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.

To get a clear understanding of how children in foster care feel watch our Hope for Every Child video.

What is a Foster Parent?

Foster parents provide temporary homes for children as young as infants and up to the age of 18. They provide care and nurturing to children who have been abused, neglected or declared dependents, until they are able to return home or a permanent home is found for them.

Learn more about the foster care process by watching this video.
Foster Care process (2:19)

What is Adoption?

Adoption is what happens when a child is born to one set of parents (birth parents) and later becomes the child of another set of parents (adoptive parents). The adoptive parents assume all rights and responsibilities for the child as if he/she had been born to them.

Learn more about the adoption process by watching this video.
Adoption process(5:34)