The Adoption Listing Service at Let It Be Us is a program that supports foster care adoption by matching children in foster care who are seeking an adoptive family with licensed foster parents who are looking to adopt children through the Illinois foster care system. All of the children we work with have a court-ordered goal of either Adoption or Substitute Care Pending Termination of Parental Rights (meaning the judge has decided that they will not be returned to their biological parents).

Please note that you must be a licensed foster parent with a valid home study to be eligible to adopt a child from the foster care system in Illinois.

If you’re exploring foster to adopt in Illinois, how to adopt a child in Illinois, or interested in Illinois foster care adoption, the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us is your first step toward finding and adopting a waiting child.

Registration is simple and includes two key steps:

Step 1: Complete and Submit the Family Registration Form

• Fill out the Family Registration Form HERE
• Once you receive an email with your completed form, please:
  • Sign the form
  • Have your partner sign (if applicable)
  • Have your licensing worker sign
• Email the signed form to:
  adoptionlistingservice@letitbeus.org
  Or mail to:
  Let It Be Us
  145 West Main Street
  Barrington, Illinois 60010

Step 2: Submit Your Home Study/Assessment

• Please send a copy of your home study or foster home assessment confirming your status as a licensed foster parent.
• Email to:
  adoptionlistingservice@letitbeus.org
  Or mail to:
  Let It Be Us
  145 West Main Street
  Barrington, Illinois 60010

Note: If your home study was completed over a year ago, please also include your most recent licensing records (e.g., your latest monitoring visit report).

By registering with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us, you’ll gain access to matching services that connect you with waiting children in the foster care system. Whether you’re interested in adopting a child in Illinois or researching how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

If you’re wondering how to adopt a child in Illinois, the foster to adopt Illinois process is a meaningful and accessible path. In Illinois, you can adopt through foster care by first becoming a licensed foster parent through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or one of their contracted child welfare agencies.

To begin your journey toward Illinois foster care adoption, you’ll need to obtain a foster home license. This process includes completing required training (known as PRIDE training) and undergoing a foster home assessment, also referred to as a home study.

Let It Be Us, a licensed child welfare agency and the operator of the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois, can help guide you through the steps. If you’re ready to take the first step toward adopting a child in Illinois, complete our simple intake form here . Let It Be Us will connect you directly with a DCFS licensing representative in your area.

There are no fees associated with becoming licensed when you’re referred through the Adoption Listing Service at Let It Be Us, making this a viable path for those exploring how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free.

For anyone considering adoption in Illinois, including foster to adopt Illinois families, Let It Be Us is here to help you navigate the process with clarity, compassion, and expert support.

If you’re wondering how to adopt a child in Illinois through the foster care system, it’s important to understand that obtaining a foster care license is a required step – even if your ultimate goal is adoption.

In Illinois adoption law, individuals who wish to adopt from foster care must first become licensed foster parents and complete a home study, also known as a foster home assessment. This is a key part of the Illinois foster care adoption process.

When a child is placed in your home – whether your intent is fostering or adopting – you are initially considered a foster parent. Even in cases where adoption is the goal, Illinois requires that you foster the child for a minimum of six months before the legal adoption Illinois process can begin.

For those pursuing foster to adopt in Illinois or looking into how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free, this licensing requirement ensures that you are fully prepared to meet the needs of the child and comply with state guidelines.

Let It Be Us, a licensed child welfare agency, is here to guide you through each step – from getting licensed to finalizing the adoption – making adopting a child in Illinois as smooth and supportive as possible.

The Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us team is happy to connect you to an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) representative in your region! Please complete this form HERE.

Once you have completed the foster care licensing process, we hope you come back and register with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us at that time!

If you’re exploring how to adopt a child in Illinois or are considering Illinois foster care adoption, you’ll be pleased to know that the process is open to a wide range of individuals and families. In fact, adopting a child in Illinois through the foster care system is accessible to people from all walks of life.

To be eligible for foster to adopt in Illinois, you must be at least 21 years old. You can be single, married, in a civil union, divorced, or separated. There is no requirement to own a home – eligible individuals may rent or own a house or apartment. What’s most important is that your home has sufficient space to safely accommodate children.

Illinois adoption through foster care focuses on creating stable, loving environments for children. If you meet these basic requirements and are ready to learn more about how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free, Let It Be Us can help.

As a licensed child welfare agency, Let It Be Us supports families through every step of the adoption Illinois process. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to begin your licensing journey, we’re here to guide you.

If you’re interested in foster to adopt in Illinois or want to understand how to adopt a child in Illinois, the first step is becoming a licensed foster parent. The licensing process is designed to prepare and support you in welcoming a child into your home, whether your goal is fostering or pursuing Illinois foster care adoption.

To ensure you’re ready for the responsibilities of adopting a child in Illinois, the foster care licensing process includes the following steps:

• Home Inspection and Social Assessment – A caseworker will visit your home to ensure it meets safety standards and assess your family environment.
• Training Courses – You’ll complete state-mandated training that focuses on caring for children in foster care and understanding their unique needs.
• Criminal Background Checks – All adult household members must pass background checks.
• Financial Stability – You must demonstrate that you can meet your household’s financial needs without relying on foster care reimbursement.
• Health Screening – You’ll provide health documentation, including up-to-date immunization records for all household members.

The licensing process typically takes up to six months to complete and is a vital step in preparing families for adoption in Illinois.

If you’re considering how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free or navigating the process of Illinois adoption, Let It Be Us can help you every step of the way. As a licensed child welfare agency, Let It Be Us connects families to resources and supports to help make adopting a child in Illinois a reality.

To learn more, visit the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) website or contact Let It Be Us directly.

If you already hold a valid foster care license and are exploring how to adopt a child in Illinois, you’re in a great position to begin the Illinois foster care adoption process. You can continue working with your current licensing agency while also registering with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us.

By registering with Let It Be Us, a leading agency in Illinois adoption, you’ll gain access to additional support and matching opportunities with waiting children across the state, including those featured in the Heart Gallery of Illinois. Our team will collaborate with your licensing agency to help identify potential matches and support you throughout the foster to adopt Illinois process.

Whether you’re interested in adopting a child in Illinois or exploring how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free, Let It Be Us is here to walk alongside you every step of the way.

Registration with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois with Let It Be Us is simple and includes two key steps:

Step 1: Complete and Submit the Family Registration Form

• Fill out the Family Registration Form HERE
• Once you receive an email with your completed form, please:
  • Sign the form
  • Have your partner sign (if applicable)
  • Have your licensing worker sign
• Email the signed form to:
  adoptionlistingservice@letitbeus.org
  Or mail to:
  Let It Be Us
  145 West Main Street
  Barrington, Illinois 60010

Step 2: Submit Your Home Study / Assessment

• Please send a copy of your home study or foster home assessment confirming your status as a licensed foster parent.
• Email to:
  adoptionlistingservice@letitbeus.org
  Or mail to:
  Let It Be Us
  145 West Main Street
  Barrington, Illinois 60010

Note: If your home study was completed over a year ago, please also include your most recent licensing records (e.g., your latest monitoring visit report).

By registering with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us, you’ll gain access to matching services that connect you with waiting children in the foster care system. Whether you’re interested in adopting a child in Illinois or researching how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

NOTE: if it was finalized over a year ago, please also send along licensing records from within the past year. (ex. Most recent licensing monitoring records.)

Yes, you can! If you live outside the state but are exploring how to adopt a child in Illinois through the foster care system, you are still eligible – provided you meet certain requirements.

To participate in Illinois foster care adoption as an out-of-state resident, you must:

• Be a licensed foster parent in your home state
• Have a current and approved home study/assessment

Once you meet these criteria, you can register with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us. Our team will review your information and determine if you may be a good fit for one of the waiting children featured in the Heart Gallery of Illinois.

Whether you’re hoping to foster to adopt in Illinois, are researching how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free, or simply want to learn more about Illinois adoption, Let It Be Us is here to guide you through every step no matter where you live.

Registration with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois with Let It Be Us is simple and includes two key steps:

Step 1: Complete and Submit the Family Registration Form

• Fill out the Family Registration Form HERE
• Once you receive an email with your completed form, please:
  • Sign the form
  • Have your partner sign (if applicable)
  • Have your licensing worker sign
• Email the signed form to:
  adoptionlistingservice@letitbeus.org
  Or mail to:
  Let It Be Us
  145 West Main Street
  Barrington, Illinois 60010

Step 2: Submit Your Home Study/Assessment

• Please send a copy of your home study or foster home assessment confirming your status as a licensed foster parent.
• Email to:
  adoptionlistingservice@letitbeus.org
  Or mail to:
  Let It Be Us
  145 West Main Street
  Barrington, Illinois 60010

Note: If your home study was completed over a year ago, please also include your most recent licensing records (e.g., your latest monitoring visit report).

By registering with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us, you’ll gain access to matching services that connect you with waiting children in the foster care system. Whether you’re interested in adopting a child in Illinois or researching how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

NOTE: if it was finalized over a year ago, please also send along licensing records from within the past year. (ex. Most recent licensing monitoring records.)

If you’re exploring how to adopt a child in Illinois or interested in foster to adopt in Illinois, a great place to start is by viewing profiles of waiting children in the foster care system. These are children in need of permanent, loving homes through Illinois foster care adoption.

You can view these profiles on the Heart Gallery of Illinois, located on the Let It Be Us website here. The Heart Gallery features real stories and photos of children and teens in Illinois foster care who are legally available for adoption or on a path toward it.

Each child featured in the Heart Gallery has a court-ordered goal of either Adoption or Substitute Care Pending Termination of Parental Rights – meaning a judge has determined they will not be reunified with their biological family. These are often referred to as “waiting children.”

To inquire about a child, you’ll need to register with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us. Once registered, you can express interest in any child you feel may be a good match for your home.

Whether you’re hoping to grow your family through adoption in Illinois, are looking into adopting a child in Illinois, or want to know how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free, Let It Be Us is here to guide you through the process.

If you’re exploring how to adopt a child in Illinois or pursuing foster to adopt in Illinois, the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us is a powerful resource designed to guide you through the process and help you connect with children in need of permanent homes.

Once you register with the Adoption Listing Service, our team at Let It Be Us will begin working to match you with waiting children available for Illinois foster care adoption. You’ll also have the opportunity to inquire directly about specific children featured in the Heart Gallery of Illinois – a public photo listing of youth in foster care who are seeking adoptive families.

In addition to your inquiries, the information you provide on your Family Registration Form is securely stored in our protected database. Our team uses this data to identify possible matches with any child in the Illinois child welfare system who may be a fit for your home. When we identify a potential match, we’ll reach out to ask if you’re open to learning more.

If the Adoption Listing Service believes you may be a strong match, we will submit your information to the child’s caseworker. If the caseworker agrees, the next step is a full disclosure meeting, where both you and the child’s case management team will have the opportunity to learn more about each other.

Should both sides wish to move forward, the child’s team will take the lead in coordinating meetings, visits, and – if all goes well – placement and adoption in Illinois.

If a particular match does not move forward, Let It Be Us will continue to support you through your journey of adopting a child in Illinois. Whether you’re interested in how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free or are open to older children and sibling groups, we’re here to walk alongside you every step of the way.

If you’re exploring how to adopt a child in Illinois and wondering about the cost, you’ll be glad to know that Illinois foster care adoption is a low- to no-cost process – especially when you work with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us.

There are no fees for foster to adopt in Illinois when you go through the Adoption Listing Service at Let It Be Us. This includes application support, child matching, and guidance throughout the process. Additionally, you are not responsible for court costs or legal fees as long as you use an attorney from the DCFS Adoption Attorney Panel.

Should you choose to hire a private (non-panel) attorney, you would be responsible for those costs up front, with the option to request reimbursement later.

For families interested in how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free, or those considering adopting a child in Illinois through foster care, this affordable path makes Illinois adoption accessible to a wide range of families. Let It Be Us is committed to helping you navigate the system with clarity, compassion, and expert support.

Yes. If you are pursuing Illinois foster care adoption, hiring an adoption attorney is a required step in the process. Fortunately, families who are foster to adopt in Illinois have access to legal support at no cost through the DCFS Adoption Attorney Panel – a group of experienced attorneys who specialize in adoption in Illinois.

When you work with an attorney from this panel, there are no legal fees associated with your adoption Illinois journey. This makes it an excellent option for families interested in how to adopt a child in Illinois or even how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free.

If you choose to retain a private, non-panel attorney, you will be responsible for the legal fees initially, but you may be eligible for reimbursement through DCFS.

At Let It Be Us, we are here to support you through every step of adopting a child in Illinois, from your first inquiry to finalization in court.

Yes! For more detailed information about current providers and the post-adoption and guardianship support available to families, visit the Path Beyond Adoption website.

Families who find they need intensive intervention to keep their family supported can call the appropriate agency from the list below.

• DCFS Cook County Regions
  • Catholic Charities (Chicago): 773-630-4122
  • Metropolitan Family Services (Cook): 630-784-4894
  • Jewish Children and Family Services: 773-673-2711
  • Ada S. McKinley: 773-343-2578
• DCFS Northern Region
  • Children’s Home and Aid Society (Rockford): 815-720-2111 (Serves Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Winnebago, and Whiteside counties)
  • Metropolitan Family Services (DuPage): 630-784-4894 (Serves DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Kankakee, and Will counties)
• DCFS Central Region
  • Cornerstone (Quincy): 217-222-8254 (Serves Adams, Brown, Cass, Northern Calhoun, Greene, Hancock, Morgan, Pike, Schuyler, and Scott counties)
  • Lutheran Social Services (Peoria, Galesburg, Rock Island): 309-671-0300 ext. 4237 (Serves Bureau, Fulton, Henderson, Henry, Knox, LaSalle, Logan, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford counties)
  • The Baby Fold-Bloomington (Champaign, Springfield): 309-557-1149 (Serves Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Edgar, Douglas, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, McLean, Menard, Montgomery, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon, Shelby, and Vermillion counties)
  • Family Core (Peoria): 309-676-2400 ext. 290 (Serves Peoria, Tazwell, Woodford, McDonough, Mason, Logan, Dewitt, McClean, Livingston, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, Stark, Knox, Fulton, and Warren counties)
• DCFS Southern Region
  • Children’s Home and Aid Society (Granite City): 618-452-8900 ext. 101 (Serves Bond, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, South Calhoun, St. Clair, and Washington counties)
  • Children’s Home and Aid Society (Herrin): 618-452-8900 ext. 101 (Serves Alexander, Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, and Williamson counties)
  • Families in counties that are served by two or more agencies, according to address, can choose between the two, or call to be referred to the appropriate agency.

Contact the Midwest Adoption Center: 847-298-9096

• Individuals who were adopted/in foster care looking to search for and reunite with birth family members and access to their foster care file; or birth families looking for information on children.