Respect Life Ministry - Diocese of Belleville at 2620 Lebanon Ave., Bldg #2, Belleville, IL 62221 US - Focus On: ADOPTION
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In November, 2008, in honor of National Adoption Awareness month, the Respect Life Office partnered with Catholic Social Services' (CSS) in presenting a "Virtual Event" on Adoption. The event began by meeting Denise Brown, the Director of Adoption, for CSS, who introduced the event and gave information about adoption as seen in the clip below:
Our Virtual Event on Adoption!!
The first portion of the event provides you with information about the various types of adoption processes:- Foster to Adopt/Conversion/Special Needs Process
- Domestic Adoption Process
- International Adoption Process
Next is where YOU come in!! Please join us by participating in our 
Blog on Adoption by clicking here. You will be touched by the real-life stories of those within our community that have been touched by adoption - and from all different aspects of the process (birth parents, adoptive parents, etc.). We look forward to your participation! Your stories, questions and/or comments are always welcome!
Foster to Adopt/Conversion/Special Needs Process
These options are available to those who are willing to consider adoption of older children, emotionally or physically challenged children or sibling groups.
Families interested in becoming foster parents or adopting children through the foster care system are required to participate in the assessment, home study, and licensure process, as well as receive training according to the requirements set forth by the state of
We strongly encourage families to have experience with fostering children before they adopt foster children or search on their own to find children who are available for adoption.
There is no charge to become a foster parent or to adopt a foster child. You may even receive a monthly stipend to care for the child until he or she reaches 18 years of age.
The primary goal of Foster Care is the return of children to a safe and loving home. Foster parents have the task of giving their hearts and homes to the children in their care with the knowledge that someday they will have to say good-bye.
While the child is in foster care, the case-workers attempt to help the Birth Parents make the changes necessary to provide a safe and nurturing home. If a child cannot return home, then a permanent alternative must be found.
It is difficult to find homes for older children, especially teenagers. Since it is a priority to keep siblings together when possible, it is difficult to find families with room in their homes for sibling groups.
There are a number of children in the state of
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Families pursuing a domestic adoption are required to participate in the assessment, home study, and licensure process, as well as receive training according to the requirements set forth by the state of
Our agency promotes open adoption and works to match waiting families with birthparents who choose to make an adoption plan for their child.
Families are chosen by the Birthparents that are working with the agency.
We can also assist families networking to find a Birthparent who isn’t already working with the agency.
The agency may also provide services to families who already have a match or may have already received a placement of a child on their own.
The concept of adoption has changed greatly over the years. Although our agency will arrange a confidential adoption at the birthparents’ request, we believe in and advocate for “open adoption”.
Open adoption is an attitude, involving a cooperative plan between the biological and adoptive parents for the child in which both parties have a vital interest. Adoptive families are encouraged to be as open as possible without compromising their level of comfort. Birthparents may desire various levels of openness with an adoptive family. This may range from pictures and letters once a year to phone calls and visits. Its purpose is in the best interest of the child and is a lifelong commitment.
Domestic Adoption fees are determined by a sliding fee scale based upon family income.
During the home study process, you will be asked to write a “Dear Birthparent” letter telling about your family. Your letter and family picture are added to our profile book with other families. This book is presented to birthparents who are considering a plan of adoption for their child. Your Adoption Specialist will be available to assist you in creating your letter.
An adoption attorney will be needed for all adoptions. Your Specialist can give you a list to choose from if you have not already selected one to work with you. We strongly encourage you to choose an experienced adoption attorney as not doing so can significantly delay your adoption process and put your adoption at legal risk.
When your family is selected as a potential match, your Adoption Specialist will help you and the birthparents to negotiate a contractual agreement about the type of ongoing communication and level of openness that you expect from your growing relationship.
If the agency works with birthparents who decide they do not want the option of selecting the adoptive family and would like the agency to place the child, the agency makes every effort to match a child according to the expressed wishes of the birth parents, and the best interest of the child. This may include taking into account such things as religion, culture, race, linguistics or ethnic identity issues. If birthparents decide that they have no preference involving placement, the agency will contact the adoptive family that has been on the waiting list for the longest period of time. If a match cannot be easily made within the Diocese of Belleville, the child will be referred to another licensed or certified agency in order to avoid a delay in placement. This is completed within the parameters of
Seventy-two hours after delivery, the birthparents may sign their irrevocable and voluntary surrenders depending on their individual situation. The child may be placed with you anytime after leaving the hospital depending on the agreement and understanding of the legal issues involved. Your Adoption Specialist will explain in detail the many possibilities of placement. Your Specialist will also help you decide which is best for you.
After placement you will contact your attorney as soon as possible to have her or him file a Petition to Adopt. You will also contact your pediatrician for the initial visit with the child.
After placement, your Adoption Specialist will be visiting with you and your child once per month for the next six months. These post-placement visits are your time to express any ongoing or new concerns you have about parenting, adoption, or birthparent issues.
Pending Consent to Adoption by our Agency takes place seven to nine months after placement. Your attorney will set a court date at which the final legal process will occur. At this time you receive a new birth certificate for your child listed you as the parents. Name changes can also take place during this time.
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International Adoption Process
Families pursuing an International Adoption are required to participate in the assessment, home study, and licensure process, as well as receive training according to the requirements set forth by the state of Illinois.
We are a home study and post-placement service provider for families pursuing International adoptions. Because we are not an International placing agency, you will need to choose a placing agency that specializes in your country of interest.
Your placing agency will walk you through the majority of paperwork required for an International adoption, but I can summarize the process for you so you will know what to expect.
You may begin working with us on your home study, which is needed for every adoption, or you may come to us once you have chosen your placing agency. Placing agencies are usually not local, which is why you still need to find a local agency to complete your home study and post placements.
We provide a list of potential placing agencies for you to work with or you may locate one on your own that specializes in the country you are interested in adopting from. The placing agencies and countries you are interested in have requirements too. So make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria before deciding on a country.
Ask about fees, time frames, age of child, health issues, birth family services, travel expectations and other points of concern as each country is different.
In addition to a non-refundable application fee, we charge a flat fee for International Adoption Services. The placing agency you choose will have separate fees.
Placing agencies may charge you a flat fee or per adoption service provided to you. The cost of a placing agency may range from $9,000.00 to $30,000.00 depending upon the country you choose to adopt from. The average placing agency cost seems to be around $15,000.00.
The costs listed in Placing Agency Fee schedules include Placing Agency fees in the
It is necessary to apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service to bring an adopted child to the
Each document required for your dossier must be notarized, certified or apostil led, and often authenticated by that country’s embassy or consulate in order to be a legally recognized document. This will cost approximately $300 - $1,000 for documenting all the required papers.
Once you decide which placing agency best suits your needs as an adoptive family and request an application packet and complete it as required.
Once the placing agency has received your packet and accepted you as a client they will begin to start the adoptive process in the foreign country. Generally, it is up to you to remain in contact with the placing agency during the process of identifying your child. Please notify us immediately regarding the name of your placing agency worker.
Occasionally, a placing agency will request that the remainder of contact will occur between them and your Catholic Social Service Adoption Specialist. However, if this is not the case we encourage you to have regular contact with your placing agency worker.
A home study completed by a licensed child placing agency in your state, is required for adoptions in all countries. This is a written report based on interviews and home visits. It is merely a way of assuring all concerned that the adoptive family is able to provide all the necessary means to give the child a good home. Post-adoption reports are completed by the social worker after the adoption takes place.
When a child has been identified for you, the placing agency will send a “referral packet.” The referral packet could contain pictures, medical information and birthparent history.
Do not hesitate to call the placing agency for additional information or clarification.
We strongly recommend for you to take the medical information to your pediatrician for consultation.
If this child does not feel right for you,
If you accept the referral, follow the instructions quickly and carefully. Make contact with the placing agency regarding expectations for travel. Contact your Catholic Social Service Adoption Specialist and share the referral information.
If you do not accept this referral, notify the placing agency and your Catholic Social Service Adoption Specialist immediately. Return the referral packet to the placing agency. Your Adoption Specialist from Catholic Social Service will be in contact with the placing agency worker to support and explain your decision.
When your placing agency worker has arranged travel time notify your Catholic Social Service Adoption Specialist.
If your child is arriving in the states, make preparations for traveling to the arrival state. Be prepared with an age appropriate bag for your child including diapers, extra outfits, blankets, toys, books, snacks, and a car seat.
If you are traveling to the foreign country be sure to consult with your placing agency worker about the extras to bring along. Do not forget your car seat when you arrive back in the states and are ready to drive home.
Notify your Adoption Specialist from Catholic Social Service immediately upon your return home.
Your Catholic Social Service Adoption Specialist will set up an appointment within the week to visit and find out how you are doing and to answer any questions you have at this time.
He or she will also schedule your first official post-placement visit and discuss the requirements of the placing agency for additional post-placement visits.
Soon after your return home, contact an attorney.
If your adoption was legally finalized in the country of origin, then you may want to “re-finalize” for the sake of obtaining an American Birth Certificate. It is advisable to obtain an attorney who is familiar with this process.
If your adoption was not finalized in your chosen country, your attorney will provide two copies of the “Judgment for Adoption” to your Catholic Social Service Adoption Specialist. Your Adoption Specialist will send one to the placing agency and will retain one for our files.
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