Hennepin County foster care and adoption

Help a child. Heal a family.

Sometimes kids need a safe place to heal while families work through issues. If they can't return home, they need someone to care for them into the future.

It takes many people to surround kids with love and stability during childhood. Maybe you’re among them.

Get the facts

Foster care and adoption in Hennepin County

Foster care

Kids in the foster care system

forty four percent are zero to five years old, twenty six percent are six to twelve years old, thirty percent are thirteen to twenty years old

Ages of kids in foster care

thirty three percent are african american, sixteen percent are caucasion, seventeen percent are american indian and alaska native, thirteen percent are hispanic, three percent are asian, thirty one percent are multiracial

Race and ethnicity of foster kids

Adoption

Kids waiting for an adoptive family

two percent are zero to five years old, twenty eight percent are six to twelve years old, seventy percent are thirteen to twenty years old

Ages of kids waiting for adoption

Kids who are part of a sibling group that needs to be adopted together

Numbers updated 9/30/2022

Ways to help

See how people like you have helped kids in our community.

Become a foster family

When kids can’t live with someone they already know, they are matched up with a licensed foster care provider.

Adopt your foster child

People should expect to care for many kids before they have an opportunity to adopt a foster child.

Become an adoptive family

Some kids are ready for adoption now. Most are 10 or older. Some need to stay with siblings. Meet the kids.

Care for a child you know

Kinship placement is when a relative or friend can care for a child. To help a kid you know, call 612-348-5437.

Look at your life

The life-altering decision to foster or adopt comes with incredible rewards and challenges.

Successful foster and adoptive parents are patient and loving. They are team players and advocates for kids. They can love foster kids and help them transition safely back home or to a relative. Or they can commit to the long term and adopt them if they can't go home.

You

Can provide kids with care and stability during your time together
Want to support kids’ relationships with their birth families
Are 21 or older, and financially, emotionally and physically stable
Are two years sober if you've had drug or alcohol issues in the past
Agree to a background check

Your family

May be just you, or you and a partner or spouse
May include your own kids and extended family
Supports your decision to foster or adopt
Is both stable and open to change

Your home

Is located in Hennepin County
Has an extra bedroom
Is near reliable transportation, by car or public transit
Can be rented or owned

Get started

The first step: attend an information meeting. You’ll learn more about the foster care licensing process and requirements, and hear more about the children in need of foster homes and the concurrent adoption process.

The information meetings are for families wanting to foster or adopt children unrelated to them. If you are interested in fostering or adopting a child you already know, please call 612-348-5437 and select option 1.

Virtual information meetings

Wednesday, November 30, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, December 13, 5:30 to 7:00p.m.
Tuesday, January 10, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 24, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

To register, email fosteradopt@hennepin.us. Include the first and last name of all adult attendees, and the date of the meeting you want to attend.

After you register, we’ll send you more information and the link to the virtual meeting.

Information meetings are held 1-2 times per month. Upcoming dates will be posted when registration is available.

Meet the kids

Children waiting for adoption

The first goal for children in foster care is to safely reunify with their families. If they can’t return home, some may be adopted by relatives or by their foster parents.

When these options aren’t possible, kids still need loving, supportive adoptive families.

Meet the kids in Hennepin County foster care who are waiting for permanent homes.

The licensing process

When you attend an information meeting, you will get the materials you need to begin the child foster care licensing process.

The process typically takes three to six months. It includes required paperwork, background check, training and home study. A social worker will help you through the process.

Once all licensing requirements are met, the county has 20 days to make a recommendation on your application.

The foster care licensing process is the first step for those open to concurrent adoption.

Contact us

612-348-5437

fosteradopt@hennepin.us