ABC's of Adoption – The Adoption Process

We use a four-tiered approval process that involves an initial inquiry, orientation and adoptive parent training, an application, and an extensive home study. We only accept the number of adoptive families with whom we feel we can place children in less than twelve months and whose expectations we feel we can meet.

Once a family has received full acceptance their profile will be presented to birth parents whose situations match the adoptive family’s areas of openness and flexibility. Birth parents review profiles and determine which families they would like to consider as prospective adoptive parents.

When a family is selected by a birth parent the agency will contact the adoptive parents to review the birth parent’s case history and set up a phone call with birth parent(s). Once a family commits to a case after having been presented with a birth parent profile, available medical records, and a written case assessment from the Adoption Services Coordinator, they will then proceed to have phone calls and visits when feasible, occur throughout the pregnancy.

During the pregnancy the adoptive family will receive a cooperative agreement outlining the type of contact the birth parent(s) would like during labor and delivery and after delivery during the hospital stay. It also describes the relationship the birth parents and adoptive parents would like to have after the baby is placed with the adoptive parents.

After the birth parent(s) have signed relinquishment documents (no sooner than 48 hours after the birth of the baby), the adoptive placement paperwork will be done with the adoptive parents. Adoptive families are generally permitted to take the baby home from the hospital. Finalization occurs 6-12 months after placement.