- Must be at least 21 years of age;
- Be financially stable;
- Submit to a Criminal Background Check;
- Submit to an Abuse/Neglect Evaluation;
- Submit to a Home Study.
Assessment Meeting
After attending the Informational Meeting, the prospective parents will meet with a DFPS staff member individually to discuss that family’s specific needs, resources, and desires. During this meeting, the DFPS staff will ask a series of questions to determine the family’s readiness to adopt, and will also use this meeting as an opportunity to determine if the family is a good match for a child with special needs.
Adoption and Parenting Training
Adoptive parents are required to attend the Parent Resource Information Development Education (PRIDE) training session to be eligible to adopt. This is a 35-hour course which discusses the changes prospective parents will experience after the adoption is finalized. The training class discusses possible problems that may arise, and how parents can facilitate the parent-child emotional attachment process.
Home Study
After training is complete, the family is ready for a home study where a DFPS staff member will come to the home and interview the entire family. During the interview the staff member will discuss lifestyle choices, income, stability, family history, and parenting styles. The staff member will also tour the home and look for any potential hazards. The home study results will certify whether or not a family is eligible for adoption, and help match a child with the family.
Child Matching
Generally, the waiting period for a newborn is much longer than the waiting period for older children. Prospective parents will search profiles and meet with children during the waiting period until a viable match is made. Depending on the age of the child a family is seeking, this may be the longest part of the process.
Final Court Hearing
After the family is matched with a child and has lived with the child for at least six months, the family can move forward with finalizing the adoption. During the hearing, the family will testify that all legal requirements have been met and the family is committed to permanently adopting and caring for the child as if s/he was their natural born child. If the child being adopted is age 12 or older, the child must also attend the hearing to testify that the child is in agreement with this adoption. Once the Judge grants the adoption, Court records will be sealed and the family will be issued a new birth certificate showing the child’s new name and replacing the birth parent’s names with that of the adoptive parents.
If you’ve decided that adoption is the right choice for you and your family, I encourage you to contact DFPS to start the process. Siblings and special needs children remain on the waiting list the longest. If you are able to open your heart and your home to children who are hard to place, I’m sure they would appreciate having a permanent place to call home. For legal guidance through the adoption process, call The Gilkes Law Firm for assistance.
