ADOPTION PROCESS

For many, becoming a parent is one of life’s defining moments. While some choose to have children of their own, for others, extending their love through adoption is an equally good option. We know from experience the joy of parents finding the child they were meant to care for and love. Heartstrings Adoptions will provide you with a very personalized adoption service and help make your dreams of parenthood come true.

During this step, you need to be prepared to provide the required documents, such as your financial documents, medical reports, and letters of reference. We also do a background check to inquire about your personal history, including any criminal record.

It may seem like a lot of paperwork and processes to deal with, but don’t let it discourage you. Think of this step as the first parenting task you need to do for the child who will come into your life.

Once you fill out the application, we will request for you to set up a profile. This will help us match you with prospective birth mothers. Please note that the application fee at Heartstring Adoptions is $200*.

• Due at the time of review

• Non-refundable fee

This step involves a series of meetings between you and one of our licensed social workers. A social worker from Heartstrings Adoptions will be screening you and your home prior to allowing an adoption to take place. The social worker will then prepare and write your home study: a written document about your family, which includes information from your interviews.

Generally, a home study includes the following:

• Family background

• Details about your home and your neighborhood

• Your education and employment

• Your daily routine

• Your parenting experiences

• Your reasons for adopting

We do this to make sure you and your family are prepared to welcome a child into your home and make sure you are ready to become a parent. This is required by law as well. In Utah, a home study must be reviewed and updated annually.

The social worker from Heartstrings Adoptions will also answer any questions you may have and will guide you throughout the adoption process.

We also accept other licensed home studies done by another provider.

Once we approve you as a candidate adoptive parent, your profile will be given out to selected birth mothers (with your permission, of course).

A match occurs when you are selected as an adoptive parent. Once you are matched, the process of introducing your family to the birth mother and the child begins. We will give you an opportunity to review all of the available information about the child before proceeding.

We can set up conference calls for you so you can talk with the birth mother if you both agree to an open or semi-open adoption. If you’re living in Utah, we can arrange for a meeting so you can know details about each other in a more relaxed setting, such as over lunch or dinner.

Much like in the previous step, it’s important to be patient during the matching period and not get discouraged while you wait. Remember that finding the right match doesn’t happen overnight. It may take a considerable amount of time. We recommend continuing a strong partnership and maintaining communication with your social worker during this time to make sure you’ll find the right match.

Relinquishment, or the voluntary termination of parental rights, is the process where the birth mother gives her consent for her child to become another person’s child by law. In this step, a final order by the court removes the relinquishing parents of all rights and obligations they may have to the child, which means they will no longer have any remaining legal or financial responsibilities.

This should occur before a child is considered to be legally free for adoption; however, one or both birth parents should legally consent to the adoption. Consent occurs when the birth parent/s legally agree — without force — to relinquish all their rights and duties to the child.

In the state of Utah, birth mothers can relinquish their parental rights 24 hours after giving birth. Of course, Heartstrings Adoptions will be present at this time to support the birth parents, as well as the adoptive parents.

Please note that we support all birth father rights as well. We go above and beyond our adoption services, doing paternity searches and notifications for all birth fathers that are unknown or cannot be located.

In addition, we work closely with an attorney experienced in Family Law to make sure all state laws are followed.

Placement will be an exciting time for everyone involved. Finalization happens six months after the baby is placed. The child is now an official member of your family.

During this time, Heartstrings Adoptions will be there for any help or support you need. We will also conduct post-placement visits to check on the child’s well-being and bonding while one of our licensed social workers will work closely with you to address your concerns. If you or the other party have concerns, please note that we have the right to remove the child out of your care until the situation is addressed.

If you live outside of Utah, you can provide us with the post-placement visits from a social worker that you have scheduled, but all expenses will be your responsibility. We will assist with the completion of the Interstate Compact for Child Placement as well if needed, and we will work closely with your legal counsel for the completion of all legal documents.

Of course, adoption doesn’t end after finalization. We will still work with you in sending and receiving letters, pictures, and packages to and from the birth parents.