Domestic
Adoption has changed dramatically during the last 10 years. Birthparents who choose adoption for their children are wanting to be more involved in the process. More adoptions have a high degree of openness, where birthparents choose and meet the adoptive family and have some sort of ongoing contact.
Bethany provides family assessments (homestudies) and ongoing education and support groups for families in the process of adopting. We also provide post-placement supervision and ongoing counseling and support if needed. We can function as ongoing liaison between adoptive parents and birthparents to protect the confidentiality of all the parties involved.
Bethany offers:
- Family assessment (homestudy).
- Comprehensive networking support.
- Education to prepare for adoptive parenthood.
- Support through the placement process.
- Development of an agreement defining the level of openness in the adoption.
- Assistance with legal requirements for adoption.
- Education and assistance regarding interstate procedures if the child is born in another state.
- Post-adoption visits.
- Facilitation of communication between adoptive families and birthparents, if necessary.
- Services for adoptive families in designated or attorney-facilitated (private or independent) adoptions.
Starting the Process
- Contact Bethany with your questions and express your interest in adopting. A staff person will fill out an intake form to further determine your interest and eligibility.
- Bethany will send you a preliminary application packet.
- Mail the preliminary application, signed Statement of Faith and preliminary application fee to Bethany.
- You will receive an invitation to attend an information meeting in the Columbia area. Bethany staff will go over the upcoming steps with you. If you desire to proceed, you will receive an invitation to join Bethany’s family portal to complete a formal application and submit it online.
- After you have returned the completed packet to the West Columbia Bethany office you will be assigned a social worker.
- You will attend an educational meeting in the Columbia area. Issues such as bonding and attachment, grief and loss, cultural sensitivity, effects of institutionalization on development, race, and adoption, infertility, networking, openness, and birthparents will be discussed. Your counselor will also recommend books for you to read to be prepared for the adoption experience.
- Your adoption counselor 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.
Continuing the Process
- Create a profile, which will be shared with birthparents as an introduction to your family.
- Your profile will be shown to each birthmother whose wish 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 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 birthparents will relinquish their rights as soon as possible after the birth of the baby.
- You will sign placement papers and a placement ceremony will occur. The baby may be placed with you directly from the hospital.
- State laws require post placement visits to check on the development and growth of the baby, the home environment, and your well being.
- Approximately three to 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.