What is expected of adoptive parents?
- Individuals should be physically, mentally and financially capable of caring for a child under conditions favorable to the child’s best development.
- Adopting parents need to understand and accept that birth parents play an important role in selecting an adoptive home for their child. For an older/special needs child with previous caretakers there may also be specific requests regarding adoptive parents.
- All adults over 18 in adoptive families must be fingerprinted and screened by the New York State Child Abuse Registry.
- Families interested in domestic infant and international adoption are required to attend a series of educational classes aimed at developing and discussing adoption related issues. Also, a mandatory home study will be conducted.
- In addition, families interested in adopting older children are required to attend a 30-hour program entitled “Group Preparation and Selection/Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting.” This program assists parents in developing their skills and identifying their abilities to meet specific areas of children’s needs. Typically, classes are held one day per week, three hours per day, for a total of ten weeks.
- Adopting parents will need to understand and accept the child’s need for connection with his or her birth family.
Who can apply to Catholic Family Center?
- All people, regardless of age, sex, race, religion, marital status and socioeconomic status are eligible.
- Singles, couples and families with children are considered equally.
