Prospective/Adoptive Parents|Expectant/Birth Parents|Adoptees|Adoption Education

Prospective & Adoptive Parents

Adoptive Preparation/Home Study Process

The State of Indiana requires that all prospective adoptive parents successfully complete an adoptive home study. ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA views the adoptive home study/adoption preparation as a time where prospective adoptive parents can learn the dynamics of adoptive families within a supportive environment. ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA’s focus is to educate and support families while compiling needed information for the Courts or international adoption agencies. We strive to develop relationships with prospective adoptive parents that are close, supportive, relaxed and genuine in nature so that our families will feel comfortable seeking guidance from us when needed.

An outline of the home study/adoption preparation process is as follows:

I. Family returns application packet
II. References are sent
III. Orientation Meeting & Resource material provided
IV. Clearances are completed
V. Couple’s Interview
VI. Social History Interviews
VII. Follow-up Meeting & Home Visit
VIII. Pre-adoption Education Workshops

This process is usually completed within 6-8 weeks. The home study process can be expedited when necessary for a child’s placement. Meetings take place at the offices of ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA, the client’s home, or at other agreed upon locations. The adoption professionals at ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA strive to accommodate a variety of family schedules. Evening appointments are available, though limited.

Upon completion, the formal home study document is prepared. This document is confidential and remains at the agency office; however, a copy of the document is provided to the adopting family. Other governing bodies, such as Interstate Compact for Placement of Children, the Indiana Department of Health, or the family’s placing agency in an international adoption may receive a copy of the document in order to ensure the adoption proceeds as planned. In a domestic adoption, a letter to the Court reporting that the home study has been completed is forwarded to the family’s attorney along with our agency’s recommendation. This will be used at the time an order for guardianship / petition for adoption is submitted to the court.

Pre-Adoption Education

Pre-adoption workshops are provided several times each year to families completing their adoptive home study. These workshops offer families an inside look into the world of an adoptive family. Patricia Irwin Johnston, one of our nation’s foremost respected adoption educators & publishers, and the author of Launching A Baby’s Adoption: Practical Strategies for Parents and Professionals, educates our families on how to prepare themselves to become adoptive parents. Our professional staff provides workshops on understanding birthparents, the adoption process, multiculturalism, and understanding adoptive issues throughout your child’s development. Birth parents volunteer their time to educate our families about adoption from the birth family’s perspective.

Post-Placement Supervision

After a child has been placed in your home through either a domestic or international adoption our agency will provide post-placement services. The purpose of post-placement services are to provide adoptive families with support, education, and referrals to needed resources, as well as to report back to the Court, international adoption agency or the foreign country’s officials.

Our staff will meet with your family and then provide a written report that outlines how the child is developing and the adoptive family is adjusting. The number and frequency of post-placement visits depends on the requirements of the Court, sending state, placing agency and country.

Often, new adoptive parents worry that their inexperience with the child or need for assistance will cast a negative tone on their ability to raise the child. As a new parent, adoptive parents are likely to need some guidance and encouragement. Be honest about your questions and concerns; our staff are prepared to help you. We want your new family to feel secure and we want to help meet your needs.

Counseling & Support

No one expects you to become a perfect adoptive parent overnight. And no one is expecting you to make a major life change with minimal adjustment. ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA understands that the adoption process merely begins at finalization. Now that you are parents, you will likely have more adoption related questions and need occasional support.

ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA will be available to provide support and assistance to your family throughout your family’s adoptive lifecycle. We work to build a strong rapport with families so that they know that we will be a resource for them when needed. We will also refer you to qualified resources and educational materials as they pertain to your unique situation.

Throughout the year we offer a variety of continuing education programs for adoptive families as well as programs directed at the specific needs of children in middle childhood.