How Do I Find an Adoptive Family?
You don’t need to have an adoptive family picked out before contacting ASC. We start by learning what matters to you and what you hope for in a family for your child. Our role is to walk alongside you, slow the process down when needed, and make sure you have the information and support you need before you make a permanent plan for adoption.
How Does This Work?
Every situation is different, and there is no need to rush. We’ll start with a conversation about what is happening in your life, what questions you have, and what matters most to you. If you decide you want to explore adoption, we’ll explain each step and help you understand how ASC finds and carefully reviews adoptive families based on your wishes and what you want for your child.
ASC does not represent a waiting list of adoptive families. Instead, we look for families based on what you tell us is important — things like race and culture, religion, where a family lives, siblings, lifestyle, and the kind of openness or ongoing relationship you hope to have after adoption. We work with trusted adoption professionals to identify and review families who fit those wishes, and then present a small number for you to consider. The goal is to help you find the family that feels like the best fit for you and your child — not to fit you into someone else’s adoption plan.
LET’S TALK WHEN YOU’RE READYASC does not represent a waiting list of adoptive families. Instead, we look for families based on what you tell us is important — things like race and culture, religion, where a family lives, siblings, lifestyle, and the kind of openness or ongoing relationship you hope to have after adoption. We work with trusted adoption professionals to identify and review families who fit those wishes, and then present a small number for you to consider. The goal is to help you find the family that feels like the best fit for you and your child — not to fit you into someone else’s adoption plan.
How Do We Know Families Are Safe and Ready?
Before an adoptive family can be considered for your child, they must have a current, approved home study completed by a licensed adoption professional. A home study is an in-depth review of a family’s background, health, finances, relationships, home environment, criminal history, references and preparation for adoption.
But ASC doesn’t stop with an approved home study.
Before we present a family to you, we take an additional look at whether that family may be a good fit for the child you are considering placing. We review their adoption preparation, their understanding of openness, their support system, their community and the life they hope to provide a child.
When a family hopes to adopt a child of a different race or culture, we look even more closely. Being approved for transracial adoption is only the beginning. We want to understand the community where the family lives, the diversity of their schools, neighborhoods and relationships, and whether a child will have meaningful racial and cultural mirrors in everyday life. We want to know that a child will have people around them who look like them and opportunities to develop a strong connection to their racial and cultural identity.
An approved home study tells us a family is eligible to adopt. Our additional review helps us decide whether they are a family we feel comfortable presenting to you.
And ultimately, you decide which families you want to learn more about.
But ASC doesn’t stop with an approved home study.
Before we present a family to you, we take an additional look at whether that family may be a good fit for the child you are considering placing. We review their adoption preparation, their understanding of openness, their support system, their community and the life they hope to provide a child.
When a family hopes to adopt a child of a different race or culture, we look even more closely. Being approved for transracial adoption is only the beginning. We want to understand the community where the family lives, the diversity of their schools, neighborhoods and relationships, and whether a child will have meaningful racial and cultural mirrors in everyday life. We want to know that a child will have people around them who look like them and opportunities to develop a strong connection to their racial and cultural identity.
An approved home study tells us a family is eligible to adopt. Our additional review helps us decide whether they are a family we feel comfortable presenting to you.
And ultimately, you decide which families you want to learn more about.
What Do We Expect Adoptive Families to Understand?
Adoption is a lifelong relationship, not simply a way to become a parent. Before ASC considers presenting a family to you, we want to know they have received meaningful adoption education and understand the responsibility that comes with raising an adopted child.
Before we present a family to you, we look for:
- A current, approved home study and appropriate preparation for adoption
- An understanding of open adoption and a commitment to maintaining important biological family relationships
- Recognition of the grief, loss and complexity that can exist alongside love and joy in adoption
- Preparation to talk openly and honestly with a child about their adoption story
- For transracial adoption, meaningful preparation around race, culture, identity and the importance of racial and cultural mirrors
- A willingness to continue learning from adult adoptees and birth parents throughout their child’s life
We especially value preparation that centers the voices and lived experiences of adult adoptees and birth parents. Their perspectives help families understand adoption in ways that go beyond required education. We look for families who are willing to keep listening, learning and growing throughout their child’s life.