WV Adoption Photolisting

The West Virginia Adoption Resource Exchange (WVARE) is the state's online database of children in foster care who are legally free for adoption and actively waiting for a permanent family. If you are an approved adoptive family in West Virginia and want to be considered for a specific child, the photolisting is where that process begins.

What WVARE Is

WVARE (adoptachildwv.org) is a web-based photolisting maintained by the Bureau for Social Services (BSS). Each listing includes a photo of the child, a general description of their personality, interests, and background, and the type of family they are looking for. Identifying information such as the child's last name, school, or location is not included publicly.

The photolisting is not a browsing catalog in the way a commercial service might function. It is a structured tool for matching specific children with families who have already been through the approval process or are actively pursuing it. WVARE is also connected to national adoption exchanges, meaning West Virginia children may also appear on national platforms like AdoptUSKids.

Who Is Listed on the Photolisting

Children who appear on the WV photolisting share a specific profile: they are legally free for adoption, meaning parental rights have been terminated or relinquished, and the BSS or their current caregiver is actively seeking an adoptive family for them. A child does not appear on the photolisting until these legal steps are complete.

The children most commonly listed tend to fall into one or more of these categories:

Older children: Children ages 8 and older make up a disproportionate share of the photolisting. Infants and toddlers who become legally free are typically adopted by the foster family already caring for them. Older children in foster care who have moved through multiple placements or whose foster families cannot adopt are the ones who reach the photolisting stage.

Sibling groups: West Virginia, like most states, prioritizes keeping siblings together. A sibling group of three or four children may wait longer for placement than a single child because finding a family with the capacity to take all of the children simultaneously is more challenging. Families open to sibling groups significantly expand the pool of children they can be matched with.

Children with documented needs: Many children on the photolisting have documented medical diagnoses, developmental delays, behavioral health needs, or histories of significant trauma. This does not mean they are not adoptable — it means the BSS needs to make sure the family is appropriately prepared.

Adolescents: Teenagers in foster care who are legally free are among the most difficult children to place for adoption. Families willing to adopt adolescents provide a critical form of permanency. While traditional adoption of a teenager looks different from adopting a young child, the legal process and the adoption assistance benefits are the same.

How to Access the Photolisting

The WVARE photolisting is publicly viewable at adoptachildwv.org without registration. Viewing children's profiles does not require approval or a home study. However, submitting an inquiry about a specific child does require you to be an approved (or actively pursuing approval) prospective adoptive family.

If you are browsing and see a child whose description resonates with you, the next step is to contact the child's assigned caseworker or the WVARE coordinator listed for that child. You will be asked about your home study status and your family profile before the inquiry moves forward.

The Matching Process

Unlike a private adoption where prospective parents submit profiles for birth parent review, the matching process for children on the photolisting is led by a multidisciplinary team (MDT). The MDT includes the child's caseworker, a supervisor, therapeutic providers, and potentially a guardian ad litem — and their job is to evaluate whether your family's profile, home study, and capacity match the specific needs of the child.

The MDT considers:

• The child's history: What trauma or medical history does the child have, and does the family have the training and support system to address those needs?
• Sibling connections: If the child has biological siblings in separate placements, the MDT considers whether the placement supports those sibling relationships
• The family's approval scope: Your home study specifies the age range and number of children you are approved to care for — the MDT will not refer a child outside your approved scope without an updated home study
• Stability: Whether the family's home, employment, and support network can provide the stable, permanent environment the child needs

If the MDT agrees that your family may be a good match, the process moves to a structured introductory period — typically starting with supervised visits and moving toward overnight stays before a full placement occurs. This introductory process, sometimes called pre-placement visits, is intended to help both the child and the family build a relationship before the child moves in permanently.

National Photolistings

Beyond WVARE, West Virginia children may also be listed on:

• AdoptUSKids (adoptuskids.org): The federally funded national adoption exchange
• Heart Gallery of America: A photography-based awareness campaign that features professional portraits of waiting children
• Dave Thomas Foundation Wendys Wonderful Kids: A program that funds dedicated adoption recruiters for waiting children, with a presence in West Virginia

If you are an approved WV adoptive family open to waiting children, registering with AdoptUSKids puts your family profile in front of caseworkers not just in WV but nationwide — useful if you are willing to adopt through interstate placement (ICPC).

Interstate Adoption Through the ICPC

If you are a West Virginia family considering a child listed in another state, or a family from another state seeking to adopt a West Virginia child, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) applies. Both states' ICPC offices must review and approve the placement before the child can move.

ICPC processes add time to the adoption — often several additional months — and require coordination between two state bureaucracies. For families who see a child on a national photolisting, starting the ICPC process early and working with an attorney familiar with multi-state placements is important.

What to Do If You Are Not Yet Approved

If you are interested in adopting a waiting child from WVARE but have not started the approval process, the most direct path is to contact the BSS or a licensed CPA to begin the foster care or adoptive home study process. The home study typically takes 3–6 months. During that time, you can continue researching children on the photolisting.

When you are approved, your home study establishes your "scope" — the age range, number of children, and any specific needs you are prepared to care for. Being thoughtful about your scope during the home study process directly affects which children you can be matched with from the photolisting.

The West Virginia Adoption Process Guide walks through the home study approval process, how to advocate effectively in MDT matching meetings, and what pre-placement visits look like for older children and sibling groups transitioning from foster care.

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