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CDSS Adoption District Offices
The California Department of Social Services' (CDSS) Adoptions Services Bureau (ASB) facilitates adoption of children who need permanent homes by providing direct Agency and Independent adoption services through seven district offices located throughout the State. All seven offices provide Independent services and five of the offices also provide Agency services. Collectively, the seven district offices operate the third largest adoption agency in California.
The ASB provides Agency services for 28 counties in California. The services focus exclusively on the placement of court dependent children, the majority of whom have special needs.
In an "Agency Adoption", the child is placed for adoption by the CDSS or a licensed county or private adoption agency. A birth parent's parental rights are terminated either by court action or voluntarily relinquishing their parental rights. The adoption agency is responsible for the adoptive planning of the child until the completion of the adoption.
Click below to view the map of the counties served by each district office. The county of your residence is the determining factor regarding which office to contact. (Adobe Reader is required to view the maps)
Agency Adoption District Office Map 455 KB (2 min approximate download time on 28.8 modem)
The ASB also provides Independent services for 55 counties. Independent or private adoptions are private transactions initiated by the parties of the adoption.
In an "Independent Adoption", it is the birth parent's decision and responsibility to select the adoptive parent(s) and to place the child directly with the adoptive family. Click below to view a map of the counties served by each district office.
Independent Adoption District Office Map 560 KB (2 min approximate download time on 28.8 modem)
Parents who wish to place children for adoption and people who want to adopt can get information and assistance from the CDSS and/or licensed public and private adoption agencies.
DISTRICT OFFICES AND COUNTIES SERVED
Arcata (Eureka) : Del Norte, Humboldt, and Trinity
Chico : Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama (Shasta: Independent services only)
Fresno : Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, and San Benito (Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Merced, San Luis Obispo, and Tulare: Independent services only)
Monterey Park (Los Angeles) : (Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura: Independent services only)
Oakland : (Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Stanislaus: Independent services only)
Rohnert Park : Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma
Sacramento : Amador, Calaveras, Nevada, Sutter, Tuolumne, Yolo and Yuba: (Alpine, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento: Independent services only)
(Alameda, Los Angeles, and San Diego: county child welfare service agencies provide both Agency and Independent services)
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
California Department of Social Services
Adoptions Services Bureau
744 P Street, MS 8-12-31
Sacramento, CA 95814