Waiting Child Services Program
Adopting From Foster Care
Our Waiting Child Services (WCS) Program helps prospective adoptive parents navigate adoption from foster care throughout the United States, including Illinois. There are currently over 300,000 children in foster care nationwide. Returning a child to their parents’ care will always be the initial goal when a child enters care. When this is not possible, parental rights are terminated and a child’s permanency goal may then be changed to adoption. There are approximately 70,000 children nationwide with an adoption goal, and 50,000 who are “legally free.”
The median age of children placed through this program is 8.5 years old, ranging from 1 to 17 years of age.
The Waiting Child Services (WCS) program calls for a high level of flexibility, the ability to address the special needs of each child, and the willingness to embrace the unpredictable. It is important that families considering adoption from foster care understand and acknowledge the lasting effects of trauma. This journey requires patience, commitment, love and hard work. Just as the trauma didn’t happen overnight, the healing won’t either. Our staff are here to guide you through the process and provide support before, during, and long after placement.
WCS Program Process Overview:
Phase I
Prospective Adoptive Parents work with ACI to obtain their Foster Family Home License and a valid home study. The first step for all programs is submitting an ACI Application with the Program Phase I fee. Please visit our Program Fees and Documents Page to view detailed fees for each specific program. Once the application and payment is processed, an Initial Application Interview is scheduled and conducted. Upon submission of all the required documents the home study will be scheduled and completed.
Training courses must be completed to prepare prospective parents for parenting a child with a history of trauma. All prospective parents must complete 40 hours of PRIDE training through Illinois DCFS. An additional 10 hours of adoption training must be completed before ACI can finalize the home study or issue a Foster Family Home License.
Phase II
After the home study is approved, prospective parents proceed to the next stage of the process by submitting the WCS Program Agreement and Phase II fee. ACI program staff then support families in navigating the matching and placement process, identifying supportive resources, and finalizing the adoption. Most importantly, ACI is always available as a resource for families post adoption.
If you have any questions about this program or would like to learn more, please contact Leigh Pollworth, MSW, Domestic Program Supervisor, at 773.321.0305 or lpollworth@adoptillinois.org. You can also download our WCS information packet for more information.
Information on Children in Foster Care:
The AFCARS Dashboard provides a summary of national and state foster care data for each fiscal year. The information includes, but is not limited to, entries into and exits from foster care, demographic details such as age and race/ethnicity, and characteristics including permanency plans and living arrangements. Please review this website for additional statistics.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are looking to adopt a child only within the State of Illinois, you may work directly with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). DCFS would be responsible for completing your family assessment (home study), assisting you to obtain a Foster Family Home License, and for registering you for the required training. There are no costs associated with this process. Please note that if you work directly with DCFS, the family assessment CANNOT be used in the adoption of waiting children in other states.