| Family Finders |
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| Children who are school aged or older of all backgrounds. | |
| Minority children of all ages. | |
| Children with backgrounds or experiences that have placed them at risk. | |
| Children with various degrees of mental, physical or emotional problems. | |
| Children that also have brothers or sisters with whom they must be placed. |
You can change the life of a child forever. Adopting a child gives them the love, commitment and care that every child needs to enjoy a happy, healthy future.
Family Finders is working with the Department of Resources to recruit and prepare families willing to open their hearts and homes to someone who needs a caring environment.
Special Needs Adoption
In the eyes of a child, you can make every day special.
Many children across the state of Alabama need and deserve adoptive homes. But there are many children that have a "special need" for a permanent home or family to offer them love and care. These are wonderful children from a variety of backgrounds that require a variety of adoptive needs.
Some may simply need a little extra guidance and love for them to realize their full potential. Others may need dedicated, full-time care due to their physical and/or psychological conditions.
But one thing is for certain. With your adoption, you can make every day special for these deserving children.
Who are "special needs" children?
| Healthy, average school-aged children of all background and minority children over age 2. | |
| Children with backgrounds or experiences that have placed them risk. | |
| Children with various degrees of mental, physical or emotional problems. | |
| Children that also have more than 2 brothers or sisters with whom they must be placed. |
There is one thing that all "special needs" children share - a unique and beautiful desire to show their own potential.
Family Finders is working with the Department of Resources to encourage and recruit families willing to open their hearts and homes to someone who needs a caring environment.
Opening your home to a special needs adoption not only helps a wonderful child realize a bright and happy future - it helps you realize one as well.
Adoption Preparation
Preparation for a lifelong commitment to a child's individual needs
Adopting a child does not require as much money or training as many people think. Upon qualification, many adoptive parents and families are eligible for financial assistance, preparation and training as well as post-adoption guidance and assistance.
EXPENSES
The Department of Human Resources charges no fees for the placement of children. In addition, certain special needs children are qualified for financial and medical assistance to help adoptive families meet their needs.
PREPARATION
Group Preparations & Selection (GPS) is a program designed specifically to educate potential adoptive and foster parent families on a variety of pertinent topics on their upcoming adoption experience. Topics covered in GPS meetings include discussion of the children available; the impact adoption may have on your family, behavior management techniques and more. This preparation program will consist of 10 meetings totaling 30 classroom hours.
Many times, enduring friendships are formed during GPS meetings that continue after the families receive their children. Also, a Family Finders caseworker will meet with your family to gather your Family Profile, which will be used to match your family with a child or children. Throughout your GPS meetings, a mutual selection process will help you and your family decide if the adoption is right for you, what type of child will fit best in your family and assessing your families "strengths and needs."
The Adoption Checklist
A Guide For You & Your Family On The Adoption Process
Adoption is defined as the legal and social process by which a child born to one set of parents becomes the child of another parent or parents. The decision to adopt is a very important one that should be an informed decision.
Family Finders wants to make your adoption as smooth and efficient as possible. That's why we've provided this "Adoption Checklist" for you or your family to keep handy while your family goes through the adoption process. It will help you plan ahead, know what steps will be next and offer helpful hints on making your transition from applicant to parent less complicated and rewarding.
STEP 1 - Meeting Adoption Requirements
STEP 2 - Application Submittal STEP 3 - Group Preparation & Selection Many times, enduring friendships are formed during GPS meetings that continue after the families receive their children. Also, a Family Finders caseworker will meet with your family to gather your Family Profile, which will be used to match your family with a child or children. Throughout your GPS meetings, a mutual selection process will help you and your family decide if adoption is right for you, what type of child will fit best in your family and assist you in assessing your families strengths and needs. STEP 4 - Your Approval As An Adoptive Resource The time between your approval as an adoptive resource and your placement can vary significantly, depending on the children who are available and the characteristics of the children you are willing to consider. STEP 5 - Background Information & Pre-Placement Visits STEP 6 - Legal Acknowledgement
Your willingness and commitment to being a parent, as well as your ability to love and rear a child who needs you are always the main requirements to successfully adopt a child. However, there are specific basic requirements that every adoptive parent MUST meet:
You must be a U.S. citizen over 19 years of age.
If married, marriage must be of at least 3 years duration. You must have adequate housing & personal space for the child or children adopted. You must be healthy enough to meet a child's needs. You must be willing to undergo a thorough background check, including criminal history
After you have read all information regarding adoption, and feel that the adoption is something you and your family are deeply committed to, you should go to the inquiry form and fill it out. You will be contacted to gather further information and fill out the application and other required forms. If you have any difficulty with the forms, feel free to contact Family Finders.
After your application for adoption is received, you will be contacted to schedule your Group Preparation and Selection (GPS) meetings. GPS is a program designed specifically to educate potential adoptive and foster parent families on a variety of pertinent topics on their upcoming adoption experience. Topics covered in GPS meetings include discussion of the children available, the impact adoption may have on your family, behavior management techniques and more. This preparation program will consist of 10 meetings totaling 30 classroom hours.
Once you and your caseworker complete your family profile and home study, this information will be sent to the local Department of Human Resources (DHR) where a final determination of your approval as an adoptive resource occurs. Once you are an adoptive resource, the matching process begins. You will then receive the Waiting Children newsletter that highlights children who are available for adoption.
Once you have been selected for the child or children you have identified, or once you are selected by the State Office of Adoption as a resource for another child, you will be given the opportunity to review background information about the child or children. Upon reviewing this information, if you decide to proceed, you will meet the children in pre-placement visits. After pre-placement visits, your decision to move forward will allow the child or children to be placed in your home upon the signing of a placement agreement.
Although at this stage your child is living with you and has become a part of your family through the adoption placement, the final step in the adoption process is the recognition by the court system that the child is legally your own. Because every adoption can be unique, your caseworker will help you and walk you through this process as your case evolves.
Family Finders is a collaborative effort of social service agencies to recruit and prepare foster and adoptive homes for children in the custody of the Department of Human Resources and foster homes for vulnerable adults.