Social Services

Family & Child Services - Adoptions

County social service agencies are responsible for providing adoption services to children in the Minnesota Waiting Children's Program and to families who hope to adopt children by:

  • Completing adoption studies and adoption study updates for families
  • Locating and placing children in adoptive homes
  • Supporting court decisions and reporting information on adoptions to courts and the Minnesota Department of Human Services
  • Providing adoption case management services
  • Preparing documents for the court to finalize adoptions

Children who are available for adoption come from throughout the United States, and almost all of them have been removed from their biological families due to abuse or neglect. Most of these children are school-aged, some have physical or mental or emotional disabilities, some are brothers and sisters who want to stay together, and many are children of color. The state defines children in these situations as "special needs." Those needs can make it hard for them to be adopted.

These children need families who can be a healing resource for them. They need adults who can accept them as they are and provide a safe and nurturing place where they can learn to live with their past and anticipate their future.

Sherburne County Social Services assists families who reside in Sherburne County who would like to adopt one or more "special needs" children. A home study is completed on the family by a county social worker. The family's information is then put on the adoption registry as a family who would like to adopt. The county social worker assists the family through the process of adoption should they be selected to receive a child.

There is no fee for adoption services for families considering special needs children.

Adoption assistance is available for the child's maintenance and medical needs.