Adoptive Services
Childplace is a licensed child-placing agency. We are licensed to conduct Home Studies and Post-Placement Supervisory Reports, domestic and international, in the states of Kentucky and Indiana. We can place children throughout the continental United States.
Basic Qualifications | Policies | The Process & Wait Time | Services | Fees | Adoption Terminology | Common Questions | Other Adoption Links | Transracial Adoption Support Group
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
In order to adopt through Childplace, a couple must first meet our basic qualifications. They are as follows:
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Committed Christians
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Must be between the ages of 25 and 45
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Must have been married for at least 3 years
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Must be physically healthy as established by a licensed physician
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Must be financially stable
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Must not use tobacco products
Applicants are accepted from, and priority in placement is given to, members of the Church of Christ because the base of support is primarily from members of these congregations. Because from time to time Church of Christ families may not be available, applicants are accepted from other Christian groups. Couples must members of a church and attend services regularly. If you feel you meet these basic qualifications and would be interested in working with our agency, please fill out our Basic Information Form (Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view and print form) and return to:
ATTN: Nicole Stone
Childplace, Inc.
2420 East 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
or fax to: 812-282-3291 ATTN: Nicole Stone
POLICIES:
Semi-Open Adoption
Childplace practices a semi-open adoption policy. This means the birth parent has the option of choosing the family with whom their child will be placed. Also, the birth parent can request on-going contact with the adoptive couple via letters, pictures and/or gifts. Correspondence is conducted through the agency and no identifying information is exchanged/revealed. The frequency and type of contact is decided by both the birth parent and the adoptive couple. However, some birth parents, as well as adoptive couples, desire little or no contact at all. Birthparents are matched with an adoptive couple who is interested in the same type and amount of contact.
Adopting Transracially
If a couple is open to adopting a bi-racial child, they must also be open to adopting the full race. For example, if a couple is open to adopting a child who is African-American/Caucasian, they must also be open to adopting a child who is full African-American. For a more detailed explanation about this policy, please contact the Adoption Program.
Transracial Adoption Information links:
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PACT - An Adoption Alliance
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PROCESS:
Once a couple reads through the material and feel they would be interested in working with Childplace, they complete the Basic Information Form and return it to us. It is then reviewed by the adoption staff. If the couple meets the basic qualifications, they are notified by letter.
A couple begins the Application Process after attending an adoption training/orientation. However, couples willing to adopt transracially may be allowed to start the Application Process sooner. We keep a maximum of 20 couples on our approved family list at a time. Our greatest need at this time is for couples who are willing to adopt transracially.
After a couple is approved, they can currently anticipate a wait of approximately 1 ½ - 3 years for a Caucasian infant and 4 months - 1 ½ years for infants of other races. However, these numbers are only an approximation and can change at any time. * NOTE: With our agency, the majority of our transracial placements are African-American, African-American/Caucasian, and, very rarely, Hispanic infants and children.
The majority of our placements are infants. It is not very often that we place older children (children above the age of one). Since 1981, we have placed over 275 children in adoptive homes.
SERVICES:
Childplace provides the following services to adoptive couples:
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Domestic adoptive placements in the continental United States
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Home Studies - domestic and international (KY and IN only)
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Home Study updates (KY and IN only)
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Post Placement Supervisory Reports (KY and IN only)
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Private Investigative Reports (KY only)
FEES:
Home Study Related Services - Adoption
HOME STUDIES
Childplace is licensed to conduct Home Study related services in the states of Kentucky and Indiana.
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Domestic Home Study $ 1,250*
(For families working with Childplace for placement)
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Domestic Outside Home Study $ 1,500*
(For persons working with another agency for placement)
You do not have to meet the qualifications of Childplace in order for us to complete your home study.
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Private/Independent Adoption Home Study $ 1,750*
(For Private adoptions in KY and IN)
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Domestic/Private Home Study Update $ 500*
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International Home Study $ 1,900*
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International Home Study Update $ 600*
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Home Study Addendum $ 100*
(For changes made to a home study before the yearly update)
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Post Placement Supervisory Report $ 150* per visit (typically 3 visits)
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Confidential Court Report $ 500*
*does not include reimbursable items such as mileage, meals, etc.
ADOPTION (DOMESTIC ONLY)
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Application Fee $ 150.00 (non-refundable)
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Typical Infant Adoption $ 12,000 minimum**
(regardless of race) **Does not include legal fees.
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Special Needs Adoption $ 3,000 + reimbursable items
(as defined by Childplace)
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Sibling Group Adoption $ 2,000 per child + reimbursable items
(does not include twins or triplets)
Please call to request a complete copy of our adoptive fee schedule.
ADOPTION TERMINOLOGY:
These terms are relevant to Childplace's policies and procedures. They may not apply to every adoption agency.
Home Study - a document required by all 50 states that is prepared by an adoption agency that will determine whether a home (structurally, emotionally, etc.) is suitable for an adoptive placement; requires one-on-one meetings with prospective adoptive parents (individually and together) and a visit to the home
Interstate Placement - the placement of an infant/child in a state different from the one in which they were born; requires approval by both states before the infant/child can cross state lines
Outside Home Study - a home study that is completed for a prospective adoptive couple/parent who is working with another agency for an adoptive placement; typically done when an agency is not licensed in the state where the adoptive couple/parent resides or when a couple lives a long distance from the placing agency
Post Placement Supervisory Report - conducted after an infant/child is placed in an adoptive home; documents the progress of the child and the placement; consists of visits to the home; typically includes three meetings within a six month period after placement
Semi-open Adoption - please see our section on Childplace's semi-open adoption policy
Special Needs Adoption - the placement of an infant/child with physical or mental disabilities, older children (above the age of one), or an infant/child whose birth mother used alcohol and/or drugs extensively during the pregnancy
Transracial Adoption - adopting a child of a race different from your own
Typical Infant Adoption - the placement of a healthy infant of any race
COMMON QUESTIONS: These are some of our most frequently asked questions. All of the questions below are answered in more detail at our Prospective Adoptive Couple Orientation.
Q. What are the qualifications for your agency?
A. Please see the Basic Qualifications section on this page.
Q.What is required of our family?
A. Please thoroughly read over the information provided on this page for information about the process, requirements, etc.
Q. What information is shared with birth parents?
A. Only non-identifying information is shared, such as your first names, occupation, etc. We do NOT share any identifying information such as your last name, address, etc. This also applies to information that is shared with you about the birth parents. Please also read over the information about semi-open adoption.
Q. What is the average waiting period before we receive a child?
A. Our average wait for a healthy Caucasian infant is approximately 1 ½ - 3 years. The average wait for a healthy infant of another race (primarily African-American or bi-racial) is approximately 4 months - 1 ½ years. However, this is only an approximation. Families may encounter shorter or longer waiting times.
Q. How is our family matched with a birth parent?
A. Your family will create a family profile that will be shown to birth parents. These profiles will include pictures of your family as well as a "Dear Birth Parent" letter that describes your family. Profiles are shown to birth parents starting in the 7 month of pregnancy. Once you are chosen, your profile will not be shown to any other birth parents. However, if the birth parent changes her mind, your profile will then be released and will once again be shown to birth parents.
Q. Can the infant be placed with our family directly from the hospital?
A. No. Due to laws and regulations in the states where we are licensed, infants cannot be placed directly with a family. We also have this as an agency policy. However, there are rare exceptions.
Q. Where does the infant go after being discharged from the hospital?
A. The infant is placed in one our licensed Nursery Care homes until the legal process is complete and the child is legally available for adoption. These families care for only one infant at a time and take pictures of the infant to give to the adoptive family at placement. They ARE NOT state foster care homes.
Q. When are we told that we have a child?
A. You have many choices with our agency. You can be notified as soon as you are chosen by a birth parent, with the understanding that the birth parent's rights have NOT been terminated, or you can wait to be notified after the legal process is complete. Your family will fill out an Options Sheet that will tell us what you are and are not comfortable with.
How long do the birth parents have to change their mind?
A. In Indiana and Kentucky, the two states where we are licensed, the birth parents can change their mind up until their parental rights are terminated in court. If both birth parents are involved and cooperative, this can be soon after the baby is born (typically 1 - 3 weeks). The wait time could increase if the birth father is not cooperative or if we are not able to locate him. The parental rights of the birth mother and all possible birth fathers are terminated simultaneously in court and the infant is not placed in an adoptive home until this has occurred. This may take up to three or four months after the baby is born. However, this will ensure that the adoptive placement is legally sound. The infant will remain in the Nursery Care home during this time.
Q. What does the Adoption fee pay for?
A. The adoption fee is based on the results of a cost analysis conducted by our agency. The fee pays for standard legal fees, birth parent expenses, infant expenses (housing, food, etc.), caseworker expenses, basic business operating costs, yellow page phone book advertising, and more. Our fees are itemized for the adoptive couple. Please call our office for a more detailed explanation.
OTHER ADOPTION LINKS:
Financial Assistance:
General Adoption Information: