Potential Adoptive Parents


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

Starting the Process

  • Call or write Bethany with your questions and express your interest in adopting.
  • Bethany will send you a pre-application packet with a few days of receiving your inquiry.
  • You may 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 social worker 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 Midland Park Office.
  • As you are doing your paperwork, your adoption social worker will be meeting with you in a series of family assessment appointments. A home visit will also be done where your house is reviewed for state legal requirements. The social worker 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 required educational meetings.
  • Your social worker will meet with you to discuss your family assessment and home study. If you have been approved, your social worker will prepare you for the next steps which include making a profile and attending the educational seminars.
  • During each step in the assessment process, you will be given a books and articles to read and discuss on an appropriate adoption topic. Your social worker will address issues raised in the readings.
To request a domestic information packet you can fill out our contact form or email us at bcsmidlandpark@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 educational seminars on issues such as networking, openness, waiting for placement, the hospital placement experience, the designation meeting and adoption specific parenting classes.
  • Your profile will be shown to each birthmother who would be an appropriate match.. When appropriate, a meeting will be set up for you and the birthparent(s) to meet and share information, questions, hopes, and plans. Depending on both parties, this may be your only meeting, or the first of many!
  • At the time of placement, a ceremony will occur where you, the baby, and the birthparents, if they chose to be present, all receive a special Scripture and blessing.
  • State laws require supervisory 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.
  • Birthparents can sign termination of parental rights as soon as 72 hours after the baby’s birth. In New Jersey, with an agency placement they are final and irrevocable. Non-agency placements have different legal requirements.
  • 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. This does not mean that the birthparents can reclaim the baby during this period.

Continuing the Process: International Adoption
Please attend one of our free information sessions on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. RSVP for seating to 201.703.4371. You can also request a free international information packet.
  • Your social worker will instruct you on how to complete the adoption dossier and immigration pre-filing papers.
  • You can review and consider the many waiting children available through our Promise Children program.
  • 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 return home for your new child.

For more information please call us at 201.703.4371 or fill out our contact form.