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CDSS Adoption District Offices - Fresno
Counties served by the Fresno District Office
Independent Adoption
Inyo
Fresno
Kern
Kings
Madera
Mariposa
Merced
Mono
San Benito
San Luis Obispo
Tulare
Agency Adoption
Kings
Madera
Mariposa
Mono
San Benito
Adoption Information Meetings
Adoption information meetings are held as needed and can be on an individual or group setting at the Fresno District Office, which is located at 770 East Shaw, Suite 109, Fresno, California, as well as in other locations on an as needed basis. Meetings are generally between 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. These meetings provide an overview of the adoption process for those individuals and families who are interested in adopting a child(ren). The meeting is led by Adoptions Specialists who explain all aspects of the adoption process including types of children available for adoption, the legal process, family assessment, and the placement process. There is no charge to attend these meetings. For more information, please call (559) 243-8200 and ask to speak to the "Officer of the Day."
Fresno CARE Picnic
The Fresno District Office and several surrounding counties work together to provide special events to bring together children who need adoptive homes and families who are seeking to adopt one or more children. Families with an approved adoptive homestudy need to arrange attendance through their adoption agency representatives. The picnic is held in Fresno and usually occurs the fourth week in April. For more information about the CARE Picnic, please call (559) 243-8200 and ask to speak to the “Officer of the Day.”
Children Available for Adoption
In an effort to utilize the power of the Internet and to bring children and families together, the California Kids Connection program was developed as California's registry of children waiting to be adopted and families wanting to adopt. The program offers both a secure website accessible only to California licensed adoption agency personnel and a public site accessible to any Internet user.
The public site is available to anyone using the Internet at www.cakidsconnection.org. Visitors to this area of the website may view and indicate their interest in specific children by sending an immediate email to the adoption agency identified for each child. This site features children for whom legal clearance has been granted by the court.
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) establishes procedures for the adoption of children coming into California from another state and for children who are leaving California to be adopted by individuals who live in other states.
Information about ICPC forms and procedures for Agency adoptions is available at licensed public or private adoption agencies. Information regarding ICPC for Independent adoptions is available at CDSS adoptions district offices. Residents of Alameda, Los Angeles, or San Diego Counties should contact the licensed public adoption agencies in their county of residence.
To obtain a copy of licensed adoption agencies click here " Directory of California Adoption Agencies" or call 1(800) KIDS-4-US.
Inter-Country Adoptions
You can adopt a child from another country through California's Intercountry Adoption Program. To obtain information about the program requirements, contact a private adoption agency licensed to provide these services in the county where you reside. To obtain a copy of licensed adoption agencies click here " Directory of California Adoption Agencies" or call 1(800) KIDS-4-US.
For further details on Intercountry adoptions, view the website www.uscis.gov or contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service National Customer Service Center at 1 (800) 375-5283.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rosalie Gutierrez
District Office Manager
Fresno District Office
770 East Shaw, Suite 109
Fresno, CA 93710-7708
Telephone: (559) 243-8200
FAX: (559) 229-9685
Email: rgutierr@dss.ca.gov