Growing Your Family Through Adoption
Adoption is a wonderful way to grow your family. The process, however, can feel daunting, If you’re considering adopting, here are a few things you should consider.
Adopting a child is a profound decision. There are many things to consider prior to adopting.
Are you and your spouse both invested in pursuing adoption?
Do you have room in your heart to parent a child who was not born to you?
Are you open to learning more about openness in adoption and understanding the birth parent’s perspective?
These are important questions to consider prior to beginning the adoption process.
Home Study
The State of Indiana requires that all prospective adoptive parents successfully complete an adoptive home study prior to adopting.
Adoptions of Indiana views the adoptive home study 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, USCIS 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.
What is a Home Study?
The State of Indiana requires that all prospective adoptive parents successfully complete an adoptive home study prior to adopting. An adoptive home study is an assessment of the prospective adoptive family in the areas of psychological and physical health, values and beliefs about parenting, relationship and coping mechanisms, financial stability, family and community supports, and their understanding of adoption. A full battery of criminal clearances are completed during the assessment. Additionally, their family home is assessed for safety.
Types of Home Studies
- Adoptive Home Study
- Step-Parent Home Study
- Kinship/Guardianship Home Study
-
Adoptive Clearances Only
(in the case of step-parent or grandparent adoptions, available only if the court waives a full home study) - Embryo Adoptive Home Study
This applies to step-parent and grandparent kinship adoptions as well. At times the Court will waive the full home study in lieu of a Clearance Only report by a licensed child-placing agency. Adoptions of Indiana can assist families in this process with verification of the waiver from the Court.
Adoptions of Indiana views the adoptive home study as a time where prospective adoptive parents can learn the dynamics of adoptive families within a supportive environment. Our agency’s focus is to educate and support families while compiling needed information for the Courts, USCIS 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.
Once you indicate you are ready to get started, you will receive access to our online portal, where you will complete the required documents to get started. At this time, you will submit payment and be assigned to a social worker. Your home study will include all required background checks, a medical screening, financial disclosure and home visit.
This process is usually completed within 6-10 weeks, depending on the type of study required. The home study process may be expedited when necessary for a child’s welfare. 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 and weekend appointments are available, though limited.
Upon completion, the formal home study document is prepared. This document is confidential; however, a copy of the document is provided to the adopting family for their review. Other governing bodies, such as Interstate Compact for Placement of Children, USCIS, the Court hearing the adoption, Department of Child Services, or the family’s attorney or placing agency in an international adoption may receive a copy of the document in order to ensure the adoption proceeds as planned.
The Home Study Process
An outline of the home study/adoption preparation process is as follows:
- Family requests information from our Contact Us page.
- Family is sent an ID and password access agency documents on Adoptions of Indiana’s digital portal.
- Staff is available for consultation by phone or in person at any time. We will strive to make contact via email or phone.
- Family reviews and completes necessary documents in order to proceed.
- References are sent.
- Agency Adoption Specialist contacts family to schedule orientation and first interview.
- Clearances are completed.
- Couples’ and Family Interviews and Social History Interviews are completed.
- Follow-up Meeting & Home Visit are completed.
- Complete your required pre-adoption education courses online. We encourage families to complete the workshops early in the process as the education is very helpful.
This process is usually completed within 8-10 weeks.
The home study process may be expedited when necessary for a child’s welfare. Meetings take place at the offices of Adoptions of Indiana, the client’s home, or, at times, virtually. The adoption professionals at Adoptions of Indiana strive to accommodate a variety of family schedules. Evening and weekend appointments are available, though limited.
Upon completion, the formal home study document is prepared. This document is confidential; however, a copy of the document is provided to the adopting family for their review. Other governing bodies, such as Interstate Compact for Placement of Children, USCIS, the Court hearing the adoption, Department of Child Services, or the family’s attorney or placing agency in an international adoption may receive a copy of the document in order to ensure the adoption proceeds as planned.
Waiting for a Match
Profile Development
After your home study is completed and approved, it’s time to work with our staff to develop your online and print family profile to introduce yourselves to expectant parents considering adoption.
You’re able to give expectant parents a glimpse into your lives and show your personality and values. Our staff will help you in the process and we strive to help you enjoy the process and create a genuine representation of your family.
Matching:
Waiting for a match may be one of the most difficult parts of the adoption process. It really involves a heart to heart connection with the expectant parent(s).
Once an expectant parent has chosen you from your profile a meeting will be scheduled to introduce you to each other. Our staff are with you so that you can not only get to know each other casually, but we can make sure you’re able to discuss the important issues related to openness and other issues.
Once you and the expectant parent(s) decide you want to move forward with the match you can discuss future meetings to develop your relationship.
While We Wait
Bimonthly Adoptions of Indiana runs a virtual group for waiting families to discuss relative topics related to adoption and to provide support. Relationships develop between families that can continue to grow after placement.
Placement
A consent to adoption may only be signed after the birth of the child. Until then the expectant parent has an adoption plan in place, but has the right and opportunity to change her plan and decide to on a parenting plan.
Some expectant parents will invite the prospective adoptive family to visit them during labor and share in the care of the newborn after delivery. If hospitals have room available on their unit the new mother can request the prospective adoptive family be provided with a room. Usually prior to the time of discharge consents to the adoption will be signed. This allows the child to go from the biological family’s care directly to the adoptive family. Foster care is not needed at any time.
Petitions for adoption are signed and the Court grants custody, pending the finalization of the adoption, to the adoptive parents. This provides the needed verification to allow the hospital to discharge the child into the adoptive parents care.
Post Placement Services
After placement staff from ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA will provide post-placement supervision and support. This will include visits to the adoptive family’s home. Support and resources will be provided.
A report to the Court will be created when supervision has been completed requesting the adoption be finalized.
Finalization of the Adoption
Finalization of an uncontested adoption is a joyful time. The court hearing is a public affirmation of your commitment to your child. You are welcome to invite family and friends to join you. Adoptions of Indiana staff will join your family as well.
Interested in International Adoption?
Our guide will help you understand the process of international adoption as an American.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our adoptive home study program policy requires prospective adoptive families to complete a full adoptive home study including background checks, pre-adoption education, medical screening, financial disclosures and home visits. Applicants must be between 25 – 55 years of age, live in the state of Indiana and be a citizen of the United States. If you are adopting as a couple, Adoptions of Indiana requires couples to be married for a minimum of two years.
We also complete home studies and clearances for stepparent, grandparent, and kinship adoptions. We do not provide home studies for second parent adoptions.
A full adoptive home study costs $3,000. This includes your required background checks, pre-adoption education, home visit and post-placement services. The cost of step-parent/kinship home studies and clearances range from $425-$1,050, depending upon the type of study required. Please review our fee schedule for more information.
The full adoptive home study process takes approximately 8-10 weeks to complete. Step-parent/kinship studies can take 6-8 weeks and clearances are typically complete within 4 weeks. In all cases, the more responsive you are, the quicker we can help you move forward. The home study process may be expedited when necessary for a child’s welfare, but additional fees may apply.
Nope! If you only need a home study, we can get started as soon as you are ready.
Contact Amber Sermersheim (amber@adoptionsofindiana.org) to get started. Amber will provide you with access to Featured Waiting Families, our online portal where you will complete your application and sign our agency contracts. From there, you will be invoiced for your registration fee and home study installment and be assigned to a social worker.