Every Child Needs a Home!
Step 1: Locating Your Adoption Agency
The first step to adopting is to locate an adoption agency in your state. Each state has one, or more, licensed agencies that assist in the adoption process. You can find your adoption agency by looking in the phone book under adoption, or simply searching the internet for adoption and the name of your state.
Step 2: The Homestudy
The next step is to complete your homestudy. A homestudy is a family biography. It describes, in great detail, each member of your family. The adoption agency will assign your family a caseworker, who collects the information for the homestudy. The caseworker meets with the family periodically until he/she has gathered enough information to complete the homestudy. The family will be given a chance to review and sign the homestudy. This is an important phase in the adoption process. The caseworker will ask personal questions. It is critical that each member of the family is as honest in answering these questions. The family’s responses will help the worker match a child to your family. Being honest in this assessment allows the caseworker to find the best possible match.
Step 3: Being Matched with a Waiting Child
During the matching process, you will have the opportunity to review profiles of children waiting to be adopted. Your agency will assist you in finding a match. Your agency may also network with other agencies to allow you to see more waiting children. You can be proactive in your approach to finding a child. Each state has profiles of available children listed on the internet. If you are interested in being considered for one of these children, you can submit your family’s homestudy online. The child’s adoption agency makes the final decision as to which family best meets the needs of the child. If the child’s agency selects your family, you will be notified.
Step 4: Getting to Know the Child
Once your family is chosen, a meeting with the child will be scheduled. This can be a very emotional time for the child and it is important not to overwhelm the child on the first visit. Relax and get to know the child slowly. This approach will help everyone to feel more comfortable. If the child lives out-of-state, your child’s worker will help to arrange a visit. During this step, you will learn the child’s medical and family history. If the birth parents of the child have not previously had their rights terminated, it should be done at this point.
Step 5: The Child is Placed in Your Home
The next step is to have the child placed in your home. You will sign an adoptive placement agreement. You will also learn about adoption subsidies and reimbursement for adoption fees in this step. In most cases, the court costs and attorney fees will be reimbursed by the child’s agency. The child will need to live in your home at least six months before the adoption can be finalized.
Step 6: Finalizing the Adoption
In this step, the family hires an attorney to file the petition to adopt. As previously stated, the fees are usually paid or reimbursed by the child’s agency. After the petition to adopt has been filed, your attorney will notify you of the date you should appear in court. On the assigned date, you and your family will finalize the adoption. You will sign the adoption papers and receive a certificate of adoption. You will also receive an amended birth certificate for your child.
Congratulations! You have just become an adoptive parent. But more importantly, you have given a waiting child a loving family. Every child needs a home!
