Adopting in Indiana
Families you wish to adopt in Indiana can get information from the Indiana Department of Child Services and licensed child-placing agencies. Families who plan to adopt their stepchildren, grand children, or nieces and nephews can do a direct placement from the child's parents. The state of Indiana requires all others to use the County Office of Family and Children (OCF) or a licensed child-placing agency to facilitate the adoption.
Children who are a ward of (OFC) are available for adoption. The adoption process includes education for the adoptive parents, selecting an adoption agency, parenting classes, family preparations process (includes preparing the home study), searching for your child, having the child placed in your home, filing a petition to adopt, and finalizing the adoption.
The OFC works with the Indiana Adoption Program to find homes for waiting children. Families can also find private adoption agencies. Families will need to choose an agency and begin the process. They will need to need to fill out an application and submit it to the agency. Applications may vary depending on the agency. Agencies will request information about your family and the type of child you are want to adopt, in addition to your contact information.
Agencies require the adoptive parents to attend training. This training helps the potential parents learn about issues that arise during and after adoption. Parents learn about disabilities that the children may have. Some families choose to adopt a child of a race that is different than their own. The classes help families learn about different cultures and how to best handle the transition of having a child of a different race placed in your family.
A Family Preparation Assessment, also called a Home Study is required. Public agencies may not requirement payment for the home study that they do. However, other agencies will charge a fee. A social worker will meet with the adoptive family to learn more about them and their home. They will write a home study report based on their meeting with the adoptive family and on the following additional required documents: birth certificates, marriage license, divorce decrees, death certificate of spouse, finalization of previous adoption decrees, and child abuse and criminal record clearances. Adoptive families will need to verify their income, get a statement of health from their doctor, get fingerprinted, and provide references.
Families can search for children available for adoption through the Indiana Adoption Program. They have a picture book that can be requested. The picture book has pictures of children who are looking for an adoptive home. It's important to remember that the adoption process can take some time. Some children may get placed with another family, while you are still working on your home study. While, the picture book is great to find a child, the adoptive family cannot pursue a specific child until they have completed all the required paperwork.
It's important to remember that there are children all over the world who need homes. Your child may be found in a different state or even a different country.
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