Adoption
Most children in out-of-home care, such as foster care or kinship care, are safely reunited with their parents. However, when reunification is not possible and a court terminates parental rights, the child becomes eligible for adoption. Every child has a legal right to a safe, stable, and permanent home.
Adoption Process
- Children may be adopted by relatives, kinship caregivers, or foster parents who already know them.
- When those options are not available, child welfare staff work with partner agencies to identify adoptive families.
- Children are registered with the Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange.
- SWAN (Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network) uses family-finding and matching services to connect children with approved families.
How to Get Started
Contact Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN)
SWAN is a network of agencies, juvenile court judges, foster and adoptive parents, private adoption agencies, the Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange and many others, all working together on behalf of children who need permanent homes.
Call the toll-free number: 1-800-585-7926
Visit the SWAN website
More Resources
Safe Haven: The Pennsylvania Safe Haven law allows parents to bring their newborn (up to 28 days old) to any Pennsylvania hospital, to a police officer at a police station, or an emergency services provider at an EMS station without the fear of criminal prosecution as long as the baby has not been harmed. Call the Safe Haven Helpline at 1-866-921-SAFE (7233).
Children, Youth and Families Intake Office: Support is available to families who need help. Staff can meet in the office or at a location that works for the family. Call the Intake Office at 412-473-2000 or visit them at 10700 Frankstown Road, Suite 301, Penn Hills, 15235.
Three Rivers Adoption Council (TRAC): provides support and resources for families preparing to adopt and after adoption is finalized.