Family Finders
WACAP’s Family Finders Team helps to find parents for children who are waiting for adoptive families. These children range in age from infancy to mid-teens, and come from every country where we work. When you adopt a child who is waiting, the adoption process often takes less time, and you may be eligible to adopt a child with a fee reduction. In some cases, you can preview photos and descriptions of children who are waiting, and select the child you’re interested in. Children may be waiting for families because they're older than age 2, are part of a sibling group, and/or have special medical or developmental needs.
Use the two-page Family Finders pre-application form to give us basic information about yourself and the type of child you are hoping to adopt. After we process your pre-application, a waiting child case manager will send you pictures and descriptions of children with individual needs, and help you with the waiting child adoption process.
Promise Child Funding
In some circumstances, WACAP is able to make a special commitment to help particular children find a family. Made possible by donations, our “Promise Child” funding began in the hearts of individuals who wanted to make a real difference for children. Knowing that finances can be a challenge to finding adoptive families, generous donors have made it possible for WACAP to reduce the fees for the adoption expenses for specific children. Promise Child grants of $2,200–9,500 have been assigned to these children based on their age, medical needs or sibling status. Promise Child grants may be available to families earning an annual adjusted gross income of under $125,000 after child-dependent deductions. Grant availability also depends on adoption processing costs and the donor fund balance. Find out more information on the types of children who may qualify for Promise Child grants.
PHOTO ALBUM
WACAP will provide you with photos and descriptions of children who are waiting for families. Children from Bulgaria, China, Ethiopia, India, Korea, Taiwan and the United States are featured on this web site. Our regularly-published Waiting Child Photo Album also includes information about additional children from India and Thailand which can't be shared on our web site. To request a copy, please visit the Contact Us page, e-mail Family Finders or call 206-575-4550.
Requirements
You'll need to have a homestudy performed by a licensed adoption agency. WACAP conducts homestudies in Washington, Oregon, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Alaska only; in other states, WACAP can give you the names of licensed agencies.
After we process your pre-application, a waiting child case manager will send you pictures and descriptions of children with individual needs, and help you with the waiting child adoption process.
Other requirements vary from country to country. Family Finders staff can give you specific information. e-mail Family Finders or call 206-575-4550.
Waiting Time
The waiting time depends on the child you select. In general, because these children have already been referred for adoption, the processing time will be shorter than average.
More Information
You can find out about WACAP’s waiting children in three ways:
- Family Finders has gone digital! We are now sending information about waiting kids on CD-ROM. If you prefer to receive information in print, please be sure to let your FFP Advocate know.
- WACAP’s award-winning project, A Family for Me, introduces you to kids in U.S. foster care who are waiting for families. You can read about these kids and learn more about the program here.
- Our Waiting Child Photo Album has pictures and descriptions of available children from India and Thailand who can't be featured on our web site. You can request a copy here.