is affecting their families. The group is professionally facilitated with opportunities for education and guidance. Each month highlights a different topic such as birth parents, trauma-informed parenting and signs of grief and loss. Typically meets the second Thursday of the month. 6:30-8:30pm. 1710 Scott St. 415-359-2498.
Silicon Valley
FAIR – Families Adopting in Response is an all-volunteer organization that offers information, education, support and fellowship to adoptive and pre-adoptive families. Palo Alto.
Foster Care Support
All Regions
California State Foster Parent Association – Established in 1972 in San Francisco, this group advocates for foster families.
Marin
Marin Foster Care Association – This organization brings together resource families, agency personnel and community members to support foster youth. Offers training and advocacy. 4280 Redwood Highway #1B, San Rafael. 415-507-0557.
Silicon Valley
Unity Care – This group addresses the housing needs of foster youth and beyond and helps train young people to pursue professions in which minorities are chronically underrepresented. 1400 Parkmoor Ave. #115, San Jose. 408-971-9822.
Websites
Adoptivefamiliesmagazine.com. Nation’s leading adoption magazine provides independent, practical information on adopting and raising healthy, happy children.
Adoptuskids.org. The only national, federally funded photo listing service for children in foster care waiting for permanent families.
Childwelfare.gov. Resources on all aspects of domestic and inter-country adoption, including adoption from foster care.
Rainbowkids.com. International Adoption Publication. Run by an adoptive parent, this site features photo listings of waiting children, listings of agencies and articles on adoption. One of the top sites for international adoption information.