GENERAL ADOPTION OVERVIEW

We are proud to have been an accredited agency by the Council on Accreditation since 1997. We are an agency that adheres the highest standards of practice and ethics in our field. We have worked with over 6000 families and have been in operation since 1984. We are committed to helping children find permanent families, and to helping children in foreign countries with humanitarian aid.

There is no question that it’s a lot of work to adopt a child. That is why it is our job to make this a manageable and rewarding experience. The “right” adoption for you can depend on many different factors, so please feel free to call us anytime for a completely free, personalized consult.

In a nutshell, a typical adoption goes something like this:

Step 1: DECIDE WHAT KIND OF ADOPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU: DOMESTIC VS. INTERNATIONAL

We provide many different ways to tease out the differences between these types of adoption and help you figure out which way is the right way for your family. After you’ve checked out some of the basics on our website, call to RSVP for a free Info Night that we hold once a month. Even the parking is free, so you really have nothing to lose, but much knowledge and to gain!

Step 2: SIGN UP WITH A PLACEMENT PROGRAM

Placement agencies (vs. home study agencies) are the ones who identify a child. They may be the same as your home study agency or you may work with different organizations, whether an agency, facilitator, or attorney. We are a full service agency that can do both.

International
If you adopting internationally, now you will need to hire the placing agency of your choice to help you submit a dossier to submit to the foreign country and match you to a child abroad. This agency will be your go-to resource for your country-specific questions.

Domestic
Being a fully licensed agency, we are able to guide you through an adoption from beginning to end, from identifying a child, accepting the legal relinquishments of birth parents, to finalizing your adoption and creating a future contact agreement that is comfortable for all parties. ADOPT’s domestic program consists of creating profile picture books and letters to present to women that are considering adoption. We will coordinate everything from the first phone call and meetings with your birth parent(s), to the discharge of your baby from the hospital, all the way through to the finalization of your adoption.

ADOPT strongly believes the adoption is a life-long process. Our doors will always be open to families that ever find themselves in need of adoption advice or support, no matter the age of your child.

Step 3: COMPLETE AN ADOPTION HOME STUDY
Click here for downloadable Home Study applications

It was once thought that the big challenge was passing a home study. We know that most people “pass” their home studies with ease, and actually enjoy the process and confess to really learning something new and relevant. We conduct home studies with respect and openness and proudly work with single parents, non-traditional families and traditional families alike. It is typically a six to eight week process that consists of three parts:

• Gathering Paperwork. Supporting documents like birth/marriage certificates, financial records, medical records, reference etc. are required by California Department of Social Services. We will give you plenty of instruction to make this part as painless as possible!

• Completing Education. All of our families will have the benefit our ‘Attachment in Adoption’ seminar, and further classes may be required depending on the type of adoption you are pursuing. ADOPT emphasizes the in-person class setting because (i) the better we know you the better adoption we can create and (ii) getting to know other adoptive families is an important part of the process. For international adoptions you will be covering 10 hours and 11 topics that will give you a thorough understanding of international adoption process, child backgrounds, child development, transracial and transcultural issues, creating attachment, family adjustment and many more issues. Domestic educational programs focus on relationships with birth mothers, future contact agreements, attachment and an optional transracial piece.

• Meetings with your social worker. The study includes discussing topics of financial stability, current health status, criminal histories, family support, understanding of adoption (domestic or international), your commitments to helping your child understand their histories, and your specific request for a child. These discussions are meant to helpful, NOT judgemental. Your social worker is an excellent source of knowledge and support that we want you to take complete advantage of throughout the entire adoption process.

The Home Study will include a final “approval,” that specifies the age, health and ethnicity of the child you want to adopt.

Step 3A: (INTERNATIONAL ONLY) COMPLETE USCIS AND COUNTRY REQUIREMENTS

Your placing agency will now guide you through completing a dossier, the application and supporting documents to apply to adopt from a certain country. At the same time, you will apply for ‘pre-approval’ from USCIS to eventually bring your child into the U.S. Your pre-approval or ‘I-171h’ document is valid for only 18 and it is very important not to let it expire without consulting your immigration expert.

Step 5: WAIT

ADOPT recognizes that while the wait may not be a formal step in the adoption process, it is most definitely a real and often very difficult obstacle for families to get through. We want this to be the most positive experience possible, so please call us if you are feeling particularly antsy about the wait. We are happy to give you updates, connect you to other families or just give you the reassurance that it will happen!

Step 6: BRING YOUR CHILD HOME, COMPLETE SUPERVISION PERIOD

Once you have brought your child home and had some time to settle in and soak up this unique and incredible experience, you will start your post placement supervision with your home study agency.

ADOPT requires that all families have a post placement visit within the first 60 days of arriving home, and a second visit within 6 months of the child’s arrival. We believe our services are most helpful during this critical adjustment time and we are confident we can help make it as smooth as possible. International programs often have addition post placement requirements that must be met. Domestic adoption in California requires 4 visits in no less than 6 months.

Step 7: COMPLETE FINALIZATION OR READOPTION

At the end of this supervision period, your last report will include a recommendation to proceed either to finalization (for domestic adoption or international guardianships) or readoption (for full adoptions completed in the foreign country). This process will allow you to receive a new birth certificate with your name as the parents, change the child’s legal name, and give you a California Adoption Decree. It is highly recommended to complete this process.