Becoming a Foster or Adoptive Family With Diakon
Diakon Adoption & Foster Care prepares and supports families who want to become resource families, meaning foster families, legal-risk (foster-to-adopt) families or adoptive families, for children and youths across the central and eastern Pennsylvania territory it serves. It has offices in Mechanicsburg, Topton and York.
The page does not list requirements such as age, income, marital status or housing. Diakon does not discriminate in admissions, the provision of services, or referrals of clients on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other classes protected by law.
The first step is to request a comprehensive, no-obligation packet of information. You can do that by completing the online information-request form at diakonafc.org/afc-contact-us or by e-mailing or telephoning the recruitment staff. April Bartholomew is listed at (610) 682-1259 for the Central Pennsylvania Office in Mechanicsburg, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Office in Topton and the South-Central Pennsylvania Office in York.
The second step is a general-overview information and orientation session, held monthly in various locations. It covers Diakon's foster care and adoption services, the steps of foster care or adoption, the types of children who need foster or adoptive families, how to apply, and any related fees. If you or your family are unable to attend an information night, a one-on-one session can be arranged. Most of these events are currently being held virtually, so contact Diakon for more information. Dates, times and locations for upcoming sessions are posted on the website, along with a printable list of training events at locations throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania.
If you go forward, these are the steps that follow:
- a family self-inventory, to think through whether you want to move ahead
- the Interest Registration Form, available on the Forms page in the In Process section of the website or given to you at your information session
- adoption and foster care preparation training, which can begin after you attend an orientation or information session
- a family profile after training is completed, with home visits, designed to understand your family and help make an appropriate child and family match
- an extensive search of all children and youths who need a foster family or who are legally free for adoption
- an introduction to a child once a potential match is made, with pre-placement visits
- placement in your home, followed by six to nine months of supervision by Diakon team members; foster care placements may be more intensive, depending on the type and level of placement
- for legal-risk (foster-to-adopt) placements or domestic adoption, finalization of the adoption after the supervision period, at which point the child or youth is legally part of the adoptive family
The Topton office, listed as the Northeastern Pennsylvania Office, is at One South Home Avenue, Topton, PA 19562, (610) 682-1504. The Mechanicsburg office is at 5000 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, (717) 795-0320. The York office is at 836 South George Street, York, PA 17403, (717) 845-9113.
The page does not give office hours, the dates of upcoming information sessions or the amount of any fees. Fees are among the topics explained at the information session, and the website has a separate Fees page, so ask when you call.
Source: diakonafc.org/learn-more-why-diakon/getting-started, read September 18, 2026.
The details
In Diakon Adoption & Foster Care’s words
Diakon Adoption & Foster Care supplies a comprehensive, no-obligation packet of information to people interested in foster care or adoption. Held monthly in various locations, the information session offers prospective resources families a general overview of foster care, legal-risk (foster-to-adopt) placements and adoption.
Other sites
- York, 836 South George Street, York, PA 17403
- Topton, One South Home Avenue, Topton, PA 19562
Organization
Diakon Adoption & Foster Care
About this listing
This listing summarizes publicly available information from diakonafc.org/learn-more-why-diakon/getting-started. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.