Department of Economic Security - Division of Children, Youth and Families - Adoption Program

This document answers questions about the Division’s Adoption Program, which seeks to obtain permanent homes for children in department custody who cannot be safely reunited with their parents. The Division performs above national medians in achieving timely adoptions, but faces some systemic challenges involving court and division processes and finding adoptive homes for some children. However, actions are being taken to address these challenges, including specialized adoptive family recruitment. In addition, to encourage the adoption of children with special needs conditions such as a visual or hearing impairment or emotional disability, financial assistance and services are available through the federal- and state-funded adoption subsidy program.