California Domestic Adoption Program

Eligibility Requirements

Nightlight® Christian Adoptions is licensed by the California Department of Social Services to select suitable families for children needing adoption. The selection of adoptive parents is based on their eligibility to meet state and agency requirements, foreign country requirements (if applicable), their capacity for adoptive parenthood, and the availability of children whose needs they can meet.

RESIDENCE

Nightlight can perform Agency Adoptions only for families living within California. Other Domestic adoption services are available to families through out the United States. Please contact our office for specific details.

RELIGION

Applicants must be committed to providing their child with a constructive, wholesome and spiritual home environment.

HEALTH

Adoptive applicants must give evidence of good health, both physical and mental, which will be verified during the application process by medical examinations and psychological evaluations.

AGE

None; however, birthmothers tend to prefer families in their 30’s or early 40’s.

MARRIAGE

Adoptive applicants need to be married for a minimum of two years at the time of application. Married applicants must have satisfying and secure marriage. Single applicants are eligible to adopt if they meet the qualifications. However, our experience has been that single applicants are not chosen because the expectant parents that choose Nightlight request married couples.

EDUCATION

Classes and reading are required of adoptive families pertaining to parenting skills and adoption issues. Our goal is to prepare you to be the best parents possible for your child.

FINANCES

Adoptive applicants must be able to provide a financially stable home, demonstrated by a solid credit history and ability to live within their means.

PREGNANCY

Before beginning the adoption process, all applicants need to be complete with infertility treatments so that they can completely focus on the adoption process. If during the home study or adoption process, prospective adoptive parents become pregnant, they need to notify Nightlight immediately. Their file will be placed on hold until the child is one year of age, at which time they may reenter the adoption process.

ADOPTION OF SUBSEQUENT CHILDREN

In order to have adequate time for attachment and bonding, it is important to have a minimum of one year with the child/ren in the home before beginning placement of another child in the home. Please take this into consideration when starting the adoption process.

DOMESTIC ADOPTION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For answers to your questions about domestic adoption, visit the Domestic Adoption FAQ’s Section

CA Office Info

CALIFORNIA DOMESTIC ADOPTION GETTING STARTED CHECKLIST

We would love to see you at one of our free information seminars! These seminars are an excellent way to have your preliminary questions answered, get to know the Nightlight staff and meet other families beginning the adoption process. Seminars are held every 2 months. Call the office for more information and to RSVP for an upcoming seminar.

How do we get started?

Contact us for a link to the Online application
Read our Domestic Adoption Booklet found on the Domestic Adoption page and sign the Domestic Agreement with fee schedule.
Begin the Home Study

Once we receive your application, we will contact you to discuss the domestic program and send you our Agreement. Once the Agreement is received, we will assist you with beginning the home study process, which is the first step in the domestic program.

Please read the information provided and FAQs before submitting your application. If you have questions, contact our Domestic Adoption Manager, by phone at (714) 693-5437 or by e-mail at info@nightlight.org.