Requirements include residency in San Diego County, completion of a medical exam including TB test, employment verification and being at least 18 years of age. We do not discriminate based on age, gender, marital status, religion, or sexual orientation.
*Please note there is a separate process for Out of county and/or out of state applicants.
If you live out side the county of San Diego or in another State and have an approved home study please send it to us at 6950 Levant St. San Diego, CA 92111 Attn: Placement Coordinator. Please also indicate the desired characteristics of the child you are seeking to adopt including age and gender.
If you do not have an approved adoption home study, hopefully, you have begun the process. Completing an adoptive home study is the first step in the process of adopting children, and is required by law. We would love to consider your family as a potential placement for our waiting children when you have an approved home study from a licensed agency. For help with getting the home study, please call Adopt US kids at (888) 200-4005. They can direct you to an agency in your area.
Call 1-877-I-ADOPT-U (1-877-423-6788) during regular business hours or make an inquiry through our website at www.IADOPTU.org. A social worker will walk you through the process by asking a few basic questions and completing an adoption applicant inquiry. You will then be invited to a no-obligation adoption orientation meeting to introduce you to the adoption process.
San Diego County Adoptions is the oldest licensed public adoption agency in California, licensed since 1948. We offer:
- Six regional offices to serve you (Linda Vista, Balboa, El Cajon, National City, Escondido and Oceanside.)
- Fully licensed agency with a complete array of adoption services for all members of the adoption triad (birthparents, adoptees, and adoptive parents), including: Child Welfare Services, birth parent services, independent adoptions, step-parent adoptions, post-adopt services, adoption assistance program, and guardianship.
- Professional Staff: Almost all of the staff have a Master’s Degree in Social Work or a related field as part of our licensing requirement.
- Adoption preparation classes: PRIDE and special interest classes including attachment parenting, discipline, culture diversity, adopt adoptee and more.
- Legal support: at no cost to children who are dependents of the Juvenile court and legally freed for adoption.
- Large volume: 600-700 adoptions per year (includes relative/kin/foster placements); many children needing placement (compared to private agencies).
- Low fees: Our $500 home study fee may be waived if taking dependent child of the court.
- Adoptions subsidy: Foster care payments, prior to parental rights’ being terminated; Adoption Assistance Program (AAP), which equals the amount they would receive in foster care and MediCal for children up to age 18, or 21 if disabled.
- Central San Diego (Linda Vista)
6950 Levant Street
San Diego, CA 92111
1-877-IADOPTU or 1-877-423-6788
- Step-parent and independent adoption programs
8965 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92123
858-616-5906
- East County
198 West Main Street
El Cajon , Ca 92020
619-441-6550
- South Bay
Nuestros Ninos (bilingual services available)
1000 Bay Marina Drive
National City, CA 91950
619-336-5777
- North Inland
463 N. Midway, Ste 200
Escondido, CA 92027
760-480-3404
- North Coastal
1320 Union Plaza Court
Oceanside, CA 92054
760-754-3456