Adoption
What is adoption?
Adoption is a wonderful way to begin or expand your family. Adoption is a process in which a child is united with a family. This child becomes part of the family as if he or she were born to the adoptive parents. The adoptive parents will receive a birth certificate listing them as the parents and the child's new name once the adoption is finalized. Clearly adoption is deeper than a simple definition. It is a love that is unconditional and has been displayed by many families who have chosen to adopt a child.
What is the adoption process?
The adoption process requires a sincere commitment from your family. Through the process you will explore various adoption issues, make parenting choices that are the best for your family, and ask questions openly in the privacy of your home with a social worker. We will treat you as we wish to be treated, with respect and honesty. You will begin to discover what adoption means to you.
Before you can begin, you must complete an adoption application. The application takes a short time to complete. Once we receive the application you can expect to hear from an adoption social worker in about one week. The social worker will begin an assessment process often called a homestudy. A homestudy is an autobiographical sketch of you and your family. It is required by the state and needs to be completed before you can adopt any child. The homestudy generally takes two to three months to complete. It requires documents such as a police record check, a physical examination, personal references, and child abuse and neglect screening. In addition, a series of meetings with your family will be completed as well as a visit to your home. After your homestudy is completed and approved, you will be able to adopt a child. The waiting period for a child differs according to the program you are working in. After the baby is in your home, we will continue to offer support through quarterly visits until the adoption is finalized. Missouri law requires that the child be in your custody for six months before the adoption becomes final.
Who can adopt?
Our agency is able to serve a variety of families who want to adopt children waiting for a home. We strongly encourage families of color to apply to adopt a child. Opportunities may be greater than you have imagined.
- You can be single, married or divorced.
- If you are married, you must be married for at least two years.
- If you are divorced, you must be divorced legally for at least one year.
- You don't need to own your own home. You can rent your home or apartment. We require that you have a safe environment and adequate space for a child to grow and develop.
- You can have other children.
- You need to have a stable source of income, which allows you to live independently and afford to raise children.
- It is important that you are able to provide a child with a sense of ethnic and cultural identity.
If you feel that you are ready to become a parent and take on the responsibility of parenting a child, adoption may be for you.
Who are the children?
Lutheran Family and Children's Services counsels a variety of birthparents from different racial, economic and social backgrounds. These birthparents come to the agency voluntarily to make a planned decision about their child's future. It is important that birthparents have a diverse population of prospective families to consider.
In the past there have been minority adoptive placements of African-American, bi-racial (Caucasian and African-American), and multiracial children. Families who can provide a child with a sense of ethnic and cultural identity are important to raising a healthy child. Lutheran Family and Children's Services primarily places healthy infants for adoption. These children are generally three to six months of age when they are placed with their adoptive family. There are also times that a toddler or school-age child will become available for an adoptive placement either through our agency or by collaborative efforts with other agencies. The children who are available through adoption do not look any different than a child you may see walking down the street. The majority of infants and children who are available for adoption are healthy and African American.
Is there a fee to adopt?
Yes, there is a fee to adopt to support our services. Fees are determined on a sliding scale, based on your ability to pay and may be reduced in accordance with your economic circumstances. A subsidy may be available if the child you adopt is determined to have special needs. In addition, out-of-pocket expenses may be reduced through Federal and/or state tax credits. Your employer may offer financial support for your adoption.
What is an open adoption?
An open adoption is an adoption where the birthparents and the adoptive parents mutually agree to share information. The extent of information to be shared is agreed upon by both parties, and it can be shared in the format of meetings, written correspondence, and/or photographs through the agency. All available information on your child's background will be shared. Birthparents are encouraged to share complete information and update it as necessary. If there are any special circumstances in your child's background, you will be informed.
Who are the birthparents served?
Birthparents come from various backgrounds. They are no different than a person in your family or your next door neighbor. Birthparents may be high school or college students, employed or out of work, single or married. They may come from various economic circumstances. A child placed in an adoption will usually come to you from one of our loving licensed foster homes.
What is an independent adoption?
An independent adoption is an adoption where the match between the adoptive family and the child is not made by an agency.
What is a special needs adoption?
A special need is a condition or circumstance as defined by law that may cause a child to wait for a permanent home. Special needs children include children who are school age, part of a sibling group, of minority heritage, and/or have physical, mental, emotional, or learning disabilities.
Some children may have needs that require specialized medical services. Other children may have specific background factors such as drugs that may require special attention. Regardless of what is in a child's background, every child needs a home. Don't lock your door to considering a child with particular background factors. Looking at the strengths of your family and the needs of a child will help you determine if adopting a child with special needs is right for you. Your social worker will become your partner and advocate in helping you during the homestudy process to make a decision.
What is an international adoption?
2-Year Temporary Hague Accreditation from Council on Accreditation approved for LFCS in February 2008.
An international adoption is when a child from another country is matched with a family. Adopting a child internationally can be a confusing process. However, it is a beautiful way to build one's family. There are thousands of children all over the world who are in need of homes. Most of these children are available for adoption due to poverty, political situations or social stigma. We can offer information, home studies and support services to see you through the process. Do you think you could be a parent to a child from another culture?