The Adoption Services Branch is responsible for program oversight and planning in the area of adoption services. The primary focus is timely permanency planning and achievement for committed children in out of home care.
DCBS is involved in nearly every adoption in Kentucky. This includes independent relative and independent non-relative adoption.
The Adoption Services Branch is also responsible for:
- Receiving and processing copies of the adoption application and/or petition;
- Issuing Foreign Adoption Certificate of Registration for all international adoptions;
- Administering the Kentucky Putative Father Registry.
The Adoption Services Branch administers the
Kentucky Adoption Profile Exchange (KAPE). KAPE is focused on identifying forever families for children in out of home care who are legally free for adoption but do not have an identified adoptive home. Please visit the
KAPE website for more information.
The Adoption Services Branch also conducts birth parent searches for adult adoptees who are 21 years of age and older. The department can provide certain background information to adult adoptees after receiving a written request for non-identifying information or a court order from the court that finalized the adoption.
For help with adoption questions, please call Toll Free: (800) 232-5437 or (502) 564-2147.