Process & Next Steps

Attend and Information Session to learn about our programs and find out which one is right for your family. Once you've determined pursuing adoption and/or foster care is right for you, complete and submit the application provided.

When your home study has been approved, Caring for Kids will mail you an approval letter. The fee balance due on the home study and search fee, if applicable, are expected at the time of approval.

Call or email our office to schedule a meeting with our Public Adoption Program staff to discuss your adoption desires and the matching process.

Begin working on a family picture profile book. This book should be child friendly and will most likely be the first introduction of your family to the child(ren) you are matched with.

Search waiting children websites, such as www.adoptuskids.org or local county children’s services websites to see if there are children you would like to learn more about.

Checking your email regularly, as this has become the fastest and most effective way for our staff to communicate with you about upcoming adoption mixers and other child recruitment events.

Making every effort to attend events that feature available children.

Reading adoption related articles and books, especially those about transitioning children from foster care and/or parenting an older child.

Networking with friends, co-workers, and family members who are adoptive parents. This is extremely helpful in preparing you to become an adoptive parent!

Attending additional adoption training in the community.

Keeping us up to date with any changes in your family.

After your homestudy visits and pre-adoption training have been completed, call or email the Caring for Kids office to make sure we have received all of the required paperwork. Generally, after ALL your required documents are submitted, it takes four to six week from your adoption assessor’s last visit for your home study to be approved. Please visit the Home Study page under the Adoptive Parents section of our website to learn more about this process.

When your home study has been approved, Caring for Kids will send you an approval letter. The fee balance due on the homestudy and the private adoption search fee are expected at the time of approval.

Read the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding private infant adoption on our website.

Work on your family picture profile book and birth parent letter. Our agency requests 5 copies to present to birth parents. At pre-adoption training, you will see examples and be provided with written instructions on how to prepare these two items. The program director is willing to review your book and letter before sending to print, if you'd like some feedback.

You will receive a welcome email from the Program Director to begin searching. This email will also include information on website and social media profiles. At that time, Feel free to call or email our office to schedule a meeting with our Private Infant Adoption Program staff to discuss your search criteria, clarify the matching process, or to answer any remaining questions. We ask for your search criteria and try to answer any remaining questions. Phone calls or face to face meetings can also be arranged to discuss any further questions as your journey begins.

Once we have received your completed home study, picture profile books, birth parent letters and payment, your name will be added to the Infant Search Roster.

Checking your email regularly as this has become the fastest and most effective way for our staff to communicate with you about any potential birth parent opportunities.

Reviewing materials regarding beginning a relationship with your birth parent(s).

Reading adoption related articles and books.

Attending additional training regarding openness and adoption at Caring for Kids and/or elsewhere within your community.

Keeping us up to date with any changes in your family.

Talking with friends, co-workers, and family about your desire to adopt- someone within your network might know of a birth parent looking for an adoptive family!