Adoption Services

Overview:

Serving Northern California since 1989, Families For Children is a private, non-profit Adoption Agency licensed by the State of California. Our Master's level Adoption Social Workers have many years of combined experience in adoption and we take pride in our excellent, widespread reputation. Families For Children is dedicated to working closely with you as a team during the entire adoption process.

We offer a full range of services for adoptive parents including our Concurrent Planning and Adoptive Matching Programs, and our comprehensive program is designed to find the best possible matches between adoptive families and children as well as enable adoptive parents to explore their motivations and consider all options in planning for an adoption. In addition, with our full service adoption license, the entire adoption process can be completed without attorney assistance, unless it is requested.

We understand that the adoption process can be overwhelming. Families For Children pledges that our staff will competently assist you from your first call or visit, all the way through bringing your newly adopted child home with care, support, courtesy and professionalism.

On our website you will find additional information that we hope you will find valuable in beginning your journey to adopt. If you'd like to take the first step or have additional questions, please Contact Us to schedule an appointment for a one-on-one informational meeting with one of our experienced adoption workers.

How the Adoption Process Works:

Families For Children educates, performs home studies and certifies Adoptive families in accordance with California state law. During the home study process, we work with you as a team to identify children that would be an ideal match for your family situation based on a variety of factors. Families For Children will conduct the home study process in a way that will allow you to go through a phase of self-discovery and self-study rather than an investigative process on the part of the agency. After the home study process and certification is complete, we begin the process of matching you with children who are in the County's Foster/Adoptive program, utilizing the information gathered during the home study. For more information on certification, please see the Adoptive Parent Certification Process.

Adoptive children are referred to us for placement in our Adoptive homes by County Adoption Workers from many California counties. Once these children are legally freed by the courts, they will make the transition to adoptive children and may join their permanent families with minimal delay. These children, some of whom have been abused and/or neglected, are in need of a stable, loving home environment that only a permanent adoptive home can provide.

Fees:

There are no agency or home study fees for Adoptive parents who are adopting a child through Families For Children's Concurrent Plan and Matching programs. In addition, Adoptive parents receive a monthly reimbursement to cover the child's expenses until the adoption is finalized. After the adoption is finalized, continued funding is provided to adoptive parents through AAP (Adoption Assistance Program) until the child reaches 18. All of the child's medical expenses are covered by Medi-Cal until the age of 18.

Costs to adoptive parents are limited to LiveScan fees, CPR/First Aid costs, a DMV printout and routine physical and T.B. test. All of these expenditures are reimbursable up to $400 at the finalization of the adoption.

About "Special Needs":

The term "special needs" is somewhat misleading, because it brings to mind severe physical or emotional disabilities. With adoptive children, special needs most commonly means that the child is older, a minority, requires placement with his/her siblings or has a minor speech or learning delay. While some children are dealing with physical or emotional concerns, just like other children, they need the nurturing and support that a permanent family can provide. Many adoptive children are in the "system" because their birth parents weren't protective and nurturing caretakers, not due to the faults of the children.

Description of Services Provided:

Adoption Services are provided by M.S.W. or L.C.S.W. level social workers.
Services include bi-weekly in-home supervision and counseling, bi-annual Needs & Service Plans and quarterly evaluation reviews. Services also include, but are not limited to, family counseling, development of community resources, treatment planning and facilitation, educational planning and development, clinical development, and individual child assessment. Extensive coordination with the cooperating county or state adoption agency continues throughout the placement period.

Community services are utilized for children who had prenatal exposure to drugs, were sexually abused, or are developmentally or physically delayed. Networking with local community resources adds the additional support of other professionals in the family's home area by providing appropriate educational, neurological and psychiatric evaluations.

Program Goals:

Our Adoption program provides high levels of support services to our families and children. Our treatment program is designed to treat both children and families to promote integration of the child into the family system through reciprocal attachment.

To move children into their permanent adoptive homes as soon as a permanency plan for adoption has been made.
To provide ongoing supervision of these families to help establish an atmosphere in which children can thrive.
To assist with ongoing therapeutic treatment services for children and their families through family and individual therapy, support, training, and consultation.
To promote reciprocal bonding between child and family.
To provide behavior management information to assist the family in dealing with periods of attachment and/or adjustment issues.