The Home Study Process

The Home Study process is a universal requirement for Adoption. Different states may have slightly different requirements, but every state will have some type of home study requirement. In Arizona adoptive applicant's certification is signed by a Judge of the Juvenile Court. A rather lengthy report is submitted to the court for approval. This report is typically any where between 12-15 pages in length and covers topics such has (family background, health history (physical and mental), employment, financial status, current living situation, type of child desired, background checks etc.). As part of the process you will be required to work with an licensed adoption agency. You will be meeting with an adoption specialist for a minimum of 4 hours. This time allows your worker to get to know you. Although it is a professional visit it best to talk candidly and openly about your situation and your view about adoption. Most adoption workers are committed to finding safe, healthy stable homes for children. If there are things you are unsure of it's best to be open and have the conversation. If there is any history of an arrest record even as a minor it's most likely that the court will be notified of that. An arrest record doesn't automatically disqualify an applicant, but the judge will want to know that you are being candid with your adoption worker about your history. The same applies to physical and mental health background. Be open about your situation. Lots of applicants are nervous about the home inspection. Your adoption worker won't be checking how much dust has collected on your furniture, but will want to insure the general safety of the home. The court is most concerned about water features and firearms on the property. Make sure you are in compliance with the requirements outlined by Arizona adoption law. You'll want to make sure that you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and that medication and toxins are stored properly and that your home is generally safe. Not only is the Home Study process a time for your worker to get to know you, but for you to learn about the adoption process. You will want to get adoption specific training. Training will prepare you for such things as transracial adoption and open adoption etc. 40% of adoptions are transracial adoptions and 90% of adoptions are open according to the Adoption Family Magazine. Those that have adoption training tend to have healthier adoption experiences. The Home Study process also allows the applicants to asses their commitment to adopt. Many applicants seek adoption certification following struggles with infertility. Although adoption provides a way to become a mom or dad it does not resolve fertility. Part of the Home Study process is having individual and couple interviews(if married). It's best to be open, engaging, and curious during these interviews. It's okay if you don't have all the answers or haven't thought through all the aspects of adoption. Have a conversation and ask questions so that you can make informed decisions. Your adoption worker will want to identify what strengths you can offer to children with different demographics. Enjoy your adoption journey and embrace its unique experience. Although there will be bumps along the way adoption can be a very rewarding and fulfilling experience!

Letter to expectant mother

It is so excited to finally get to the point of writing the letter to the expectant parent. Exciting but daunting! So many adoptive applicants find this letter difficult to write. Here's some tips: BE YOURSELF- Most birth mothers choose a family that she has things in common with. It can be the most random thing that attracts her to your family. For one it was because the profile picture was a bit on the goofy side. The Dad and Mom where lifting their son up by his feet. The birth mom of their son could see herself doing that in the future. For another it was because the Dad is a K-9 police officer and she loves dogs. So it's really all about being yourself. Your the only person that can be you so be your best self! USE YOUR VOICE-Write like you would normally talk. Formal letters to the expectant mother can be dry, this is not a resume. Make it personal by letting her get to know you. Sharing short stories/experiences in your own voice will help her get to know you and get a feel for your personality. Make sure that if you are married you both contribute to the letter. It's nice when the wife talks about her husbands personality and the husband talks about his wives personality. Make it fun and upbeat. Dad's are important. Having a father for her child is often an important reason she decides to place. SHOW YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR-The adoption process can be stressful. Don't wish your days away. Stop and enjoy where you are at right now. Share a story or experience that shows off your sense of humor. A little humor can really break the ice and help people to get to know each other. OPENNESS- Generally state what your level of openness is. This is an important topic for many women who place for adoption. They want to know where you stand. Make sure you are only promising things you can and will deliver. UNDER promise and OVER deliver! It just makes the relationship go better! MAKE YOUR SPACE COUNT-This is your chance to introduce yourself. Give enough information for someone get to know you in a nutshell, but don't be too lengthy. Short paragraphs are easier to read and keeps the reader's attention better. SHOW COMPASSION- Most adoptive couples feel vulnerable. They are in the beginning stages of figuring out the process of adoption. In addition they most likely have had fertility struggles. It's hard to imagine what a birth mother goes through to place her child for adoption. It's nice to recognize the emotions and compassion, just don't overly dwell on it.

Building an online profile

In the world of real-estate you hear the phrase "LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION". Because when your talking real-estate location is of upmost importance. In the adoption world when your talking profiles it's your PICTURES that grabs attention and tells your story. Be very selective about the pictures you use, especially for your main profile picture. It's best to use a professional paragraphed picture that has great lighting, is properly cropped, and is in focus. I know those may seem like no brainer tips, but you'd be surprised how many profiles don't meet that simple criteria.

Your first impression will most likely be made through your pictures. So make it a good one! After spending hours creating and recreating your letter to expectant moms don't make the mistake of just adding pictures as an after thought. Your main profile picture is often what grabs an expectant mom's attention and intices her into taking a look at the rest of your information. Tips: 1)Use photos that make a impact-Use large photos-It's much better to have a couple of really nice photos than a bunch of smaller photos. Stay away for collages, they are difficult to see and can become cluttered. 2)Make sure your Photos have good quality, high resolution, great lighting and are properly cropped. Show case you not the scenery. 3)Show your personality- Select pictures that show your personality and interests. Create a brief description under your photo. Don't miss the opportunity to share part of your unique story with your caption. Don't just state the obvious.

For personal consultation on your photos give us a call at 480-392-5723.

Adoption

Adoption is that little miracle that happens when courageous love and hopeful hearts collide. It happens when a new family is formed. When answers to each other's prayers are finally heard. It's something that many don't understand, but is profound. It's because of the deep LOVE for a child. It lets the world know that humanity is alive. That sacrifices are made for the one. That LOVE conquers doubt, fear and selfish desires Adoption is a Miracle.

Hopeful Hearts

Longing for something that you thought would just naturally fall into place is a difficult place to be in. It's the realization that life is not taking the path that you had always dreamed of. This can be crushing news when it relates to something as big as how to GROW your family. Adoptive Families have to come to terms with not having full control of how and when they can GROW their family. They put their trust in a process that if often unfamiliar to them and without a definite timeline. They do their part and HOPE. This HOPE takes courage. Of course we all doubt and struggle and sometime we can only see far enough ahead of us to take one more step. The dictionary defines HOPE as "a feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfillment". In the adoption world Hope bring miracles.

LOVE

February is the month we celebrate LOVE! Working in the adoption world has taught me so SO much about love. Until recently I worked for LDSFS where their tag line reads "Its About Love". There could not be a more accurate description. Adoption is about LOVE! I've looked into the eyes of LOVE as I watched a new mother memorizing the delicate features of her baby. The baby that has her nose and eyes. The baby that she has carried for nine month despite the fact that she never thought this would happen to her. The baby that has kept her up all night kicking and has stretched her body out so much that it seems impossible she will ever get comfortable sleeping again. This new mother is filled with LOVE, a love that she has never experienced before. A love so deep and profound and often times unexpected. It's a courageous LOVE. A love that allows her to defy nature and to trust. Trust doesn't come as easily as it used to for her. She has been let down in life. She has been let down by herself, the other half of the pregnancy equation, and friends who she thought would be there forever. Despite all of this, she is able to trust the most precious thing in her life to another. Her deepest desire is to put the needs of her child first. For what ever reason she is not prepared and she knows her baby's needs can't wait. So much of what I have learned about love comes from looking into the eyes of love as I've watched the courageous love of a birth mother as she breaks her own heart to give her child more.