County of San Luis Obispo social workers work to develop an alternate plan for a permanent, loving family if children cannot reunify with their parents. It also provides adoption services to children in out-of-home care with Child Welfare Services (CWS).

Adoption services include:

• Identification of the best home if a child is unable to reunify with his or her parent(s).
• Assessment of a child’s adoptability.
• Discussions with parents, relatives, children and caregivers about different permanency options for children in foster care.
• Matching children with relatives, non-related extended family members or resource families for adoption.
• Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) stipend evaluation and re-evaluation.
• Post-adoption services including family meetings, crisis intervention and referrals to services in the community.

The children placed for adoption at times have entered the Child Welfare Services due to safety concerns with their parents or guardians. There are children of all ages who need a permanent family because they cannot safely remain in their parents’ home or cannot be reunited with them. As a result, there is a constant need for loving families who are willing to make a permanent commitment to a child or youth. Adoptive parents should be flexible, patient, loving, caring, committed, and capable with dealing with changes in their expectations and lifestyles. Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) funding and health insurance is available to adoptive parents to help with the care of their adopted child.

Adoption is a legal process which gives caregivers all the legal rights and responsibilities of a legal parent-child relationship.  Adoption entails meeting a child where they are at and including them as a permanent family member.  A caregiver learns how to best care for their child's need by working with service providers who can help guide a family on how to attune to their child's needs and help them heal effectively.  The caregivers will care and guide children through their growing years by giving them the love and understanding they need to develop their full potential.