Process & Next Steps

If you have never been through the adoption process before, it can be difficult to know where to start. Below you will find steps to help you through the process and prepare you to become an adoptive parent. If you have general questions regarding the adoption process or need help being directed to the Caring for Kids’ staff member who can best address your needs, please Contact us.

Public Adoption Process and Next Steps

  • 1
    After your home study 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.
  • 2
    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.
  • 3
    Call or email our office to schedule a meeting with our Public Adoption Program staff to discuss your adoption desires and the matching process.
  • 4
    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.
  • 5
    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.
  • 6
    While waiting we suggest:
  • 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.
  • Attending additional adoption training in the community.
  • Keeping us up to date with any changes in your family.
  • Networking with friends, co-workers, and family members who are adoptive parents. This is extremely helpful in preparing you to become an adoptive parent!

Private Infant Adoption Process and Next Steps

  • 1
    After your home study 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.
  • 2
    When your home study has been approved, Caring for Kids will send you an approval letter. The fee balance due on the home study and the Private Infant Program fee are expected at the time of approval.
  • 3
    Read the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding private infant adoption on our website.
  • 4
    Work on your family picture profile book and birth parent letter. Our agency will need four copies to present to birth mothers. At pre-adoption training, you will see examples and be provided with written instructions on how to prepare these two items.
  • 5
    Fill out the Caring for Kids openness checklist and return it with your picture profile books.
  • 6
    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.
  • 7
    Once we have received your completed home study, picture profile books, birth parent letters, openness checklist, and payment, your name will be added to the Infant Search Roster.
  • 8
    If you would like your profile placed on the Caring for Kids website, call or email us for an online template and release. Once completed, email your profile back to our office.
  • 9
    While waiting we suggest:
  • 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!

Process & Next Steps

If you have never been through the adoption process before, it can be difficult to know where to start. Below you will find steps to help you through the process and prepare you to become an adoptive parent. If you have general questions regarding the adoption process or need help being directed to the Caring for Kids’ staff member who can best address your needs, please Contact us.

Public Adoption Process and Next Steps

  • 1
    After your home study 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.
  • 2
    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.
  • 3
    Call or email our office to schedule a meeting with our Public Adoption Program staff to discuss your adoption desires and the matching process.
  • 4
    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.
  • 5
    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.
  • 6
    While waiting we suggest:
  • 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.
  • Attending additional adoption training in the community.
  • Keeping us up to date with any changes in your family.
  • Networking with friends, co-workers, and family members who are adoptive parents. This is extremely helpful in preparing you to become an adoptive parent!

Private Infant Adoption Process and Next Steps

  • 1
    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.
  • 2
    When your home study has been approved, Caring for Kids will send you an approval letter. The fee balance due on the home study and the Private Infant Program fee are expected at the time of approval.
  • 3
    Read the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding private infant adoption on our website.
  • 4
    Work on your family picture profile book and birth parent letter. Our agency will need four copies to present to birth mothers. At pre-adoption training, you will see examples and be provided with written instructions on how to prepare these two items.
  • 5
    Fill out the Caring for Kids openness checklist and return it with your picture profile books.
  • 6
    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.
  • 7
    Once we have received your completed home study, picture profile books, birth parent letters, openness checklist, and payment, your name will be added to the Infant Search Roster.
  • 8
    If you would like your profile placed on the Caring for Kids website, call or email us for an online template and release. Once completed, email your profile back to our office.
  • 9
    While waiting we suggest:
  • 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!