Foster Care Agencies in Arkansas

Building your family is a personal journey that starts with understanding all your options. Many families begin by looking for foster care agencies near me as they consider how to provide a home for a child.

At American Adoptions of Arkansas, we help you navigate these paths with compassion. While we specialize in private infant adoption, we believe every family deserves clear information about the differences between the state system and private placement.

What Are Foster Care Agencies in Arkansas?

Foster care agencies manage the care of children who have been removed from their biological homes by the state due to safety concerns. In Arkansas, these agencies operate under the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

The primary mission of foster care agencies is family reunification—helping biological parents resolve issues so their children can safely return home. While private agencies focus on the voluntary placement of newborns, local foster care agencies provide temporary stability for children of all ages until a permanent solution is found.

Foster Care vs. Private Infant Adoption: What’s the Difference?

When comparing foster care adoption agencies to private infant adoption, there are significant differences in the experience:

• Primary Goal: Foster care focuses on reunification with biological family. Private adoption is a permanent placement from birth chosen by the birth parents.
• Age of Children: Most children in foster care are older, with a national average age of 7.7 years. Private adoption almost always involves newborns.
• Legal Timelines: Foster care involves "legal risk," where a child lives with you while a judge decides if reunification is possible. In private adoption, the birth mother willfully relinquishes her rights as part of her adoption plan.
• Cost: Adopting through foster care is very low-cost, usually around $1,500 for legal fees. Private adoption involves higher costs for birth mother support, medical care, and professional matching.
• Selection: In private adoption, birth parents choose the family they want for their child. In foster care, the state matches children with available homes based on immediate need.

Should I Choose Foster Care or Private Infant Adoption?

Deciding which path is right for you involves reflecting on your family's goals:

1.Do you want to adopt a baby? While possible, it is rare to adopt an infant through foster care, as only about 7% of children in care are under age one.

2.Are you prepared for "legal risk"? In foster care, you must be supportive of the state's efforts to return the child to their biological parents.

3.Are you equipped for trauma-informed parenting? Most children in the foster system have experienced neglect or abuse and may need specialized support.

4.What is your timeline? Private adoption through our agency offers an average wait time of 12 months due to our extensive national outreach.

Finding Foster Care Agencies Near Me in Arkansas

If you feel called to provide temporary care or adopt an older child, you can find the best foster care agencies near me through these state-partnered organizations:

• Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS): The state's primary agency for child welfare and foster care.
• The CALL: A nonprofit that recruits and trains Christian families for foster care and adoption in local communities.
• Project Zero: A nonprofit focused on having "zero" children waiting for adoption in Arkansas foster care.
• Connected Families: A private placement agency providing faith-driven foster care and adoption services statewide.

Why Some Families Choose Private Adoption Instead

While fostering is a vital service, many families choose private adoption because it offers a more stable, baby-centered path for those wanting to parent from birth. In this process, birth parents voluntarily create an adoption plan, which reduces the emotional uncertainty found in the foster system.

Private adoption also allows for open adoption, where you can build a relationship with the birth parents. This creates a clear, honest story for the child about their origins from day one.

American Adoptions of Arkansas: How We Can Help

We are a state-licensed private agency that provides both local expertise and a national reach. Unlike foster care agencies, our focus is entirely on domestic infant adoption.

We protect our families through a Risk-Sharing Program that covers lost expenses during a disruption and a marketing system that ensures shorter, more predictable wait times. We are here to ensure your path to parenthood is as secure and supportive as possible.

We’re Here to Help You Adopt a Baby in Arkansas—Let’s Talk

The journey to parenthood is full of choices, and we want to help you make the one that is right for your heart. Whether you are just beginning to research or are ready to take the next step, our specialists are here for you.

Ready to learn more about adopting a newborn? Call us today at 1-800-ADOPTION or connect with us online to speak with a specialist. Let’s discuss how we can help you build your family through private domestic adoption.

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.