Adopt or Foster a Child

We can all make a difference in the life of a child. For some, that means becoming a foster or adoptive parent. Learn more about some of the misconceptions below, or click through to the following links for more about fostering or adopting a child. To get more information about how to foster or adopt a child or to begin the application process, click here to fill out our inquiry form and a local recruiter will contact you.  

Myth: Most of the children in foster care in New Mexico are juvenile delinquents.
Reality: Many are regular children who had to be removed from their families due to abuse or neglect, through no fault of their own. 

Myth: A single parent, same-sex parents, or people over 55 can’t provide a healthy environment for a foster/adopted child.
Reality: New Mexico's Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) welcomes all of these types of parents and does not discriminate based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Myth: Foster care or adoption may cost less than private infant or international adoption, but it’s still expensive.
Reality: There is no fee for adoption through CYFD. In fact, you can receive financial assistance for some of the other standard costs of finalizing your adoption. 

Myth: A biological parent can come to take an adopted child back.
Reality: This is a common fear, but biological parents have no way to gain back custody of a child once their parental rights are terminated.

Myth: I live in a rural area and will have to drive to a city like Albuquerque or Santa Fe to complete the requirements. 
Reality: There are information meetings held all across the state. Click here for a list of upcoming sessions. 

Myth: I could never be a foster parent because I don’t make a lot of money, don’t even own my own home, and/or live in an apartment.
Reality: It's okay to rent, and foster children can share a bedroom with other children of the same gender as long as they have separate beds to sleep in. 

Myth: Foster children have been abused so much that they’re beyond repair. I wouldn’t really be making a difference anyway.
Reality: Children are amazingly resilient. Foster parents can make the difference in a child's life by providing a structured, nurturing environment.