Private Adoption Information

The department does not provide private adoptions. Private adoptions are completed through the services of a private adoption agency, certified adoption professional, and/or attorney.

Regardless of the type of adoption you choose, your family will be required to complete an adoption home study.

Private adoption agency

A private adoption agency is state-licensed and may be for-profit or nonprofit and may or may not have a religious affiliation. Private agencies may specialize in domestic infant adoption, special needs adoption, and/or international adoption. These agencies will help families find a child to adopt. Adoption agencies provide education and support to birth parents and adoptive parents before and after adoption.

Mother reading to children
Child Welfare Information Gateway
For more information regarding adoption
Adoption agencies in Idaho
Agency Chief administrator Address E-mail Phone Number
A Giving Tree Adoptions, Inc Elizabeth Jackson
Boise
Elizabeth@agivingtreeadoptions.org 208-794-9588
A New Beginning, Inc. Stephanie Pearl


Boise

stephanie@adoptanewbeginning.org 208-939-3865
Adoption Life Meghan Anderson


Rexburg

meghan@adoptionlife.org 307-212-0254
Children's House International Deborah Price


Idaho Falls

admin@chiadopt.org 360-383-0623
Forever Bound Adoption Lisa Manery


Eagle

Lisa@foreverboundadoption.org 208-283-6286
Idaho Youth Ranch Adoption Service Amy Evans


Coeur d’Alene

aevans@youthranch.org 208-667-1898
A Family for Every Child Christy Obie-Barrett Boise Christy@afamilyforeverychild.org 541-343-2856
Connected by Love Adoptions Heather Pincelli Coeur d'Alene heather@connectedbyloveadoptions.com 321-355-2010
Modern Adoption Inc. Ali Desmond Hayden ali@openarmsadoptionagency.com 206-600-9785
Certified adoption professionals

Certified adoption professionals (CAPs) provide adoption services with the oversight of the Department of Health and Welfare. Additional guidance for the CAP program is provided in Idaho Administrative Code. 

A certified adoption professional can be certified to provide any, some, or all of the following services:

  • Adoption home studies for families seeking private infant adoption
  • Adoption home studies for families seeking domestic (within the US), special-needs adoption
  • Adoption home studies for families seeking step-parent or relative adoption
  • Court-ordered investigations for termination of parental rights for domestic private or independent adoptions
  • Supervision of adoptive placements for domestic private or independent adoptions

CAPs may not provide birth parent education or counseling services related to international adoptions.

Child holding hand
Certified adoption professionals
List of certified adoption professionals in Idaho
Independent adoption

An independent adoption is one in which the birth parent places the child directly with an adoptive parent without the involvement of an adoption agency. Education, preparation, and emotional support services may not be provided to the birth or adoptive parents.

Adopting a stepchild

A step-parent adoption is when a step-parent petitions the court for adoption of his or her current spouse’s child. In order for the adoption to occur, the parental rights of the other birth parent will need to be terminated, either through agreement or as the result of a court hearing. You may need to have an adoption home study completed. It is advised you consult with an adoption attorney to learn about the requirements for the process. Additional information can also be found in the Step-parent Adoption Factsheet for Families on the Child Welfare Information Gateway.