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| Do you have an information meeting where I can learn more about Domestic Adoptions? What are the requirements of the domestic program?
Do you have an information meeting where I could learn more about Domestic Adoptions? Sunny Ridge holds a free informational meeting for each of our programs, and our General Adoption Information meeting is held the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm. This meeting also gives brief information about all our programs, so couples are aware of all their options and can better decide which program is best suited to them. You can register for the General Adoption Information Meeting on-line now, or by calling (630) 754-4538, (toll free 800 222-9588).
How long do I have to wait? It’s one of the most often-asked questions. A simple answer is difficult because with adoption, there are many variables. The wishes of future birth parents must be taken into consideration, as well as your flexibility in terms of the type of child you wish to adopt. Each adoption is unique, and so too is the length of your adoption process.
For many reasons, we simply can't guarantee if or when a birth mother would select someone as the adoptive parent for her child. Some potential domestic adoptive parents want to have a home study done so that they can proceed with efforts to find a birth mother through their own contacts. If you already have a home study from another agency, and would like to apply to Sunny Ridge, you must still complete an application. If accepted, Sunny Ridge will review your home study, update the study and usually transfer your foster care license to Sunny Ridge. You will also be asked to complete the Sunny Ridge educational process, and pay all Sunny Ridge fees.
The cost of a domestic adoption is $22,950. The fee includes agency fees, the home study, birthparent counseling, legal services to terminate birthparent rights, post placement visits, writing of the final report to the court recommending finalization, and medical expenses for birth mom and baby related to the birth. In addition, you will need to retain an attorney to finalize your adoption. Learn more about costs in this web site.
What are the requirements of the domestic adoption program?
(1) Infertility or genetic counseling/or medical recommendation
Does Sunny Ridge facilitate African American adoptions?
Are all domestic adoptions “open?”
Most have some openness, however the level of openness varies. In most cases, it means that the adoptive and birth families meet before and after the birth of the baby and exchange letters and pictures after placement, with Sunny Ridge serving as the liaison. Many of our adoptions become fully identifying and have an ongoing commitment to contact. At Sunny Ridge, we believe that in most cases, openness is healthy for everyone involved. We provide families with education and exposure to openness, and leave the choice to them.
How do we know if our birthmother used drugs or alcohol? Approximately 20 percent of our birth parents report use of tobacco, alcohol and/or drugs (especially in the first trimester of pregnancy). Sunny Ridge thoroughly assesses birth parents. Birth parents generally work with social workers long enough for a relationship to develop and background information is provided. A complete medical and social history of the birthparents, when available, is provided to the adoptive family, as well as the baby’s hospital medical records. In the case of a drug or alcohol-exposed baby, the agency will provide all the information it has to the adoptive family. In addition, the family has an opportunity to have the baby’s health assessed by a doctor specializing in this field. All available information is presented to the adoptive family in order to assist them in making an informed decision regarding accepting placement.
I don’t know what type of adoption is best for me. Can you help?
The best way to answer this question is to determine what a couple wants from their adoption experience. In the domestic program, birth and adoptive families meet and form a relationship that might continue for years to come. If it is important for the adoptive family to have this experience and be able to provide this information for their child, then the domestic program is for them. If, on the other hand, a couple is more interested in the time factor and prefers the cultural aspect of an international adoption, then that program is the one for which they are best suited. We suggest you attend a General Adoption Information Meeting and learn about all your adoption options with Sunny Ridge.
Can I continue with my infertility treatments while going through the adoption process? When infertility treatments fail, couples often begin to think about adoption. While it is a good idea to be exploring all family planning options, it really is best to have resolved fertility issues before actually beginning the adoption process. Because the issues involved in adoption are so different from those in trying to have a birth child, it is important for the prospective adoptive couple to be able to concentrate on and devote their energies solely to the adoption experience.
Will a birthparent see my application?
No. Applications contain identifying, confidential information and are intended solely for the use of the agency in determining the best candidates for a home study. At the end of the home study process the adoptive couple prepares a non-identifying “profile” of themselves to be shown to birthparents.
In order for Sunny Ridge Family Center to place a baby in an adoptive home, it is very important to know the adoptive family, in order to present them to a birthparent. The home study / licensing process gives birthparents the confidence they need in the families presented to them as prospective parents for their child. The home study consists of an orientation series of three meetings and several interviews with a social worker. Families are also licensed as foster family homes and are required to be fingerprinted for background checks, provide current medical reports, and the names of five references.
When a birthmother working with Sunny Ridge signs a Surrender and terminates her parental rights, Sunny Ridge will sometimes become the guardian of that child until the adoption is finalized. The adoptive home that Sunny Ridge places the baby in is legally considered to be a foster family home during the six-month pre-finalization period. Sunny Ridge is licensed through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as a child-placing agency. Any home receiving an adoptive placement must also be licensed as a foster family home.
I just need a home study. Can you help me? Yes. Sunny Ridge also provides services to families who are working with an attorney in a private adoption and to families who are working with agencies outside the state of Illinois. Call us at (630) 754-4538, (toll free 800 222-9588).
My attorney said I need an agency to do my home study for an interstate adoption. Can you help? Yes. Sunny Ridge facilitates interstate adoptions on a regular basis. Families wanting an interstate adoption can be assured that all current requirements of the state of Illinois or Indiana will be met in order to assure a smooth placement. Sunny Ridge can also provide classes to meet your pre-adoption education requirements. Both Illinois and Indiana also require four post-placement visits after returning home with the child. The cost of each visit includes the writing of the reports for the out-of-state agencies involved and communications with the interstate compact offices. If the family is finalizing their adoption in Illinois or Indiana, this fee also includes the writing of the final report to the court, recommending finalization of the adoption. Call (630) 754-4538 (toll free 800 222-9588) for an application and document packet to begin your study.
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