Congratulations!  You have decided to embark on one of the most awe-inspiring, tedious, roller-coaster quests of your lifetime—the journey to become an adoptive parent.  The staff at Hannah’s Hope is eager to assist you in making your dream of bringing home a child come true.

Before the Application

You will need to gather the following types of information in order to complete your application and home study packets

• Financial documents– bank account information, loan records, credit card balances, previous years W-2s and tax documents
• Medical records– for you and anyone who lives in the home with you, including pets
• Identifying information– driver’s license, marriage license, military records, birth/death/ marriage certificates, divorce/adoption decrees, social security cards
• Photos of your family and home

Helpful Tips

There is a reason behind the madness. For every fact your caseworker states about you in your home study, there must be supporting documentation in your file.

Pay attention to detail. Skipping a step or omitting a document can cause delays in your process.  Please be aware that you bear the obligation of full disclosure throughout the adoption process and falsifying information, or knowingly failing to disclose information, can stop your adoption quest in its tracks.

View your agency and caseworker as your ally, not your adversary, on this adoption journey.  There will be times when you may feel that everyone is telling you “no” or “not yet” when you are dying to hear “YES!” We will all be here with you along the way.

The adoption process is tedious, driven by legal and ethical structures. The rules apply to everyone and exemptions cannot be made, no matter the situation. The agency is obligated to uphold legal and ethical standards in its practice.

Enlist a community of support who will hold you in prayer during this winding journey.

Home Study

Each adoptive family must go through a home study as part of the adoption process. The home study process is going to feel invasive and require you to be vulnerable. The educational components are designed to challenge you to expand your comfort zone and engage in the real issues related to adoption and parenting.  Our goal is to give you the strongest foundation possible on which to build your family.

Kick-start your home study process by providing all materials requested when you submit your packet, including your check.

It is important to the process to gain as much from the experience as possible by fully participating in both the interview and educational process.

 

Working with Hannah’s Hope

Fees are applicable for professional services, even though Hannah’s Hope is a non-profit.

Appointments with agency staff will most likely occur during the business day.  There may be an occasion when the circumstance allows for an evening or weekend meeting, but as a rule of thumb, appointments take place during the business day.

We strive to achieve a 24 hour call back time for messages received during the business week.  Your caseworker will alert you in advance if she will be unavailable for any period of time.

Communication is key. If you have a question about something, ask your case worker before making assumptions. The adoption process is complicated to navigate, and we are ready to help.

The adoption process is fluid. We cannot give you an exact time when you will be matched and achieve placement.  You undoubtedly will feel as though you are living in limbo once you become approved as a waiting family.

We wish you well as you begin your adoption journey and consider ourselves blessed to be able to share in this journey with you.