Adoption is a great way to build a family. People who choose to adopt children from foster care are very special. They have a strong belief that all children deserve a loving family to call their own. There are dozens of children in Delaware that want nothing more than to become part of a forever family.

The children available for adoption through the Division of Family Services are often the victims of unfortunate circumstances that led to their need for new homes. Although many of the children have special needs, their greatest need is for a permanent family where they can be loved and nurtured by dedicated individuals. Your marital status, wealth and education are not critical requirements for adoption. We only require your willingness and ability to provide a permanent and loving home.

Delaware's Heart Gallery 
Portraits of children currently available for adoption in Delaware.

Resources

• AdoptUSKids Searchable Database 
• Adoption Assistance Manual
• Chart of Delaware Agencies Licensed for Adoption Services
• The National Adoption Center web site has a variety of adoption information, including a searchable database of children waiting to be adopted.

DSCYF Adoption Contact Information

Mailing Address: 1825 Faulkland Rd, Wilmington, DE 19805
         Telephone: 302-633-2655
                Email: adoption.dscyf@delaware.gov

The Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services, also known as DPBHS, provides a statewide range of voluntary mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention services for children and youth. 

Our vision, for all children and families to be strong, resilient, and live in supportive communities and our mission, to develop and support a family-driven, youth guided, trauma informed prevention and behavioral health system of care, drives us to continuously improve our services and reach our vision.

We serve Delaware families through prevention and early intervention programs that promote safe and healthy children, nurture families and communities, support social and academic success, and improve early identification of needs.  We also serve eligible families of children and youth (through age 17) with behavioral treatment needs.

We encourage you to look around the site and please contact us for more information by calling (302) 633-2600 or e-mailing PBHS.DSCYF@delaware.gov

Wilmington – The Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF) has launched a new reporting portal that allows both professionals and members of the community to submit online reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. The new portal, with its enhanced functionality, is more efficient and can be accessed on any mobile device or desktop. It was developed in partnership with Deloitte Digital and replaces an older online reporting form that was not able to be completed on a mobile device, nor could it transfer information directly to the child welfare database.

“We receive approximately 21,000 reports of abuse or neglect per year and timely and accurate reporting is critical to protecting the children who need our help,” said Josette Manning, Cabinet Secretary of DSCYF. “This new reporting portal will help reduce wait times for persons making reports of child abuse and neglect and will help our staff at our 24 hour report line by reducing the need to manually enter information into the database,” concluded, Manning.

To access the online reporting portal and for information about recognizing the signs of child abuse, please visit iseethesigns.org. Reporters may still utilize the child abuse and neglect hotline, at 1-800-292-9582, and should keep in mind that neither the online portal nor the hotline are a substitute for calling 911 in a true emergency. As always, reporters may choose to remain anonymous.

The Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance problems, have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. For more information, please visit https://kids.delaware.gov