As a Christian, perhaps you’ve sought God and feel like adoption is the right choice for you and your child. But yet, you may still struggle with questions. A few of the common questions birth mothers struggle with include, “How do I know the adoptive parents are good people?” and “Will my baby be safe?”
Today, we’d like to share about the in-depth screening and background checks every hopeful adoptive parent must go through so you can gain confidence that your baby will be safe!
Evaluation and Screening of Hopeful Adoptive Parents
Before they can adopt, every adoptive couple is required to go through a process of screening called a home study. The home study shows whether the couple is capable of caring for a child.
Throughout the process of the home study, the adoptive couple works with an appointed social worker. The social worker gives the couple the steps they need to follow to begin their home study. Typically, a home study includes:
- Family background
- Financial statements
- Education information
- Employment information
- Social life and relationships
- What daily life looks like in their home
- Parenting experience, if any
- Information on their house and neighborhood
- Reasons why they want to adopt
- Background checks
- Fingerprints
- Criminal records check
- Character references
Interviews With a Social Worker
Another part of the home study process involves a series of meetings between the adoptive couple and the social worker. Their discussions will center around the couple’s marriage, other children, and their reasons for adopting. These interviews help the social worker decide their readiness for adoption as well as whether they’re totally committed to adoption.
Home Visits and Inspections
Another part of the home study includes social worker visits to the adoptive parent’s home to ensure their home has enough space and is safe for a child.
As you can see, the home study is an intense process, and the social worker asks a lot of personal questions. These questions allow the social worker to understand better how well the adoptive couple works together and whether they continue to maintain an open relationship with her.
After the social worker has finished the home study and home visits, she writes up her approval and recommendation of the adoptive parents’ readiness to adopt.
At Lifetime Adoption, we make sure the adoptive parents we recommend to birth mothers are completely qualified to adopt and excited to bring a child into their home. You can feel confident in knowing your child will be cared for and loved. These hopeful adoptive parents will feel only gratitude to you for allowing them the privilege of raising your child.
How will I know if I’ve found the right parents for my baby?
You can choose the adoptive parents you feel are best qualified to raise your child. We encourage you to take this slow and avoid rushing yourself to decide. It’s better to make a decision you’ve thought about than just to pick any family because you’re getting close to the end of your pregnancy. You can choose adoptive parents at any time, including after your baby is born.
As you think about your baby’s adoptive parents, ask God to lead and guide you. He’ll be faithful to answer your prayers. Lifetime Adoption is here to help you as you search for your baby’s adoptive parents. We provide these useful items to help you choose:
Adoptive Parent Profiles
When you visit our site, you’ll see profiles of waiting adoptive families. These online profiles contain information about the adoptive couple, such as their faith, occupations, hobbies, and beliefs. You’ll also see pictures of their family and descriptions of their hobbies, house, and neighborhood. Looking through online profiles will give you a good idea of what the family is like, where they live and what they like to do.
Adoptive Family Videos
Most of Lifetime’s hopeful adoptive parents also have a video on their website. Watching these videos gives you an up-close and personal look at each adoptive couple. You’ll get to meet their family and friends. You’ll get an up-close look at the activities they enjoy and their level of involvement with their church community. As their personalities shine through on the adoption video, you can get a better idea of what they’re like and their beliefs.
It’s Your Choice
You are the one in charge of every step of the adoption process, and your Adoption Coordinator at Lifetime is here to help you. Modern adoption allows you to have the final say as to who should adopt your baby.
When you choose adoption for your child, you’re not only choosing life but also a loving, happy family to raise your baby. The caring professionals at Lifetime Adoption are eager to help you walk through the process of choosing the best adoptive parents for your child. You can feel safe knowing God is with you and your child. He’ll help you find the perfect family for your child to grow into a happy, healthy adult.
As the Vice President (VP) of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.
Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.
As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.