Child Abuse Clearances

For Wide Horizons For Children clients only.

As part of the home study process, prospective adoptive parents and all adult members (those over 18) of the household are required to obtain child abuse registry clearances from the state in which they currently reside.

Applicants adopting internationally (and their adult household members) must also obtain clearances from all places of residence since age 18 (including foreign countries).

Applicants adopting domestically (and their adult household members) must obtain clearances from all places of residence in the last 5 years (including foreign countries).

Please use the links below to access any state clearances you need.  There are specific instructions for each state – some you send directly to the state office that processes them – but most you send to WHFC.

State-Specific Instructions

Click on the name of each state in which you have lived for the designated period of time for instructions and a link to the applicable form. The process for filing clearance vary from state to state, so please be sure to read the instructions carefully. Keep in mind that clearances will need to be updated based on individual state requirements.

International Instructions

If you or your adult household member lived abroad in the specified timeframe, then a foreign clearance may be necessary. USCIS, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State, has developed a list of countries and geographic entities confirmed to have no child abuse registry information available. This list contains the most recent information currently available to USCIS, and is subject to change. If a country in which you have lived is on the list, you will be exempt from obtaining a child abuse clearance from that country. If a country in which you have lived is not listed, please contact Christina Cetrone at WHFC to dicuss obtaining the necessary clearance.  WHFC may or may not have instructions available, but will attempt to assist you in your research.