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- A wise first step in beginning the adoption process is to attend a
free information or orientation meeting. Most agencies offer
orientations that are generally open to the public.
- Many agencies require prospective adoptive and foster families to
attend training classes designed to equip families with the tools they
will need to parent children with special needs. Training classes
are offered statewide, and most classes range between 12 and 20 hours. Families
often receive training provided by one qualified organization and
continue the adoption process with a second organization.
See our pre-adopt training page for schedules for
many Minnesota agencies. Whether a family works with a public
agency or a private agency, they will need to inquire about the agency's
training requirements.
- At the conclusion of training, families who choose to continue the
process of becoming a resource for a child must submit an application
for either adoption or foster care. Those families pursuing foster
care must work with their county social service agency. The
requirements may vary depending on the county of residence. If
pursuing adoption, a family may choose to work with a
private agency or
a county social service agency.
- The social worker will guide the family through the process of
completing the paperwork. The timeline for completion of a homestudy may vary depending on the social worker's caseload; how
promptly the family returns paperwork; and/or on the flexibility of the
family's schedule in accommodating home visits.
- Once the information is gathered by the family social worker, it may
take several weeks for the homestudy to be written. During this period
the family may begin to identify children they are interested in
learning more about by reading the Star Tribune waiting child column or by
watching Thursday's Child (broadcast on KSTP). They may
also take the this time to gain more information about children with
special needs, to attend educational seminars and training classes, and
to connect with parent support groups.
- Once the homestudy is complete, the family's social worker will
present it to the social workers of the children in whom they have an
interest. In some counties, the homestudy may be made available to
all guardianship or child social workers. Adoptive families will
also be registered on the Minnesota State Adoption Exchange.
- The process up to this point can take anywhere from 4 to 6 months,
depending on the agency. It is important for the adoptive family to be
active in this part of the process. It is not the family social worker's
responsibility to seek out a child.
Waiting for placement can be a frustrating time for families. During
this period, many families choose to prepare a "life book" about their
family to share with children during future pre-placement visits.
- Once a family has been selected as a potential good fit for a
child, detailed information about the child's past will be shared with
the family. It is crucial at this stage to ask very specific questions
regarding the child's needs. It is important to assess realistically the
family's ability to parent a particular child. When the family and the
workers feel certain about proceeding, the adoptive family will begin
visits with the child in the foster home. Later they will visit with the
child away from the foster home and eventually in the new adoptive home.
This part of the process can go quickly or slowly, depending on the
needs of the child. During this transition the adoptive family needs to
be patient and respectful of the foster family the child will be leaving
behind.
- After placement, the child's guardian will work closely with the family
to ensure that the paperwork for adoption assistance is in place before
finalization. The finalization takes place in a court of law before a
judge, at which time the adoption is legal and a new birth certificate
is issued identifying the adoptive parent(s) as the legal parent(s).
Adoptions are usually finalized nine to twelve months after placement.
- Before and after finalization, it is important for the adoptive family
to develop a support system of family, friends, adoptive parent groups,
and others that can be supportive during this transition. Contact with
birth siblings is sometimes requested. Parenting
children with special needs is often challenging. It will be important
to the success of the family to take advantage of the information and
post-adoption support available in the State of Minnesota.
Step Parent
Adoption
After marriage to a spouse who has a child, a step parent adoption may occur
by either a step mother or a step father. In step parent adoption, the
non-custodial birth parent's rights may be terminated (voluntarily or
involuntarily) or the birth parent may be deceased. In most instances of step
parent adoption, consent must be given by both birth parents to the adoption,
but there are exceptions that can be explained by an
attorney. It is advisable to contact an
adoption attorney to facilitate either
the consent or termination process and to complete the adoption process.
Birthfather Rights
In step father adoptions, bypassing a child’s birth father for any reason
puts the adoption at legal risk. Before the adoption takes place, it is
important to take appropriate legal steps to include and inform the birthfather.
Minnesota’s
Father's Adoption Registry provides a way for a birthfather to take steps
should he wish to have a say in the adoption.
Policies differ from county to county as to whether a home study is required
in a step parent adoption. Typically, if a study is required, it will be done by
the county social services in the adopting parent’s county of residence. Contact
your county court administration if you have questions.
International Adoption
The Joint Council on International Children's Services is the oldest and largest affiliation of licensed, non-profit international adoption organizations in the world. Members include adoption agencies, child welfare organizations, parent support groups and medical specialists with an interest in intercountry adoption.
For adoption information on individual countries, log onto:
www.jcics.org/Country_Information.htm
Hague Adoption Convention Update
The United States is nearing its goal of ratification and full implementation of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The Convention is designed to ensure that participating nations have agreed-upon rules and procedures for intercountry adoption and that these processes safeguard the well-being of children. More than 70 countries have already joined the Convention, and many other countries are working toward joining.
To download the parents’ booklet, The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption: A Guide for Prospective Adoptive Parents, published by the State Department, log onto:
Prospective Adoptive Parent's Guide
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