Page 28 - Baby Society Magazine Issue 30

For many prospective parents looking to grow their families through adoption, patience, and education are key.
Long before adoptive parents welcome their child into their arms, they must be equipped with the tools and educational resources to become an official “waiting family.”
Successful adoptions start with education and preparation.
At Loving Hearts, all prospective parents are required to complete adoption education materials wherein they learn about the adoption process and further connect with adoption staff to lay out their adoption plan. Part of this education process includes hopeful parents having conversations with the agency to determine which factors and placement “preferences” they are comfortable with moving forward (e.g., types of substance(s), if any, a child has been exposed to in utero, family history of mental illness, legal risks of a placement, child’s age, etc.).
After education requirements are met and the family has determined their preferences, the agency prepares and initiates a home study summary outlining what the family has been approved for and what their “preferences” are.
These home study summaries involve local, state and federal background checks, medical assessments, references, and home safety inspections to ensure that the family is well-equipped ahead of placement.
In effort to be selected by an expectant parent, waiting families typically create an introduction letter and profile book for expectant parents to view when selecting an adoptive family for their child. Upon the completion of an approved home study summary, Loving Hearts may begin presenting a family’s profile to expectant parents who are making an adoption plan for their child. These profile items are important for expectant parents, as this is their first look at who the waiting families are and their first opportunity to make emotional connections with a family that may become their child’s adoptive family.
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