Domestic Adoption Requirements

AGE: Birth parents participate in the selection process and age is often a factor. Consistent with birth parents' desires, we provide services to adoptive parents between the ages of 21 and 45.

MARITAL STATUS: Couples must have been married at least two years at the time of application.

CHILDREN: Other children living in the home must be at least twelve months old at the time of pre-application.

HOME STUDY: ABC prefers to prepare its own Home Studies. We may, at our discretion, review and accept those prepared by other agencies. (A home study is valid for one year from the date of approval.)

RELIGION/SPIRITUAL BELIEFS: Each couple must indicate their religion and/or spiritual beliefs. ABC maintains a responsibility in selecting adoptive families that will meet a child's physical and spiritual needs. It is the desire of the agency to place children in mainstream Christian or Jewish homes. If you feel that your religious preference may be prohibitive in being placed with a child through our agency, please feel free to contact ABC so that we may make a referral to an agency that can better meet your needs.

NEWBORN CHILD CLASSES: Each couple will be required to attend newborn child care classes and submit a statement of attendance from the instructor.

INFANT CPR CLASSES: Each couple will be required to attend a certified, infant CPR class and submit a statement of attendance for each session.

SMOKING: ABC believes that smoking in the home is a threat to the health of a child. Birth Parents will be advised if either adoptive parent smokes.

STATUS LETTERS/PHOTOGRAPHS: Adopting couples are required to provide letters to the birth parent(s) and photographs of the child (through the agency) every month for the first twelve months and then yearly until the child is eighteen. This is a minimum requirement.

FAMILY CARE LEAVE: If both parents plan to continue working, a six (6) week leave after placement must be taken to care for the child. This responsibility may be taken by one parent or shared between them.

Note: Special consideration may be made for Special Program applicants such as acceptance of single parent applicants.