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1. What qualifications does a person need to adopt a waiting child?
2. What is involved in the home study process?
3. How am I matched with a child and how much information will I receive about the child?
4. How will the child learn about the family?
5. How long will it take to adopt a waiting child?
6. Once matched with a child does the child move right in?
7. What happens after placement?
8. Will the child I adopt be eligible for adoption subsidy?
9. How do we finalize the adoption?
10. What if I already have a completed home study?
11. Can I become a foster parent through Coordinators²inc?
12. If I want to get started what do I do next?

What qualifications does a person need to adopt a waiting child?

Coordinators²inc is working with families who are interested in adopting children in foster care who are waiting for a permanent family. The child(ren) will be age 9 and older or will be children who the family or another agency has identified for placement. Potential parents can be single or married (for at least one year); live in an apartment, house, or mobile home; have the ability to provide for their family financially; and be of any race, faith or gender. All potential parents must complete a training course, as part of the home study process.

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What is involved in the home study process?

Please see the Waiting Child Getting Started page to answer this question.

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How am I matched with a child and how much information will I receive about the child?

During the home study process, you and your worker will be discussing the type of child (ren) that you feel you can best parent. Once your home study is completed, information regarding waiting children will be shared with you through the Internet, Virginia’s photo listing book (AREVA), your attendance at Adoption Parties, children’s flyers and/or video clips. The information shared will provide you with limited information about the child. Your worker will contact the agency that has custody and obtain more details about the child that will be shared with you. Your worker and the custodial agency worker will continue to share information. It is important that you have the child’s social history, placement history, past and current assessments and the opportunity to talk with the foster family and significant others in the child’s life. The agency that has custody of the child will select one family or several families to meet with to discuss the families’ understanding of the child’s needs and how the family feels they can meet those needs. You will have the opportunity to learn about the child and ask questions. You may have already had the opportunity to meet the child through one of our events. The final decision will be yours with the guidance and support from your worker.

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How will the child learn about the family?

You will prepare a small photo book of your family, home, and extended family, sharing who you are as a family. This will be shared with the child, as the child is told that there is a family who is interested in having them be a permanent member of the family. The child should be told that the social workers would be making the final decision if this is the right family for him/her.

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How long will it take to adopt a waiting child?

There are several time frames in adopting a waiting child. The first is the home study process, which takes 2-4 months. The second is identification of a child and selection of a family. The time frame is difficult to predict and is determined by many influences. A lot depends on the family’s flexibility regarding the type of child the family can parent and the placing agency. The third is pre-placement visits and placement, which is about 3-6 weeks. The fourth is supervision, which is 6 months. After supervision the custodial agency files a report to the court for the Final Order of Adoption.

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Once matched with a child, does the child move right in?

After you have made a committment to adopt a particular child , a plan for pre-placement visits is made. The number and length of the visits is determined by the age of the child and also the readiness of the child and your family. The first visit is usually at an event such as an Adoption Party. The second visit might be in the child’s foster home or treatment center and the family may take the child for ice cream or to a park for a short visit. The visits would extend in length and there would be overnight visits so that you and the child can learn more about one another and to assist you in determining what techniques and services would be helpful. During the pre-placement visits, the worker will talk with you and the child and a placement date will be planned. It will be important for your family to help the child maintain relationships and grieve the losses they will experience.

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What happens after placement?

This is an exciting time for everyone. It is also a time when everyone is feeling lots of different emotions. The child’s experiences make it difficult for him/her to trust and affect their behaviors. Placement of a child into a family is like adding a new piece to a mobile. It has to rebalance itself. Your social worker will continue to meet with your family for a minimum of six months to help your family adjust, to assist with issues that will arise and to assist you in obtaining necessary resources. Coordinators²inc’s Adoptive Family Support Program can also provide assistance to your family.

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Will the child I adopt be eligible for adoption subsidy?

Subsidy or adoption assistance is a money payment and/or service designed to assist families in meeting the special needs of their children. The amount depends on the age of the child and the special needs of the child. Most children who have special needs are eligible for adoption assistance. You can ask your social worker about a specific child’s eligibility for this assistance to meet his/her needs.

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How do we finalize the adoption?

After the six months of supervision, you, your worker and the child’s worker will decide when to begin the finalization of the adoption. An attorney will file the necessary papers with the custodial agency’s consent to the Circuit Court. Your worker will complete a report that is sent to the Court, your attorney and the Virginia Department of Social Services. The Judge will read the information and sign the Final Order of Adoption. You or your attorney will then file for the new amended birth certificate.

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What if we already have a completed home study?

If you have a completed home study, the social work staff will review the study and set up a meeting with you to get to know you and the type of child you can best parent. During the meeting we will discuss trainings you have attended and set up a plan for additional meetings and possible trainings with your family. We want to get to know you as well as your home study agency knew you.

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Can I become a foster parent through Coordinators²inc?

Coordinators²inc does not currently approve Foster Families or Resource Families, as we do not take custody of children. A Resource Family is a family who is approved for both foster care and adoption. The family must be able to work with the social worker, child and birth parents to help the child return home while at the same time to agree to adopt the child if he/she cannot return home.. If you wish to be a Foster Family or Resource Family you should call your local department of social services and ask them about their programs.

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If I want to get started, what do I do next?

Call or e-mail and ask to speak to a social worker in the Waiting Child Program. The worker will answer any questions you may have and discuss with you the types of children for whom we are recruiting families. The social worker will send you a Waiting Child Packet, which will include a Waiting Child Checklist. Once you have returned the Check List, a social worker will contact you to schedule an Orientation Meeting.

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