Part III: More Areas for Consideration

The primary agency concerns that limit or enhance the possibility of your adopting a child fall into five areas: First, age. Under most circumstances for a Domestic adoption, the adoptive parent's age should not be over 45. Although there is a wide variance, most of the couples that have been selected have a combined age of around 70 to 80. Our International Adoption and African American Adoption programs may be more flexible on age requirements.

Second, references. During the formal home study process, five references will be required. One of them should be from your family pastor. References are requested by Sunny Ridge when the home study process has begun.

Third, fertility status or medical recommendation. If you are applying for a domestic adoption, a doctor's statement regarding your infertility or medical recommendation will be required during the formal home study. Most couples who apply have already completed a series of infertility tests. As with references, medical records are not required until the formal home study has begun. In the African American program and our International adoption program, fertility is not an issue.

Fourth, residence. The Sunny Ridge Domestic Adoption program accepts applicants from the states of Illinois and Indiana. We are only licensed to conduct home studies in these two states. We do however, facilitate interstate adoption for persons living in other states if they have a valid home study from their state and if they have identified a birth mother in Illinois or Indiana. Applications from out-of-state African Americans are also accepted. Again, our birthmothers generally like to select couples who reside in the states where they live, namely Illinois and Indiana. Prospective adoptive parents who live outside Illinois and Indiana, may however, locate a birth mom in one of these two states and work with Sunny Ridge to complete the adoption.

Fifth, financial self-sufficiency. It is expected that the adoptive family be financially able to provide for their current family situation plus assume the additional costs associated with caring for a child and covering the cost of the adoption. You don't have to be wealthy — but you do need to be able to demonstrate an ability to adequately provide for such basic items as food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. A stable financial situation is considered to be very important.

Under most circumstances, the domestic adoption program is reserved for a couple with either no children or just one child who is at least 12 months old at the time of application. If you have two or more children already, you may be considered as a potential family for an identified adoption, the adoption of a baby of African American heritage, or the adoption of a foreign-born child. These exceptions will be addressed as you read further.

Part IV: Your Criteria