Minnesota Adoption Services
Adopting a child into your home is a lifelong commitment. As a licensed adoption agency, we work hard to help bring youth and parents together in permanent family settings.
Our services are available across Minnesota and are provided free of charge:
- Training and education
- Adoption home studies and updates
- Relative home study services
- Relative adoption and permanency services
- Child-specific recruitment
- Child placement services
- Post-permanency service
We serve youth up to age 21 who are under state or tribal guardianship.
Become an adoptive parent
Completing an adoption home study is the first step to becoming a licensed adoptive parent. Below are the necessary steps your family needs to complete for the home study process.
Steps to complete home study process
- Attend the Foster Care & Adoption Education class. Provided by Children’s Home & LSS, LLC. Visit the CHLSS education website for details. A certificate of completion is provided to Nexus by the family.
- Submit an inquiry to Nexus. The family will complete the Prospective Foster/Adoption Family Inquiry Form.
- Participate in an initial meeting. A Nexus licensor will schedule a virtual or in-person meet and greet to discuss the home study process and answer questions.
- Complete the required licensing paperwork. The family will be granted access to the online licensing platform after determining that Nexus is a good fit. While some forms are completed early in the process, additional paperwork may be completed throughout the licensing journey.
- Complete home study meetings. The licensing worker will schedule a series of meetings with the family. A minimum of three meetings is required, although additional meetings may be necessary.
- Complete the 4-hour Agency-Specific Training. This training may occur before the foster care and adoption education class.
- Complete the Home Safety Checklist. A licensing worker will review the home to verify it provides a safe environment for children and meets all applicable licensing standards.
- Complete required state and agency trainings. Trainings are completed throughout the licensing process.
- Participate in a Family Support Meeting. The family and members of their support system meet with the licensor to discuss the adoption process, successes, barriers, and how the family will be supported.
- Complete the Home Study Assessment. The assessment is finalized and reviewed for approval.
- Receive licensure. If the Home Study Assessment is approved and all requirements have been met, the family will be licensed.
Our locations
Minnesota foster care, adoption, and relative and kinship services are offered in the following locations.
Administrative Office
505 Highway 169 North
Suite 500
Plymouth, MN 55441
612-331-4429
Bemidji/Fergus Falls Office
220 W Washington Ave. #B3
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
218-739-3074
Cloquet Office
1302 Cloquet Ave.
Cloquet, MN 55720
218-722-6106
St. Cloud Office
412 Great Oak Dr.
Waite Park, MN 56387
320-529-0862
Minnesota waiting child
Myra is a creative and adventurous 14-year-old who enjoys reading, drawing, spending time outdoors, and learning new skills. Whether she’s teaching herself how to skateboard, trying out new activities, or getting lost in a good horror novel, Myra approaches life with curiosity and determination. She hopes for a loving and supportive family where she feels accepted and included. Myra would enjoy having siblings and would be especially excited to join a family with pets, particularly dogs. More than anything, she is looking for caring adults who will provide encouragement, stability, and a strong sense of belonging as she continues to grow and thrive.
“Thank you for matching my parents with us. It changed my life.” – Adopted Youth
Learn, connect, and get involved
From the Blog
Adoption Necessities
Through the journey of knowledge, bravery, and strength, the child and adoptive family make a significant and meaningful impact on one another. The child and adoptive family allow for vulnerability in getting to know each other and open their hearts to begin a new chapter together.
Stories of Hope/Impact
From Complex Needs to Extraordinary Futures
Joe and Anne always dreamed of having a big family. A friend introduced Joe and Anne to Nexus Family Healing’s foster care and adoption services where they received comprehensive training and guidance that prepared them for the realities of fostering.
Upcoming Event
Our accreditations
- Accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA)
- Licensed by the State of Minnesota
- Member of Foster Family-based Treatment Association
- Aspire member
Nexus Family Healing is grateful to the State of Minnesota – Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Our Adoption services are supported by the Public Private Permanency Collaboration program (PPPC); Michelle Frazier (DCYF) [email protected]. Nexus organization contacts for the PPPC grant: Gretchen Welch, [email protected] and Nicole Mucheck, [email protected].