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Adoption

Are You Potential Adoptive Parents?
The Adoption Process is both exciting and challenging. This outline should help you know what to expect for international and domestic adoption.

Starting the Process

• Call or write Bethany with your questions and express your interest in adopting.
• Bethany will send you a pre-application packet within one day of receiving your inquiry.
• You will attend an informational meeting that counts toward your educational requirement.
• You mail pre-application packet, signed statement of faith, and pre-application fee back to Bethany.
• Your adoption counselor will call and set up an initial intake meeting with you. At this time she will go over with you all of the upcoming steps. If you desire to proceed, you will receive a formal application and a contract.
• You complete the materials in the formal packet and return them to Bethany's Colorado Springs Office. The office manager will walk you through the process and remind you of what needs to be done.
• As you are doing your paperwork, your adoption counselor will be meeting with you in a series of family assessment appointments. A home study will also be done where your house is reviewed for state legal requirements. The adoption counselor will go over with you any changes that you may need to make in order to come into compliance with state regulations. At this time you will also attend educational meetings.
• Your counselor will meet with you to discuss your family assessment and home study. If you have been approved, your counselor will prepare you for the next steps which include making a profile and attending support groups. You will also be given four books that we recommend you read to be better prepared for the adoptive experience.

To request a domestic information packet you can fill out our contact us form or email us at bcscolorado@bethany.org and we will send you a link to download the packet in PDF (Adobe) format.

Continuing the Process: Domestic Adoption

• You will create a profile which will be shared with birthparents as an introduction to your family.
• You will attend support groups on issues such as networking, openness, waiting for placement, the hospital placement experience, the designation meeting, dealing with disruption, and infertility.
• Your profile will be shown to each birthmother whose "wish list" meets with your criteria and openness requirements. When appropriate, a meeting will be set up for you and the birthparent(s) to meet and share information, questions, hopes, and plans.
• If you are chosen by this birthparent, before the birth of the baby, an Open Adoption Agreement will be established in which you will negotiate what kind of contact you will have after the birth of the baby.
• Prior to delivery, the birthmother will have made a Hospital Plan which outlines her desires for her hospital stay and how involved she wants you to be at that point.
• The baby most likely will be placed with you on a legal risk basis directly from the hospital. A placement ceremony will occur in the hospital where you, the baby, and the birthparents all receive a special Scripture and blessing.
• State laws require three post placement visits to your house to check on the development and growth of the baby, the home environment, and your well-being. Bethany is your advocate. Each visit will be documented by a report that is sent to court.
• The birthparents will relinquish their rights in court as soon as possible after the birth of the baby, however, this can be up to three months after the birth.
• Approximately six months from the time of placement you will be able to finalize the adoption in court and legally give the baby your last name. Bethany will attend court with you and be your support.

Continuing the Process: International Adoption Your counselor will instruct you on how to complete the adoption dossier and immigration pre-filing papers. Your family assessment and dossier will be sent to the foreign country. When a child is identified for your family, your worker will contact you and provide as much information as is available. If you accept the child presented to you, you will be given acceptance papers to complete. After acceptance of the referral of your child, there is a period of time in which the foreign country must complete necessary legal procedures in order for the child to travel. You will then receive notice that you are cleared to travel and pick up your child(ren), which most countries require. If you travel to the country, you will finalize the adoption in that country. Soon after you bring your child home, your worker will visit your family to answer your questions, provide support, and complete a series of post-placement reports for the foreign country and sometimes for your local court. You must apply for naturalization after you have received your Final Order of Adoption. Bethany will provide you with the necessary forms. Contact Us