Adoptive Parent Information

1. Inquiry

·        Making contact with an agency

·        Private consultation

2. Application Requirements

• To complete the adoptive process, families must:

• Demonstrate the ability to provide a stable, nurturing environment for a child.
• Complete the home study process as described below.

3. Assessment and Preparation for Adoption

• To prepare for adoption, families typically participate in the following:
  • Training seminar: this small group format serves two purposes.  It educates participants about all aspects of adoption and also provides practical assistance in searching for and working with birth parents (recommended, not required).
  • A family interviewing process which includes assessments of applicants' emotional and physical health, as well as, stability and readiness for parenthood (required).
  • Completing necessary paperwork which includes medical examinations, reference letters, review of income and residence, a certificate of marriage, record clearance checks (police record and child protective services record) and a family profile to be shown to birth parents (required).
• Adoptive Home Qualifications Residence and Citizenship:
  • U.S. citizenship is not required, but the status of non-citizens is investigated.
  • Marital Status: Both married and single persons are encouraged to apply to adopt.  Although there is no minimum number of years of marriage required for couples, the security of the marital relationship and the commitment of both parents to adoption is explored.  We also believe in the ability of single parents to provide a good home and applications from these persons are welcome.
  • Finances: Your ability to manage your income is more important than how much money you have.  It is only necessary that you have good enough income on a regular basis to insure reasonable financial security in providing for the child's care.
  • Housing: It is not necessary to own your home in order to adopt.  Your living arrangements should offer enough space and should insure the health, safety, and well being of your family and the child you wish to adopt.
  • Other Children: Only you can determine how small or large your family should be, so we make no requirements regarding the current size of your family.
  • Health: Your physical health and life expectancy are important, as well as your emotional health.  Parents should be able to handle the everyday responsibilities of raising a child.  There are no restrictions regarding disabled persons, unless their disability would hinder their fulfilling their parental role.
  • Religion: A family's values and beliefs are influential and significant in a child's development.  However, adoptive applicants are not required to claim a religious faith.  Our main concern is the provision of a wholesome environment in which the child is accepted and nurtured.

4. Recommendation

• After the preparation phase is complete, families are recommended when they have demonstrated their readiness for parenting and have completed all necessary documentation.

5. Placement of the Child

• Birth parents and adoptive parents choose each other.
• Birth and placement of the child occurs
• Adoptive and birth parents go to court after the child is born for the birth parents to give consent to the adoption.
• Contact with birth parents after placement is the legal and parental decision of the adoptive parents.

6. Post Placement

• For a minimum of six months following placement the adoption social worker provides follow-up contacts with the adoptive family.  Finalization of the adoption occurs approximately 6-9 months after the child is placed in the home.