Adoption and Foster Care

The Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services Adoption and Foster Care program assists children cleared for adoption with finding temporary placement within approved foster homes or permanent homes. 

If it is necessary for a child to come into Mecklenburg County's foster care system, our first goal is to work toward reunifying the child with the birth or biological family. If Mecklenburg County is unable to reunify the child with their family, social workers immediately begin searching for a new permanent family for the child.

If you want to learn more about foster care or adoption, or if you have a concern or suggestion, please fill out the Information Request Form. A social worker will contact you within two business days.

Address: Wallace H. Kuralt Centre, 301 Billingsley Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211 or VCW Community Resource Center, 3205 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208

Telephone: 704-336-KIDS (5437)

Mecklenburg County Heart Gallery

The mission of the Heart Gallery is to raise awareness about the need for safe & loving foster and adoptive homes for children in foster care. Request Information on adoption and becoming a foster parent!

Josalynn, 12

Josalynn is sweet and pleasant. She loves school and makes friends easily. Josalynn enjoys watching TV, using her tablet, and playing with her dog. Josalynn is talkative, curious, and responds positively to praise.

Jacob, 14

Jacob loves sports, especially football and basketball. His dream vacation is going to the beach. Jacob is eager to learn and his favorite subjects are English and Math.

Joevon, 11

Joevon is bright and curious with a lot of energy. He is very thoughtful and loves to be outside.

DJ, 13 and AJ, 14

DJ is athletic and loves to listen to music. He also likes to make origami and is very good at basketball and chess. DJ loves video games and likes to try new things; he recently tried fishing. He likes being outdoors.

AJ enjoys coloring, drawing, and puzzles. He likes to read graphic novels, play chess, and play video games. DJ is also interested in robotics. He is inquisitive and takes pride in knowing random facts.

Marcus, 15

Marcus loves sports, especially football and basketball. His favorite teams are the Carolina Panthers and Golden State Warriors. Marcus likes to play video games and swim. Marcus also likes sneakers and getting new clothes; looking nice is important to him. His favorite food is pizza and chicken wings. Marcus is loveable and kind and has a great sense of humor He does well with a caretaker who is active in the community and is willing to spend a lot of one-on-one time with him.

Mark, 16

Mark likes Oreo milkshakes from Burger King and sweets in general. He likes to listen to music and watch YouTube. He enjoys cooking. He likes to play basketball (also a coping skill). He likes to go to the gym and do workouts. He enjoys hanging out with his friends from school and neighborhood. Mark is caring, polite, and very active. He is a helper in the home. Mark desires to have a forever family. Mark cherishes relationships with individuals he can trust.

Aleia, 11

Aleia is a happy, sweet, sassy, and caring young girl. She has an infectious smile and an energetic disposition. She has a kind heart and a funny personality. Aleia enjoys helping where she can, Aleia enjoys doing word searches, puzzles, games, coloring, riding a bike, listening to music, and watching videos. Aleia's favorite snack is hot Taki's and she would eat them every day if she could. She also enjoys eating at Wendy's and Bojangles and making her own sauce to dip her fries into. Aleia enjoys talking and visiting with her older sister and needs a family that would allow this to continue.

Austin, 10

Austin is a playful and smart child who enjoys being the baby of the family. Austin has a big heart and a funny personality. He enjoys playing Minecraft, his favorite video game. He also loves, cars, army men, Leggos and chocolate cake. He is very polite and well-spoken and loves having his picture taken.

Austin loves fried chicken, corndogs, and pancakes. He also loves listening to the Beatles and Michael Jackson. Austin also recently learned to ride his bike without training wheels. Austin enjoys visiting with his older sister and brother regularly and needs a family that would allow this to continue.

Diona, 15

Diona is a very sociable child with a lovable personality. She is joyful, creative, outgoing and values family. She enjoys drawing, spending time on her computer, watching television, dancing, and engaging in various activities. She truly has a love for dogs. Diona would do well in a single parent home provided with unconditional love, attention, and commitment. She needs a loving home that is active and can foster sibling connections.

Ronnell, 13

Ronnell is the typical teenage boy. He loves going to car shows, playing video games, and being outside. Playing outside you will find Ronnell riding his scooter or bike or playing with neighborhood kids. He enjoys swimming and playing soccer. Ronnell likes to play with Legos. His favorite hobby right now is trading Pokémon cards with his peers. Ronnell has a bubbly personality. He is very inquisitive and enjoys conversations on any topic. Ronnell is a big helper and will offer a helping hand to anyone in need. He has strong advocacy skills. He is a natural researcher and loves to learn new things.

Gia

Gia is a playful and smart child who enjoys being the baby of the family. She has a big heart and a funny personality. She enjoys riding her bike, doing her hair, polishing her nails, and playing with her dolls. Gia is very polite, well-spoken, and loves learning new things. Gia loves good food, swimming and gymnastics. Gia also has close connections with her paternal grandmother and needs an adoptive family that would need to allow this to continue. Gia needs a family who will provide clear rules and boundaries. Gia is also afraid animals and will need a home that does not have any pets. She responds well to verbal redirection and incentives for good behavior. Gia needs a family with a great deal of patience who can advocate for her needs. Her chosen family should have excellent communication skills and be experienced in dealing with children who have experienced trauma. Her forever family would need to be patient and willing to move slowly in the adoption process.