The Adoption Process

 

The Adoption Process:

 

We are currently on a waiting list to begin the process with Christian Adoption Services. We are excited about this agency!

Their mission statement:

BUILD GOD’S KINGDOM BY CONNECTING VULNERABLE CHILDREN WITH CHRISTIAN FAMILIES.

We have had very candid conversations with their director and some of their staff. We want to make sure that we are using an agency that supports birth mothers/parents in their time of crisis. Unfailing and unconditional LOVE needs to be given to these mothers during and after the adoption process!

Transparency throughout this process is our goal. If you have any questions about the process, please reach out to us! We are expecting this journey to take about 12 to 18 months, but is also somewhat unpredictable. We hope to engage and educate others about the adoption journey through our process!

 Here is what our process looks like:

We are currently waiting for the domestic adoption program to open up. We are estimating this spring (March/April). The agency only accepts a limited amount of families at one time. This is a rolling process to minimize waiting time for families. Once the next cycle opens up, these are the steps we will take.

1. Submit the application ($25 to submit, $350 upon approval, $150 for online database for paperwork)

·       Pre-application training courses ($80)

·  4 online courses

·       Post-application training courses ($100)

·  2 online courses and CPR training

2.       Home study Process ($1600)

·       Serves two purposes: evaluation and education

·  Evaluation is to show adoption and government agencies that we meet their requirements to adopt.

·  Education to prepare us to walk through the lifelong adoption journey with our new baby girl or boy.

·       Home studies are valid in NC for 18 months at a time and 12 months in SC

3.       Profile Photo Album

·       A personalized introduction of our family to birth mothers and parents

4.       Training Workshop

·       Held by the adoption agency to educate adoptive families on a variety of topics (open adoption, communication with birth families) to create a foundation for a healthy adoption.

5.       Become a waiting family ($10,000)

·       This is when we will be placed on the waiting list to be matched with an expectant mother/parents.

·       The bulk of the finances due now goes to provide support to all of the mothers. The agency has a 24/7 hotline to support expectant women in crisis whom need resources. We also love that the majority (about 70-80%) of the mothers that the agency works with choose to parent rather than choose adoption for their baby.

·  They support these mothers with counseling and provide resources. They do not provide them any cash payments. Some examples of resources (there are guidelines/rules via NC for this process) include rent, health insurance, prenatal care, and food.

6.       Placement! ($22,075 for NC, $20,075 for SC)

·       We have been matched with an expectant mother/parents!

·       The bulk of these finances cover legal fees and go to the agency to further assist and subsidize the costs of the agency in providing these resources. They provide counselors and social workers for the process and for the families involved. 

Total cost expected: $35,000

The total cost from our adoption journey does not necessarily go specifically to our own personal adoption. The agency has costs and provides SO many amazing resources to these mothers and families in crisis. The fact that about 70-80% of these mothers choose to not put their child up for adoption is HUGE and AMAZING! These services provided to these mothers cost money, but are completely necessary. We want our agency to LOVE these mothers, parents, and families where they are at, no matter the situation. The total cost is to reimburse the agency for the resources and services provided to mothers in general, plus the specific costs required for our own adoption.