Step by Step Adoption Process
Baby Step
Introduction to Spirit of Faith Adoptions - Infant Adoption Zoom session.
You will hear a birth mom and an adoptive family talk about their adoption journeys through Spirit of Faith Adoptions. Also, you will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Step 1 - Initial Inquiry
This is the official first step in the SOFA adoption process. Once you submit your information, we will contact you and request (3) things:
1. Statement of Faith written by Hopeful Adoptive Dad
2. Statement of Faith written by Hopeful Adoptive Mom
3. To review SOFA's Christian Covenant for Parents
What is a Statement of Faith?
What we are looking for with regards to your statements of faith is to learn more about your individual faith journeys: what does your relationship with God mean to you, what types of activities do you do to grow in your faith journey, how have you grown closer to God throughout your life thus far, how often to do you and your spouse attend church, how are you and your spouse going to raise your children in the faith, and anything else pertinent that you wish to share about yourself.
Step 2 - First Fee Payment Is Due
Families will be contacted within 7 days after you submit an initial inquiry. An Ohio adoption application form will be provided to all families accepted into the SOFA program. Step 2 is when the first adoption fee payment will be due at the time an adoption application is submitted to SOFA.
Step 3 - The Homestudy & Training
Training
Families will receive detailed instructions regarding homestudy paperwork and Preplacement Training.
Ellie is an adoptive parent and has been a member of our staff for 13 years. She has been through the homestudy process and will guide you through every piece of paperwork to help you complete your file.
The Homestudy
Once all of the paperwork has been submitted, an adoption assessor will complete your home study assessment with you which consists of a few meetings and a tour of your home.
When the home study is completed, your family will receive written notification of your status.
An approved home study in Ohio is valid for a period of two years and must remain current until an adoptive placement is finalized in a court of law, typically six to nine months following the placement of the child.
Step 4 - Activation into SOFA's Matching Program
During this step, families will create profile photo books on shutterfly.com, and those will be used to introduce families to expectant parents. Kathryn will offer support to families before, during and after you have been matched with an expectant parent.
Steps 5 & 6 - Matching & Adoptive Placement
After expectant parents have reviewed profiles, Spirit of Faith Adoptions will facilitate all aspects of the adoptive planning and placement of the child with his/her family, at the expectant parents' request, a minimum of 72 hours following the child's birth.
Our staff will be available to guide both expectant parents and pre-adoptive infant foster families families through this emotional time. SOFA has clinically-trained counselors and social workers (we call them coordinators) to provide expectant parents with weekly support as they explore adoption.
Staff will be present at meetings between adoptive families and expectant parents, and we will provide you with detailed social and medical history information about the child's biological family members.
If the expectant parent(s) and the hopeful adoptive family agree, they will be officially matched.
When it's time for the baby to be born, we will be in regular phone and in-person communication with you, with the child's biological parent(s), and with the hospital staff.
Becoming a pre-adoptive infant foster family enables you to take the baby home prior to the 72 hour waiting period if that is the request of the child's biological parent(s).
After the child is born and the 72 hour window has elapsed, Spirit of Faith Adoptions' staff will facilitate the surrender by the biological parents followed by the placement with the adoptive family.
Adoption Education
After The Homestudy Is Complete:
Pre-adoptive infant foster families will need to complete (24) hours of training within 2 years from the date your home study is approved. These training hours are required to continue to maintain your license.
We have designed our trainings to be encouraging, fun, and helpful for parents! The training team is comprised of a birth parent, adoptive parents, foster parents, adult adoptees, counselors and social workers who have personal and professional adoption experiences to share with you.
These trainings are open to Ohio Licensed Foster Parents from any Ohio foster care agency. SOFA reimburses each parent $15/ hour to attend and participate!
Step 7 - Home Visits After Placement
As required by Ohio law, a Spirit of Faith Adoptions' assessor will visit the family's home regularly after the placement of a child occurs. This begins within the first seven days after the child joins your family and will continue monthly until the adoption is finalized in a court of law in Ohio, which is at least six months of your child's placement.
Step 8 - Homestudy Update
Approved Ohio homestudies remain valid as long as they are updated once every two years. Spirit of Faith Adoptions will notify families when an update is due.
