Adoption Process, Adoption Steps- Adoption Services Inc.

The first thing you can expect when adopting is a lot of paper work! Part of our job is to ensure that you are able to provide for a child. This means we need proof and confirmation of everything! The following is a list of the steps we usually follow to get you through the adoption process.

1.	After you have contacted us and decided on the type of adoption you would like to pursue, we will send you an application. This application asks for general personal information about you, your spouse, your marriage, your children (if any), your education, your job, and your intentions with adoption. This form also asks you to give us a list of five people who are willing to act as your references. The application must be submitted along with copies of birth certificates, marriage license, divorce decree(s), proof of auto insurance, most recent W-2, pet vaccinations, military discharge, and a recent picture of you. We also request that at this time you sign the agency agreement, and other related forms acknowledging our requirements.
2.	After this, we will start to process your application. If there are any questions, or if we anticipate a problem, we will call you. In the mean time, you continue to round-up all the documents we need. A physical will need to be done, and a medical report submitted, along with health insurance verification. You will also need to start on your autobiography. We continue to process the application, accessing reference checks, protective services checks, crime bureau checks, police checks, and driver's record checks.
3.	At this point, a social worker will be assigned your case, and will call to arrange your homestudy meetings with you. There are typically three meetings for a homestudy, and the process goes fairly quickly once you start. Generally we like to schedule one meeting a week, and after the last meeting you can expect to get a rough draft of the study in one to two weeks.
4.	The first homestudy meeting usually takes place at the office and requires both parties (if a couple) to be present. This meeting is to find out what you think about adoption. What are you hoping for and expecting from adoption? What has led you to adoption, and are you prepared for it? Then we want to know about your lifestyle. What do you like to do? What is your marriage like/ What do you enjoy about being single? If you practice a spirituality, what type and how often? And lastly, we like to hear about your parenting expectations. What do you hope for from your child?
5.	The second homestudy meeting involves meeting with each person (if a couple) separately. This part of the homestudy is about your history. What type of childhood did you have? How were your teenage years? Did you have any previous marriages? How do you feel about your marriage and the decision to adopt?
6.	The third homestudy meeting will take place in your home, and any persons living in the home must be present. The state has varying regulations that must be met by a foster home (which is what you will initially be), and our social worker will be checking for these in your home. If you do not meet some of the regulations, you will be notified and requested to change them within a specified amount of time. At this visit your social worker will let you know when your study will be finished and a copy will be sent to you.
7.	If you are pursuing an international adoption, or a domestic transracial adoption, we may ask to see you a fourth time. This is more for educational purposes and to ensure you have some background in transracial/transcultural adoptions.
8.	At this point, you are finished with the homestudy process. If you are in a domestic adoption, we will ask you to create a profile of your life and your aspirations to adopt. Your profile will then be added to our “pool” of waiting couples, and shown to any perspective birthparents. If you are pursuing international adoption, we forward your homestudy to your international agency and the USCIS. Then we wait to hear from you about when you expect to travel, and when you have returned with your new child.
9.	Once you've had a successful placement, we start post-placement visitation. This visitation is to make sure the child is doing well, and the family is adjusting appropriately. For a domestic adoption, after six months you can apply for your Finalization, which is the court date to complete your adoption. For an international adoption, post-placement may continue for a while longer (depending on the countries requirements), and you may apply for Re-adoption and a new birth certificate.
10.	That's it! It's a long process, but at the end you will have a beautiful family to celebrate with. Adoption Services is here for any post-adoption resources or services you may need. We are only a call, or a click, away. Visit Support Services for more information on the post-adoption resources available to you!

What To Expect