MNPrairie provides adoption case management and services to children who are under our jurisdiction.  By this, we mean children who have become available for adoption because of a child protection process and are already in foster care.  Staff work with these children to find them adoptive homes or work with their current foster homes if they are the permanency option.  Many of our foster homes have children come into their care who become available for adoption and the best option for these children is to stay in the home they are already familiar with.

If you are interested in adopting through the foster care system, please review the information about Child Foster Care Licensing and make contact with one of our Licensors.  If you are interested in adoption only, please contact a private agency as they will best serve your needs.  More information on private agencies and all types of adoption can be found on the Minnesota Adoption Network website:  MN Adopt.

Some other websites that might be helpful:

MN Courts– provides information about adoption forms needed for court actions
Minnesota Department of Human Services 

Step-parent adoptions

MNPrairie staff do assist with the fingerprint background check requirement for the completion of a step-parent adoption.  There is a fee of $100.00 for this process. Staff will assist the step parent in gathering the information needed to complete the fingerprints and provide the paperwork needed for the electronic fingerprint site.  For Step-Parent adoptions, a search of the Father’s Adoption Registry is also needed. Information on completing this step can be found at the MN Department of Health Under Certificates and Records.