AFRICAN AMERICAN INFANT PROGRAM - Non-Oregon/Washington Residents

Beth Edens, Program Coordinator
bethe@christianfamilyadoptions.org

 

Steps to adopting through the African American Infant program

  • INQUIRY: The first step is to fill out an inquiry form on our website. A caseworker will contact you to follow up with your request.
  • APPLICATION: You will then complete and send in an application along with the following:
    • The fee of $300 listed on the application
    • Two family photos (additional photos will be needed for your portfolio)
    • Pre-adoption Education Certificate(s) if completed (must state hours you have completed. If certificate is not available, please give contact person and information)
    • Government issued photo ID - such as copies of driver’s license or passport
    • Copy of medical insurance card

  • CONTRACT: Upon approval of your application, you will be sent a letter of instruction, contracts for services, and given information regarding the required Domestic Infant Training Course. You will be asked to submit the remaining application packet documents consisting of: medical forms, financial form, personal references, release of information form and a general autobiography. This information is needed by the social worker conducting your home study.

  • EDUCATION: Pre-adoption education is required for all adopting families. CFA offers the Domestic Infant Training Course through distance education.

  • ADOPTION HOMESTUDY: You will need to find an agency to conduct your adoption home study. Inform them that you will be working with CFA for the placement coordination and please inform CFA of the name and contact information of the agency you have chosen. CFA will request that the completed home study and a non-identifying summary be sent in upon completion. A home study for the African American Infant Program will include such issues as your racial and ethnic heritage, prenatal and medical background risks you are willing to accept, your transracial parenting plan (if applicable), understanding of grief and loss in adoption, etc. After your home study has been received and approved, your file will be officially transferred to the Program Director who works with agencies across the country whose birth mothers are making an adoption plan.

  • PROFILE: After your contracts are received and you have completed the Domestic Infant Training Course, you will be asked to design a “Dear Birthmother” letter and picture portfolio that will be presented to birth mothers once your adoption home study is approved. Instructions for designing this profile and a sample are included with the Domestic Infant Training Course. The Program Director is available to help you if you have any questions.

  • FAMILY SELECTION: Family selection is usually made by the birth parents. Occasionally circumstances dictate that CFA and the placing agency select a family. When we are notified about a potential match we will contact your family and discuss details such as medical and social history, legal risks, placement, travel plans and fees. If at this point you don’t feel this is an appropriate match for you, we will wait for the next possibility.

  • CHILD ARRIVAL: Parent(s) will travel to the state where the baby is born. Most adoptive placements are made two to ten days after the birth of the child. You may also have the opportunity to meet the birth parents at this time. Once a placement has been made and you have completed paperwork with the placing agency you will need to wait for interstate approval before returning home. This takes five days on average.

  • POST PLACEMENT: Your social worker will make in-home post placement visits and, in most cases, will recommend that you begin finalization proceedings. Rarely do agencies require more than two post placement visits. We will coordinate with the placing agency to send the necessary legal documents to the attorney of your choice. You will initiate legal finalization after a post placement period of about 6 months.

AFRICAN AMERICAN INFANT PROGRAM FEE SCHEDULE

Non-Oregon/Washington Residents

(Fees below are subject to change without notice; please contact CFA for current fees.)

CFA Agency Fees:
(Due prior to study)

  • Application: $300
  • Agency Fee: $2750
  • Domestic Infant Training Course: $100
  • = $3150

    *Note: You will need to consult with your cooperating agency regarding the fees for a homestudy and post-placement visits.

African American Infant Placement Fees:

  • African American or biracial infants: $15,000 – 30,000
    (Due at time of placement. These are not CFA fees and are paid directly to the placing agency.)

Extra family expenses
(Estimated. Due as needed)

  • 12 color copies of profile: $50
  • Lodging and meals: $750
  • Airfare for two: $1600
  • = $2400

Estimated Grand Total: $20,550 - $35,550

 

CFA realizes that the time spent waiting for a child is difficult and seemingly endless. It is our desire to not only help children find loving and caring homes but also to help our families as much as possible during this exciting, joyous and sometimes anxiety filled journey. The Program Director is available to help you with any questions you might have – feel free to call. We look forward to working with you!