All you need is an open heart and a loving home to change the world one child at a time...


Adoption and Foster Care

We are the oldest and most trusted adoption agency in Southern California. We are licensed, accredited, approved, and nationally recognized as a leader in the field of adoption. Our Adoption Program encompasses Foster Care and Foster and Adoption, International Services, and Domestic Infant Adoption including birth parent options counseling and support services.

Writer, producer, and actor, Dan Bucatinsky and family

But here's what will matter to you most:

Our Honesty


Our knowledge of the intricacies, issues, processes, and regulations of adoption and our understanding of what brings you to adoption.

Our Compassion


In recognition of what you have experienced and with great compassion, we can guide and support you through the process like no one else.

Welcoming


We welcome all clients regardless of gender, race, age, religion, marital status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, expression, or identity.

Types of Adoption Services

If your heart’s desire is to parent a child from birth, then this program is for you. Our adoption specialists will assist you throughout the entire adoption process from your first inquiry to finalization and beyond.

Our services include:

  • Free Monthly Orientations
  • Pre-Adoption Workshops
  • Home Study Services
  • Hosted Online Profiles for our Prospective Adoptive Parents
  • Counseling and Support for Birth Parents
  • Birth Parent Advisement
  • Birth Parent Relinquishment and Termination of Birth Father Rights
  • ICPC (Interstate Compact Services)
  • Post Placement Supervision
  • Preparation of Court Documents
  • Post Adoption Services
  • Cooperative Adoptions with Attorneys and Facilitators
  • Adoption Service Provider (ASP)
  • Adoption Assistance Program (AAP)

For more information, please contact (310) 836-1223 x 281 or email adoptions@vistadelmar.org

View Domestic Infant FAQs

24 Hour Birth Parent Line: (213)927-5607
"I'M PREGNANT..."

If you are pregnant and want to know about your options, we are here to help.

Know that you are not alone. More than half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned and for some women, neither timing nor their life circumstances makes it feel like it’s the right time for them to become parents.

All of our services to pregnant women are free.

We are here to help and support you no matter the choice you make, whether you choose to parent, discontinue your pregnancy or make an adoption plan, we are here to help you.

If you decide to make an adoption plan, we will assist you through the entire adoption process. We will help you choose the family that you want to adopt your child and that will share the same vision as you for an ongoing relationship into the future.

Our experienced staff can provide you with hassle free assistance in the following areas: Counseling, Community Referrals, Hospital Planning, and Financial Support for those pregnancy-related expenses provided by law.

Please call or text us at (213) 927-5607 or email pregnancyoptions@vistadelmar.org to see how we can help you.

View Birth Parents FAQs

If you’re drawn to a particular country or culture and wish to adopt a child older than two years old, this program can help you build your family. There are a number of countries that work with U.S. couples hoping to adopt, so identifying which country works best for your family is usually the first step.

We are licensed with the State of California, Department of Social Services. Vista Social Workers provide home study, home study updates, and post placement/adoption services to all California families who are adopting internationally.

We have partnered with several accredited U.S. placing agencies in both Hague and Non-Hague countries that have programs in: Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Nigeria, Philippines, Pakistan, Romania, and Ukraine.

In partnership with a placing agency we connect you with, Vista provides the home study and post placement/post adoption services, including re-adoption/finalization services, support groups and counseling.

Training Requirements

It is now a mandatory requirement that 10-12 hours of education be completed before you receive an approved home study report, and we will help you in meeting those educational requirements.

We have created a one-day educational program, to navigate the lifelong journey of parenting international adoptees, instilling essential skills to encourage your child to reach their highest potential. As a Vista family, we are always here to guide you through your adoption process in the years to come.

For an individualized orientation, please call Angelica Jones to schedule: (310) 836-1223 x 409 or email angelicajones@vistadelmar.org All orientations are offered free of charge.

View International Adoption FAQs

There are thousands of children in California and more across the country who are in need of a forever family. Some are legally free for adoption right now and others are in the process. In many cities, courts will not terminate parental rights until a viable prospective adoptive family is identified.

The children range in age from 1 to 21 years old. They may be part of a sibling group or they may have a special educational or medical need - but all are in need of someone to open their heart and their home to them, and someone to call Mom or Dad.

All you need is an open heart and a loving home to change the world one child at a time.

Call (310) 836-1223 x 281 and enroll for a free orientation!

View Foster-to-Adoption FAQs

Everyday hundreds of children are brought into the foster care system in Los Angeles County. They come from all walks of life, often from family situations where they have experienced neglect and physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.

Our Foster programs include:

Once approved, Resource Parents (foster parents) will start the process by fostering children who have been detained from their biological family. They may be in your home for a few days, weeks, or months. In most cases, the biological family has 18 months to two years to reunify with their child. If reunification does not happen, you will have the opportunity to move forward with adoption. If you decide not to adopt, you will be an integral part of transitioning the child into an adoptive placement with another Resource Family.

Once you have fostered children for a minimum of six months with our agency (and if you are open to a child over the age of six), you will be eligible to match with children who have already been identified by the county as ready for an adoptive home. This is referred to as the matching list.

There are many children on the matching list. The majority are children of color and sibling groups who have experienced unimaginable trauma and loss. These adverse childhood experiences often result in difficulty regulating emotions and survival behaviors that can prove challenging. They typically qualify for wraparound services where a clinical team works one-on-one with the child to help them process and heal from their trauma. The team is also there to support you and the stability of the placement. Depending on their level of need, the child may qualify for Intensive Service Foster Care (ISFC). This higher level of care also includes a larger professional social work team and 24-hour on-call support from skilled clinicians. The ISFC program requires 40 extra hours of training for our Resource Parents as well as flexibility for additional team meetings and appointments.

To learn more about foster care programs or become a foster parent, call (310) 836-1223 x 409 or email fostercare@vistadelmar.org

View Foster Care FAQs

Contact our Adoption Services

Email a Counselor
or call

(310) 836-1223 ext 409

Joint Council A Recognized 2023 Innovator in Supporting and Serving LGBTQ+ Youth and Families | Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Presented by All Children - All Families. National Council for Adoption - Member Agency