The Office of Adoption Operations is a licensed adoption agency within the State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families, Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P). The Office of Adoption Operations is approved to provide adoption services to children in the public child welfare system, which includes placing children into adoptive homes as well as providing other adoption related services in New Jersey. Each year, the Office of Adoption Operations finalizes the adoptions of hundreds of children; the majority of whom are adopted out of the foster care system. Yet despite the success in ensuring permanency for many children, there are still children who are in need of an adoptive family. The decision to adopt a child and fully accept that child as your own is not often made with ease. There is a lot to consider before you make such a commitment. This handbook will provide you with important information regarding general characteristics of available children, who can adopt and a step by step guide regarding the adoption process.