Adoption Services in Lake County
Connecting Children with Loving, Permanent Homes
Lake County Department of Social Services (LCDSS) Child Welfare Services (CWS) supports children in care in Lake County. Additionally, and when appropriate, CWS gives referrals to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Adoptions Services Branch (ASB) to find permanent homes.
LCDSS has a contract with CDSS ASB to provide adoption services for Lake County. These services focus exclusively on the placement of Court involved children into permanent homes.
The Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) is an entitlement program to encourage the adoption of children who might otherwise remain in foster care. The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-272) created federal incentives to encourage the adoption of special needs children. The California State Legislature created the AAP to provide the security and stability of a permanent home through adoption. AAP eligible children may receive federally funded benefits or non-federally funded benefits per state guidelines. The request for AAP benefits, the eligibility determination, benefit negotiation and execution of the AAP agreement must be completed prior to the adoption finalization.
Prospective adopters who would like to adopt a child in Lake County can contact the Sacramento CDSS Adoption Regional Office to speak with a representative about the adoption process, which includes an orientation. After the orientation, prospective adopters will need to complete and submit a written application. The agency will then assign an adoption caseworker to discuss the type of child prospective applicants wish to adopt and the children that are available through the public adoption agency.
Prospective adopters will then participate in a "family assessment," which consists of a thorough review of criminal, medical, employment, emotional, marital, life history, and also the home environment, as required by law. This process is a joint effort by the agency and the adoptive applicants. The agency evaluates and determines prospective adopters’ ability to provide a stable, safe, and permanent home for a child who is available for adoptive placement.
To find a State License Adoption Agency, visit the California Department of Social Services’ website, which hosts a Directory of Public and Licensed California Adoption Agencies. In addition to “Quick Links” to Public and Private Adoption Agencies and Regional Offices, this webpage includes information on the four types of adoption available in California, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and more.
Adoptees, birth parents and siblings who are looking for one another should visit the following website for information: Adoptee Information.
Contact Sacramento Regional Manager, Lindsey Philpot, today (916-309-3650 or Lindsey.Philpot@dss.ca.gov) to learn more about adoption and how prospective adopters can provide a loving, permanent home for a child. Together, we can create brighter futures and build stronger families in our community.