Domestic Adoption





Welcome to Bethany's Domestic Infant Adoption Program. It is our hope that we will provide you with information necessary to consider adoption as an option for your family. Our domestic adoption program seeks to provide quality care and service to couples who have struggled through issues of infertility and long to build their family through adoption; and to families who desire to add to their family through adoption.

We are in the ministry of building strong Christian families and would be happy to discuss our programs and services with you at any time. May the Lord bless you and give you direction as you consider whether or not adoption is right for your family. Thank you for taking the time to look into Bethany Christian Services' domestic adoption program.

History of Bethany Christian Services
Since 1944, Bethany Christian Services has placed infants, young children and children with special placement needs into loving, Christian adoptive homes. During the adoption process, Bethany provides pre-adoptive family assessments, birthparent counseling, adoption preparation and education, post-placement services, ongoing consultation with the adoptive family, and interim infant foster care. Bethany offers complete adoption services for both the adoptive families and birthparents.

Who can adopt through the domestic infant adoption program?
Bethany is looking for couples that are prepared financially, emotionally, and spiritually to care for the needs of a child. In addition, Bethany is actively recruiting families to adopt minority children. Applicants must be:

  • Committed to a Bible believing church
  • At least 25 years of age
  • Willing to have one parent stay home with the child for at least three months following placement

What is involved in the Domestic Adoption Process?
  • Contact Bethany Christian Services to request an information packet.
  • Attend one of our Domestic Adoption Information Meetings.
  • Fill out the preliminary application online by going to www.bethany.org/domesticprelim.
  • The director will review your preliminary application. After the application has been reviewed and approved, you will receive a formal application.
  • Submit the formal application and references will be sent out. After all references are obtained the family assessment meetings can begin.
  • Complete family assessment process (home study). You will receive the necessary paperwork at the first interview. As you are doing your paperwork, your adoption counselor will be meeting with you in a series of family assessment interviews. A home visit will also be done where your house is reviewed for state legal requirements.
  • You will be given guidance on how to create a profile which will be shared with birthparents as an introduction to your family.
  • Waiting period: The length of the wait varies for adoptive couples, but an estimated time before placement is one to three years.
  • Profile is selected by a birthmother or birth couple.
  • Placement: the baby most likely will be placed with you on a legal risk basis directly from the hospital. A placement ceremony will occur. The placement may also occur after the baby has been in cradle care (a temporary foster care used while the birthparents continue the counseling process).
  • State laws require at least 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 legally possible after the birth of the baby; however, this time frame can vary due to each birthparent situation.
  • 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.

How much does a domestic adoption cost?
Adoption fees help cover the costs related to all phases of the adoptive process including application services, pre-adoptive counseling and family assessment, placement services, preparation of court documents, staff participation in relinquishment and adoption hearings and post-placement services. A significant portion of adoption fees also covers services provided to birth parents. more>>

How much contact will I have with the birth family?
  • Confidential or Closed Adoption - An adoption plan where birth and adoptive parents do not meet, do not share identifying information, and do not keep in contact.
  • Semi-Open Adoption - An adoption arrangement where this is planned communication, spelled out in a written agreement, that takes place between the adoptive parents and birthparents while the child is growing up. This agreement and subsequent communication are arranged through Bethany Christian Services.
  • Open Adoption - An adoption plan in which identifying information about birth and adoptive families is openly shared, and there is ongoing contact after placement.
  • Independent Adoption - An adoption where birthparents identify a family without the assistance of Bethany Christian Services. Bethany is able to provide family assessments and facilitate placements for the adoptive family and birthparents.
  • Full Identified Adoption - An adoptive family identifies a birthmother and wishes to use Bethany’s services (non-Bethany families).
View our service comparison sheet

Resources
www.adoptivefamilies.com

For more information please contact Amy Morrison at 717.399.3213 or fill out our contact form. You can also email us at bcslancaster@bethany.org.