The Home Study and education process can take several weeks to months to complete. It ensures that you and your home will provide a safe environment for a child. The paperwork includes all necessary documents needed during the legal process.

• Identity Documents
• Guardianship Forms
• Adoption Preferences*
• Federal, State and Local Background Checks
• History (Address History, Marriage Certificate, Autobiography)
• Proof of Insurance Medical, Auto, Home, Life
• Financial Statements (Bank Statements, Pay Stubs, W2s, Mortgage Statements, Financial Affidavit, Other Debts, etc.)
• Disclosures (Weapons, Therapist Release, etc.)
• Pet Vaccinations & Safety Plan
• 20+ Hours of Education and CPR Certification
• Individual and Couple Interviews
• Home Tour/Safety Check

*The Adoption Preferences worksheet requires careful consideration to know what you can and cannot support for any child that you plan to adopt. A child's potential health complications could be something to discern. Or you may live in an area that wouldn't allow a child to experience their culture. Regardless of the circumstances, it is important to remember that adoption is child focused and it would be a disservice to the child to not provide them with the best possible opportunities.

During the matching phase, we are presented with cases and asked if we would like to share our profile with an expectant mother. The amount of information given to us will be limited and we will have a short timeframe to decide whether or not we want to share our adoption profile with the expectant mother. This phase will generally occur during the expectant mother's 3rd trimester. If we are selected by the expectant mother as prospective parents we will become acquainted with each other.

Placement is when the birth mother signs over parental rights, indicating that she trusts us with raising her child. While on the one end we will be over-joyed to have a new member of our family, we expect that it will be difficult for the birth mother. Every part of her body will communicate that she just gave birth, but she will not be bringing a child home.

Throughout this process we think it is important to remember the birth mother and make sure that she knows that she is not alone. While we will be adding a baby as a new member to our family, we will also welcome the birth mother so that she can be present in her child's life. Placement needs to be a good fit in which the child can be supported, but also be open to have a relationship with their birth mother.

Post-placement is an exciting time and there are a lot of firsts. All of these little moments will be absolutely precious and we look forward to seeing them and sharing them with the community that has helped support us. During this time, social workers will check in and make sure that the baby is in a loving home and that all of their needs can be provided.

Additionally, we will navigate openness with the birth mother if she is willing. That will include ensuring time together for the birth mother and baby, sharing photos/videos, and continuing to develop a life-long relationship between families. Ultimately, everything we do during this time can help a child to experience love from both families.

After post-placement finalization occurs. Finalization is a legal process that establishes us (the adoptive parents) as legal guardians of the child. While we are considered the legal guardians of the child, we look forward to having an open adoption so that the birth mother can be present in the child's life.