How Many Families Are Waiting to Adopt in California?

If you’re wondering how many families are waiting to adopt, you may be worried about whether there are enough hopeful parents or whether you’ll have trouble finding the right family. But in California, there are far more families hoping to adopt than there are babies placed for adoption.

In this guide, you’ll learn how adoption wait times work, what types of families are waiting and what the screening process involves. If you want to talk with an adoption specialist or get free information, you can reach out at any time.

How Many Families Are Waiting to Adopt Right Now in California?

There are hundreds of approved families waiting to adopt through American Adoptions of California at any given time.

We require hopeful families to complete screening requirements before we show their profiles to expectant parents. That means when you begin looking at profiles, you’re seeing families who are already prepared and approved to adopt.

You may know what you’re looking for right away, or you may want to take the time to review profiles and think about what kind of family feels right. You can move at your own pace.

Is There a Shortage of Adoptive Parents in California?

No, there is not a shortage of adoptive parents for newborns. In fact, there are significantly more families waiting than there are newborn placements.

These are not just families who are interested in adoption. They have already completed the steps required to adopt, including a home study.

The home study helps make sure a family can provide a safe and stable home and is prepared for the responsibilities of adoption. The process typically includes:

Background checks
Document reviews
Home visits
Interviews
Education and training

By the time you see a family profile, you can trust that the adoptive parents have already been screened and approved.

Why So Many Families Are Waiting to Adopt a Baby

Families choose private infant adoption for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common include:

Struggling with infertility or pregnancy loss
Always planning to adopt
Wanting to raise a child from birth
Being open to ongoing contact after placement

The families you see have made a clear and intentional decision to adopt. They are prepared for the responsibilities of parenting and ready to provide a stable home.

How Adoption Wait Times Work in California

When you hear that families are waiting to adopt, you might also wonder if you’ll need to wait. In private adoption, families wait. You don’t.

At any time, you can choose the family that adopts your baby. Once you connect with an adoption specialist, you can talk through your preferences and begin reviewing family profiles. If one family stands out, you can learn more about them and speak with them before making a decision. If not, you can continue looking.

Some expectant parents choose a family early in pregnancy. Others choose at the hospital or after giving birth. There is no set timeline. Because there are many families waiting, you can make this decision at your own pace.

What Kind of Families Are Waiting to Adopt in California?

California is a diverse state, and there are many different types of families waiting to adopt.

As you look through adoptive family profiles, you can narrow down your options based on:

Culture or ethnicity
Religion
Location
Lifestyle
Family composition
LGBTQ+
Bilingual households

You don’t need to worry about there not being enough families to adopt. If you don’t find the right family in California, you can consider adoptive parents from other states. American Adoptions of California works with hundreds of families across the U.S.

How American Adoptions of California Supports You

If you are considering adoption, you don’t have to go through the process alone. American Adoptions of California provides support at every step.

Here’s what we can offer expectant parents:

You can speak with an adoption specialist at any time about your situation, your questions or how you’re feeling.

We’ll help you think through your preferences, including the type of family you want, your hospital plan and the level of contact you may want after placement.

Depending on your situation, you may receive help with medical costs and necessary living expenses during your pregnancy.

Every family you see on our website has already completed a home study and been approved to adopt.

We handle communication with attorneys, hospitals and the adoptive family so you can focus on yourself and your baby.

Counseling and resources are available after placement to help you move forward.

Want to talk with an adoption specialist about finding an adoptive family? Just fill out our short form or call 1-800-ADOPTION to get in touch today.

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Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

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