Adoption & Guardianship
Reunification with biological families is almost always the preferred permanency goal when children enter OCS custody, and over half of children who come into foster care in Alaska are reunified with their parent(s). If a child cannot safely return home, adoption and guardianship offer other stable paths to permanency that allow children to exit temporary foster care into permanent family settings. OCS prioritizes permanent placement with relatives.
Alaskan children who are waiting for permanent homes
When children are unable to remain in their family system, OCS works with partner agencies to identify forever families for Alaska’s legally-free children. The Heart Gallery of Alaska, sponsored by Beacon Hill, hosts listings of Alaskan children legally free for adoption and finds permanency for other youth not publicly featured. Working in conjunction with Alaska Center for Resource Families and the Office of Children’s Services, Heart Gallery of Alaska responds to family inquiries about listed children, provides orientation to families interested in adoption, and gives guidance on next steps to take when a family wishes to be considered for placement.
How to be considered for placement
In Alaska, if you are not considered a relative or extended family, you must obtain a foster care license in order for a child to be placed in your care. The Alaska Center for Resource Families (ACRF) can help you through the process. They have developed a recommended series of trainings called the Adoption Learning Path to help families prepare to become an adoptive family for children in care.
More information about adoption or foster care is available through the Alaska Center for Resource Families (ACRF) and the OCS Foster Care pages.
Frequently Asked Questions & Additional Resources