Last year, Contra Costa County found adoptive homes for over 103 children. This year, maybe we can help even more children find permanent homes.
We have an innovative program called Concurrent Planning. This means that we can place children with a potential adoptive home while we continue working with the birth family to help them overcome the issues that brought them to our attention.
This benefits the children as it reduces the number of placements they experience and the trauma inherent in moving multiple times. The benefit to potential adoptive families is that the children will have faced fewer traumatic moves.
Getting started
We hold orientations which are mandatory for all families interested in fostering or adopting children. At these orientations our policies and the types of children needing families are discussed in detail.
If you have any questions, please call the Adoptions/Homefinding Unit at
(925) 655-4320 for more information.
How does it work?
Concurrent caregivers are foster parents and prospective adoptive parents at the same time. They provide love and stability to children by reducing their number of placements. These families are committed to providing permanency while at the same time assisting in reunification efforts.
Post Adoption Support Services
We are excited to announce the availability of REACH pre and post adoption services for Contra Costa County residents who are considering, in the process of, or have already adopted a child. We, in partnership with REACH Contra Costa County, offer a program designed to provide Resources, Education, Advocacy, Crises Intervention and Hope to adoptive families in the local community. REACH services are family centered, designed to support and preserve all family relationships, and focused on maximizing a child’s potential and full integration into a family. Our mutual goal is to strengthen and empower adoptive families.
For more information, please call our Adoption Unit at (925) 602-6910.
Education Liaison
Families that are either in the process of adopting or have finalized an adoption through Contra Costa County’s Adoption Department are eligible for help with children’s educational issues. The Education Liaison will work with children and families to help navigate the education system and advocate for foster-adopt children.
Services include:
- Consultation on school placements, special education, and educational testing
- Help with the process of developing 504 Plans or Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
For more information contact Stephanie Scholer at the Contra Costa County Adoption Unit at [email protected]. Or call her at (925) 602-6910.
Concurrent Caregivers
Concurrent caregivers are foster parents and prospective adoptive parents at the same time. Concurrent caregivers provide love and ongoing care to children who are not able to live with their birth families. These are children whom the court may legally free for adoption if they are not able to return to their family of origin.
Children in the program are foster children at the time of placement. Concurrent caregivers will be asked to cooperate with the reunification plan while also committing to be the permanent family for the child should reunification not occur. During reunification, birth parents are provided services to overcome their problems as well as visits with their children. Concurrent parents are required to assist with these visits which can take place either inside the concurrent home, in the community, or at a CFS office.