Adoption Support Center
A licensed child placement agency in Indiana
In our 35 years in business, ASC has seen a lot of changes in the adoption world — and we’ve even been the driving force behind some of them! Modern adoptions have become more ethical, more focused on what’s best for the adopted child, and more supportive of expectant and birth moms.
When you choose ASC, you’ll know what it’s like to work with a modern, ethical adoption agency. You’ll get transparency, honesty and someone to return your calls, texts and emails ASAP. “Support” isn’t just in our name — it’s our promise to you!
Whether you need education, counseling or just a friendly conversation, we have a heart for you and your story. We’re excited to be part of your adoption journey!
When you choose ASC, you’ll know what it’s like to work with a modern, ethical adoption agency. You’ll get transparency, honesty and someone to return your calls, texts and emails ASAP. “Support” isn’t just in our name — it’s our promise to you!
Whether you need education, counseling or just a friendly conversation, we have a heart for you and your story. We’re excited to be part of your adoption journey!
Our
Goal
Our goal is to have an adoptive placement within 12 months of activating your family. Our average placement time goes up and down, depending on a lot of different factors. During your wait time you can expect clear and honest communication, transparency, and full support as you navigate the adoption journey to placement and beyond.
Getting Started with ASC
Your very first step toward working with ASC is to fill out a brief intake form.
Once ASC receives your completed intake form, you’ll hear back from our Senior Adoption Assistant. She’ll let you know when the next New Parent Seminar is being held.
The seminar is an intimate group of your peers who are also looking into growing their family through adoption. It’s approximately 2 hours long. You can come with questions, or just join and listen in. We’ll share lots of education, stats and stories, along with general adoption law and agency policies.
The seminar is your first glimpse into adoption with ASC. If you feel that ASC is a good fit for you to grow your family, then we’re thrilled to be by your side for the exciting journey that’s ahead!
FILL OUT INTAKE FORMOnce ASC receives your completed intake form, you’ll hear back from our Senior Adoption Assistant. She’ll let you know when the next New Parent Seminar is being held.
The seminar is an intimate group of your peers who are also looking into growing their family through adoption. It’s approximately 2 hours long. You can come with questions, or just join and listen in. We’ll share lots of education, stats and stories, along with general adoption law and agency policies.
The seminar is your first glimpse into adoption with ASC. If you feel that ASC is a good fit for you to grow your family, then we’re thrilled to be by your side for the exciting journey that’s ahead!
Getting Registered
Your next step on the journey is to request your New Parent Packet for registration. As part of the packet, you’ll:
- Fill out information about your family that will go in your profile book (you can see examples on our featured families page)
- Complete a physical with your physician, and provide both your personal and family medical history
- Complete background checks
- Provide financial and other supporting documents for your home study
Attend adoption prep meeting
Once your New Parent Packet is complete, you’ll attend a New Parent Prep Meeting at ASC.
You’ll learn more about the adoption process from our clinical staff, and have a chance to have open discussions with your peers. We’ll educate you on modern adoption, cultural diversity and what to expect from the process moving forward.
If you’re interested in adopting a child of another race than you, you’ll also have some additional readings and activities. ASC requires all families adopting to complete the Be the Bridge curriculum. If you’d like to get a head start, you can purchase the Transracial Adoption bundle at any time.
You’ll learn more about the adoption process from our clinical staff, and have a chance to have open discussions with your peers. We’ll educate you on modern adoption, cultural diversity and what to expect from the process moving forward.
If you’re interested in adopting a child of another race than you, you’ll also have some additional readings and activities. ASC requires all families adopting to complete the Be the Bridge curriculum. If you’d like to get a head start, you can purchase the Transracial Adoption bundle at any time.
Prepare for your home study
Once you’ve completed your New Parent Packet and attended the adoption prep meeting, your file will move to our home study team. You’ll get an email from a home study case worker to set up a home visit. Your visit will be scheduled with a social worker who’s knowledgeable on modern and ethical adoption.
FYI
While you’re waiting for the meeting, it would be helpful to continue to research and follow our Read, Listen, Follow resources.
- Educate yourselves on substance exposure during pregnancy and your comfort level with the associated risks.
- Be ready to discuss your comfort level with the race of the child you’re open to adopting, as well as why that is
- Be prepared to discuss what long-term contact you’re open to with your adoptee’s birth family
Your home study
Our home studies are non-invasive and educational. This process is about more than just the physical safety of your home — it’s a chance to gain perspective on bringing a child into your family through adoption.
If you’re planning on adopting, you’ll be required to take on additional activities and education.
If you’re planning on adopting, you’ll be required to take on additional activities and education.
Going active
Our goal is about 8 weeks after home visit
Before we set your family to “active” status, you should get all your ducks in a row. Although you might still be waiting for months to welcome a baby home, make sure your finances would be ready to support a child tomorrow. You’ll also want to make sure you’re clear for maternity/paternity leave at work and have daycare options ready to go.
When you give us the thumbs up, we’ll activate you in our system. Your bio will go active on our featured families page, and ASC will start marketing you. Now it’s time for you to sit back and wait. You should continue educating yourself using ASC’s Read, Listen and Follow resources.
When you give us the thumbs up, we’ll activate you in our system. Your bio will go active on our featured families page, and ASC will start marketing you. Now it’s time for you to sit back and wait. You should continue educating yourself using ASC’s Read, Listen and Follow resources.
The
Wait
ASC’s goal for placement is within 12 months after going active. We’re able to fulfill that goal because we do not take on more families than we can serve. We support and prioritize our active families before taking on new ones.
The amount of time you’ll wait depends on many factors. In the end, you’ll get the child you’re meant to raise — and we’ll be by your side every step of the way.
The amount of time you’ll wait depends on many factors. In the end, you’ll get the child you’re meant to raise — and we’ll be by your side every step of the way.
Meeting an expectant mom
8-12 weeks until her due date
When you’re active, your profile may be viewed by expectant moms who match your preferences. It’s only once an expectant mom expresses that she’s seriously considering your family to adopt her baby that we’ll reach out to you.
If the expectant mom would like to meet you, we’ll arrange a meeting that’s convenient for her. Your adoption coordinator will be there to make the introduction and to help the conversation flow. This is a delicate time, and we’ve found that having a mediator to support both parties is crucial in this first step.
If the expectant mom would like to meet you, we’ll arrange a meeting that’s convenient for her. Your adoption coordinator will be there to make the introduction and to help the conversation flow. This is a delicate time, and we’ve found that having a mediator to support both parties is crucial in this first step.
After your meeting
After this meeting, ASC will check in with both parties to make sure they’re on the same page. If they are, your adoption coordinator will send a pregnancy plan to you both, sharing your contact information along with tips on maintaining the relationship.
As this relationship develops, this could look like monthly visits with her until she delivers, or not. ASC will continue to support her as she considers adoption as well as explore her other options. And you’ll have additional support from your coordinator and the ASC clinical staff to answer your questions and address your concerns along the way.
Some prospective families have one match and then a placement. Others may be chosen many times before finding the child they were meant to raise. ASC will continue to support you until placement, and beyond.
As this relationship develops, this could look like monthly visits with her until she delivers, or not. ASC will continue to support her as she considers adoption as well as explore her other options. And you’ll have additional support from your coordinator and the ASC clinical staff to answer your questions and address your concerns along the way.
Some prospective families have one match and then a placement. Others may be chosen many times before finding the child they were meant to raise. ASC will continue to support you until placement, and beyond.
Making a hospital plan
4-6 weeks until her due date
The expectant mom will share her wishes for her hospital visit with ASC’s coordinator. She may or may not want you to be present during her delivery, and she may or may not want to meet you after the birth. She may also choose or choose not to see her baby before leaving the hospital. There’s no right or wrong scenario.
You’ll get an electronic version of the hospital plan, and a call from ASC’s clinical team to discuss any questions or concerns you have about your role for the hospital stay. We’ll talk about what the first few weeks will look like if you bring the baby home — and how your support group can show up for you in case the expectant mom chooses to parent her child.
This is also when we’ll discuss the naming of the baby. At this point you’ve likely talked with the expectant mom about this topic, and she may or may not want to have a hand in naming the child. Either way, we encourage you to honor her or her family in some way — whether it’s letting her choose a name from a list you create, or using a family name of hers as the child’s middle name, for example.
Once this hospital plan and plan for naming the child are in place, all that’s left to do is wait until the due date.
You’ll get an electronic version of the hospital plan, and a call from ASC’s clinical team to discuss any questions or concerns you have about your role for the hospital stay. We’ll talk about what the first few weeks will look like if you bring the baby home — and how your support group can show up for you in case the expectant mom chooses to parent her child.
This is also when we’ll discuss the naming of the baby. At this point you’ve likely talked with the expectant mom about this topic, and she may or may not want to have a hand in naming the child. Either way, we encourage you to honor her or her family in some way — whether it’s letting her choose a name from a list you create, or using a family name of hers as the child’s middle name, for example.
Once this hospital plan and plan for naming the child are in place, all that’s left to do is wait until the due date.
PLACEMENT
You’ve gotten the call that the expectant mom has gone into labor, and you probably have a million thoughts racing through your head. This is an emotional day for everyone involved, so it’s a good idea to revisit the hospital plan we laid out ahead of time.
Flexibility is key. Regardless of what happens during the hospital stay, we encourage you to honor the expectant mom’s wishes. Even if the adoption happens outside of “business hours” ASC is right alongside to support both parties. We’ll make the necessary arrangements with attorneys and social workers, so you can focus on the expectant mom.
Remember, this is the expectant mom’s time for visitors. Some women want this day to be a celebration, others prefer for it to be more intimate. Either way, she’ll be surrounded by her support group at the hospital, and yours will be waiting for you at home.
If the expectant mom chooses adoption for her child and the medical staff has given the okay to discharge, you can strap your baby into their car seat and bring them home.
See the post-placement timelineIf the expectant mom chooses adoption for her child and the medical staff has given the okay to discharge, you can strap your baby into their car seat and bring them home.