Oklahoma foster care and adoption guidelines

Thank you for considering becoming a foster and adoptive parent. Your desire to share your love and your life with a child will create permanency for children that will last a lifetime.

Also see information about becoming a foster parent or therapeutic foster care provider at the Oklahoma Fosters website.

State contact information

Contact the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for more information regarding foster care and adoption in Oklahoma.

Licensing requirements for foster or adoption

Basic requirements include:

You must be at least 21 years old.
You must be in reasonably good health.
You can be single, married, divorced or widowed.
You must have or provide sufficient beds and space for personal items for additional children.
You must be able to manage your income to meet the financial needs of your family.
You must be capable of understanding, loving and accepting a child. Your role is to provide protection and nurturance to the child/children placed in your care and to act as a role model.
If you have a spouse or partner, he or she is also required to participate in the home assessment process and to attend the27-hour orientation session with you.

You must complete a home assessment, which includes:

Completion of OKDHS forms and application
Reference checks
Background checks
Medical examination report
Fingerprinting
Family assessment, including interviews with all family members;
Completion of 27-hour resource family orientation
House safety assessment
Verification of income sufficient to meet your needs
Verification of vaccination for pets
Automobile insurance verification

Costs to foster and adopt

It is always free to adopt or foster.

Post-adoption support services

Agency contact and orientation information

In addition to State Department of Human Resources, the following private agencies have programs and services for children in need of a permanent home. They work with many situations, including private adoption and adopting a child from foster care. They welcome you to contact them or view their website for additional information.

Child Study Center
Phone: 405-271-5700
Address: 1100 NE 13th, Oklahoma City, OK 73117

The Children's Center
Phone: 405-440-9866
Address: 6800 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK 73008

Oklahoma CASA Association
Phone: 405-524-8999 or 800-742-2272
Address: PO Box 54946, Oklahoma City, OK 73154

Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy
Phone: 405-236-5437
Address: 2915 N. Classen Blvd, Suite 320, Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Oklahoma Family Network (OFN)
Phone: 405-271-5072 or 877-871-5072
Mailing Address: PO Box 21072, Oklahoma City, OK 73156-1072

Private adoption agencies

Adoption Choices of Oklahoma
Phone: 405-794-7500 or 800.898.6028
Text: 405-310-8790
Address: 201 N Broadway, Suite 107, Moore, OK 73160

Crisis Pregnancy Outreach
Phone: 918-296-3377
Address: PO Box 1113 Jenks, OK 74037

Deaconess Adoption Services
Phone: 405-949-4200 or 800-567-6631
Address: 8308 N. May Avenue, Suite 100 Oklahoma City, OK 73120

Dillon International, Inc.
Phone: 918-749-4600
Address: 7335 S. Lewis Avenue, Suite 204 Tulsa, OK 74136

Eastern Oklahoma Youth Services
Phone: 918-420-5325
Address: 2626 S 14th Street, Suite A-20, McAlester, OK 74501

Nightlight Christian Adoptions
Phone: 918-491-6767
7929 E. 50 th , Suite D7, Tulsa, OK 74145

Lilyfield
Phone: 405-216-5240
Address: 501 E 15th Street, #400A, Edmond, OK 73013

Oklahoma Baptist Home for Children
Phone: 405-942-3800
Address: 3800 N. May Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (corporate office)

Information on Oklahoma's children

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has 9,000 children in out-of-home care. We are looking for adoptive families for approximately 500 children.

Children come into the care of the state child welfare system due to abuse or neglect. Many are sibling groups and are from all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Some, but not all, of the children are already legally free for adoption.