Domestic Adoption


Bethany Christian Services is committed to finding loving homes for all children. We believe that each child deserves caring, nurturing parents. Nationally, Bethany gives hundreds of babies Christian homes each year. Bethany also places sibling groups and older children, some with special needs.

Bethany Christian Services has been providing Domestic Adoption services in the West Tennessee area since 1987. Nationally, our parent agency - Bethany Christian Services - has been placing children into adoptive homes for over 55 years. Bethany's social workers are experts in the field of domestic adoption. They are well-versed in the requirements of the State of Tennessee, the court system, and the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, and they possess the necessary expertise that so often makes the difference in having a successful adoption.

Bethany holds quarterly approved family meetings and education classes twice yearly. It is our goal to equip our families to be prepared to help their children understand adoption issues.

Who can Adopt?
Worshipping Christian families who can provide a stable, nurturing and secure environment for a child are welcomed applicants to our infant adoption program.

Ways to Adopt

  • Through Bethany Christian Services: Bethany is an advocate for openness in adoption and there are degrees of openness. Each adoption is tailored to the needs and desires of the adoptive couple and the birthparents. Our birthparents select the families for their children from information provided by the adoptive families. Couples usually are able to meet with the birthparents and establish together a plan for ongoing communication and /or contact.
  • Through designated or independent adoption: Designated adoption involves birthparents and an adoptive family who come to Bethany together desiring assistance with the adoptive placement.
  • Through an interstate adoption: When families adopt a child from another state, Bethany can take care of the legal filing of the adoption and the paperwork for the interstate placement.
"Legal Risk" placement
Adoptive families can choose to participate in a legal risk adoption which allows for placement of the infant prior to legal release. This allows for direct placement from the hospital following the child's birth.

Fees for Adoptive Services
Families are asked to pay for adoption services to cover costs incurred by the agency. Fees are based on a sliding scale of income.

"How long do we wait?"
The waiting varies for adoptive couples, but an average time before placement is approximately two years.

Services Provided
As a private, not-for-profit agency licensed by the State of Tennessee, Bethany Christian Services can provide adoptive home studies and post-placement supervision as required by Tennessee adoption law. When appropriate, children are placed in our licensed foster homes for care while awaiting adoptive placement. Our professional adoption staff will direct and assist adoptive families through the decision-making and placement process. Care is given to provide families with the knowledge they need in making an informed decision and to help them understand the dynamics of adoptive parenthood.


Family Meetings and Education Classes

Bethany holds quarterly approved family meetings and education classes twice yearly. It is our goal to equip our families to be prepared to help their children understand adoption issues.

Denise White