Each county in North Carolina has a Department of Social Services that provides or arranges for adoption services. In addition to the public agencies, there are private agencies that are licensed by the N.C. Division of Social Services. You may choose to work with a public or private agency. Public agencies provide adoption services at no cost to the applicant who are interested in children in the foster care system. Fees may be charged for adoption services related to children who are not in the foster care system.
Private agencies are either nonprofit or for profit and operate on a fee for service basis.
The fee is paid by the adoptive parents except in cases where the agencies are contracting with the Division of Social Services to provide services at no cost to families interested in children in the foster care system. It is important to ask questions about the adoption process and to get as much detailed information as possible. You will want to know about the types of children available, the adoption assistance benefits and supports that the agency will provide for the adopted child if he or she has special needs. Submit an application The agency you select will ask about your family background and composition. You will also be asked for a description of the child you seek to adopt.