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About making inquiries on youth

Ready to learn more about a youth with a profile? Learn all about taking the next step. 

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Take the next step to learn more about a youth

At the bottom of each youth profile, you’ll see a pink button that says “Make an inquiry.” Making an inquiry tells us that you are interested in learning more about a youth. Here’s how making an inquiry works:

Making inquiries on youth

1

You are inspired by a youth’s profile that you see on Northwest Adoption Exchange.

You want to learn more about the youth and see if they'd be a great match for your family.

2

You submit an inquiry.

If you believe your family is a great fit for a youth with an In-Depth Profile or any of our teens, we encourage you to reach out to us at any time even if your home study is not complete yet.

3

We review your inquiry. If you have a home study, we’ll verify your information. If you don’t have a home study yet, don’t worry! We’re here to support you.

If appropriate, we connect you or your caseworker with the youth’s caseworker. The youth’s caseworker will help determine next steps.

For inquiring on youth in Washington

Once your inquiry has been approved, you will receive an email from us with the contact information for the youth’s caseworker. Please know that we will include your worker as part of this email. Once you receive the youth’s caseworker information, you should reach out to the caseworker directly.

For inquiring on youth in Oregon

Once your inquiry has been approved, you will receive an email from us confirming that we sent your caseworker the contact information for the youth’s caseworker. Oregon requires that caseworkers do the communication.

Families are not able to have direct contact with an Oregon youth’s caseworker at first. Know that your caseworker is responsible for reaching out on your family's behalf. Your caseworker must reach out directly to the youth's caseworker.

Frequently asked questions about inquiries 

If you believe your family is a great fit for a teen or youth with an In-Depth Profile, we encourage you to reach out to us at any time. However, you will need a home study to submit an inquiry using the inquiry form. Please be aware that you may have to wait until your home study is complete to be connected with the youth’s caseworker and for further information.

In most cases, your home study needs to have been completed or updated within the last two to three years. If you have a question about whether or not your home study allows you to connect with a youth’s caseworker, please reach out and we’ll check on your eligibility.

Yes. Most caseworkers are interested in hearing from families who will best fit the needs of a youth, regardless of geographical location. While there are times when a local placement is preferred in order to maintain existing connections, please place an inquiry if you think you could provide permanency for that particular youth.

If you have not heard back from the caseworker within two weeks, please reach out to us.

Note: Oregon is a caseworker-to-caseworker contact state, which means contact is limited to professionals only. If your caseworker hasn’t heard back on an Oregon inquiry, we advise them to follow up with the caseworker again, using the contact information provided during the inquiry process.

Strength-based recruitment respects the safety, privacy, and dignity of youth in foster care and gives them the opportunity to be empowered, engaged, and involved in helping find their adoptive family.

We don't include physical descriptions, personal information like what medication a child may be taking, or anything that you wouldn't personally be excited to read if you were reading a profile about yourself. Instead, we focus on passions, positive characteristics, hobbies, and points of pride for the youth.

We know that personal information is really important to families and necessary to know. Parenting a child with trauma requires deep consideration. Rest assured that when you are identified as the best fit for a child to move forward with, all necessary information about that child will be made available to you.