The adoption process is a series of checks and balances to provide a safety net for adoptive families, birth families and adoptees. It can be long, but it's necessary.
Infant Training - the training course that the agency provides is fantastic and worth every penny. The caseworkers who run it are the main caseworkers in the program. We'll be working with them later on in the process. They covered all the basics and answered any questions.
Home study - this is a massive compiling of paperwork regarding personal history, family history, medical health and financial status, residence safety and other necessary information to assess the adoptive family's preparedness. As of November, we're finishing this stage of the process.
Profile - this book is a short, 20 page collection of pictures and information about us and our life. It can contain info about how we met and our wedding, as well as current info about what we like to do for hobbies, etc. We also include a one page "Dear birth family" letter.
Waiting List - this is a slow part. We might hear of our profile book being shown to a birth mom, but that she didn't choose us. Waiting in contentment is a prayer request for this time.
Match - this happens after a birth mom has picked our profile book, asks to meet us face to face and decides that yes, we are the adoptive family she wants!
Hospital - a hospital plan is made up to decide who, when, what, where... when the adoptive family may meet the baby, and how discharge will go. It's an intensive time for all, of balancing grief and joy at the same time. Much prayer is needed during this time.
Home - back at home we settle in as a family and enjoy everything new about having a baby in the house.
Post Placement & Court - we have 2 or 3 visits from our caseworker after bringing the baby home. Once these visits happen, we go to court to finalize the adoption.
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