Frequently Asked Questions
Criteria to become an Adoptive or Foster Family
* Are you 21 years of age or older?
* Do you have a stable & secure income?
* Are you in good physical/mental health?
* Can your home pass a safety/fire inspection?
* Are you free of any child abuse reports and free of a criminal background?
* Do you have a stable family relationship?
* Can you provide a child with opportunities for personal development, and commit to a child for the duration of the placement?
Once a family is chosen for a child, visitation must occur to orient the child and family with each other. Some of these visits may be overnight or over a weekend. Trial adoption begins when the child moves in and actually lives with the chosen family. The trail adoption phase lasts for a minimum of 6 months. The time it takes to adopt a child is different for every family and depends on individual circumstances.
Agencies are looking for stable and sensitive people who are able to offer the child a safe, loving and nurturing environment. The adoptive parent must also be willing and able to address the needs of the child placed in their home (behavior, school-related, medical, etc.).
There are numerous options available to families that are considering adoption. These can include:
o Foster-to-adopt
o Domestic adoption from the foster care system
o Private adoption
o International adoption
Mission West Virginia primarily works with families that are interested in foster parenting, foster-to-adopt and adopting from the foster care system; however, we are a neutral referring agency who can assist you with finding the adoption that works best for your family.
In order to be certified as an adoptive family, families must complete the PRIDE training course and have a completed homestudy.
PRIDE training is a required curriculum for families interested in special needs adoption. The training covers topics such as child abuse/neglect, emotional and behavioral issues, discipline, and overviews of adoption and foster care. The training is an excellent opportunity to meet other families who are going through the process as well. It is also an opportunity to educate yourself about adoption and foster parenting and dispel myths and ease fears.
The homestudy is a comprehensive report of your family and home environment. The Homestudy also examines your financial, physical, emotional and psychological capabilities to parent a child. The completed homestudy includes an application, summary of your family’s history, interviews, criminal background and child abuse clearances. The timeline of the homestudy can vary from family to family.
The certification process varies across the state, anywhere from 3 months to more than a year. Families can begin by collecting required paperwork for their home study as well as learning about upcoming trainings being offered in their county or neighboring communities. In addition, the Criminal Background Checks that are required may vary in the length of time they are received from the clearing agency.
Most children waiting for adoptive families live in temporary foster homes. Others reside in group homes or residential facilities.
There is NO COST to adopt a child through the WVDHHR. Private adoption agencies may differ in cost. Subsidies are also available for special needs children to assist with general and medical care.
Children available for adoption are in the custody of the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (WV DHHR). Some of these children have been abused, neglected or abandoned. The majority of these children are considered special needs. The WV DHHR website contains pictures and biographies of many children available for adoption.
For photographs and more information on children awaiting adoption visit the WV DHHR's website at www.adoptawvchild.org or the national photo listing at www.adoptuskids.org.
Mission West Virginia’s primary focus is on “special needs” children. Many children in WV awaiting adoption are considered “special needs.” “Special needs” is often another way to say “waiting children.” This does not necessarily reflect any problems the child may have. While some of the children who wait have a physical, emotional or educational challenge, many are healthy and are doing well developmentally. There characteristics that are used to describe “special needs” are defined as:
o Over the age of eight (8) which presents a barrier to adoption
o A physical or mental disability
o Serious emotional maladjustment
o A recognized high risk of physical or mental disability
o Over the age two (2) and has a racial or ethnic factor
o A member of a sibling group who should be placed together
o Has been certified as a special needs child by the DHHR (Department of Health and Human Resources)
Many children awaiting adoptive families were removed from their biological families due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. These children have endured hardships, sadness, loss of relationships, and abuse. All of these children deserve a permanent home. Without a permanent, loving adoptive home, these children face the likelihood of entering adulthood with no parental guidance or support. We believe that ALL CHILDREN deserve a loving, safe home.
Adoption builds a family and provides a permanent home for a child. After birth parents have voluntarily given up their parental rights OR the court has terminated the parents’ rights, the adoption can be finalized in a court of law. The adoptive parent then becomes the child’s legal parent and has the same formal and legal responsibility for the child as if they were the biological parent.
Foster care is the temporary placement of a child while a permanent plan for their future is being developed. In some cases, a foster placement will lead to adoption.