Adoption Services for Families
Fill Out Pre-Application
Are you looking to start or grow your family through the loving choice of adoption?
Hannah’s Hope offers multiple adoption services for individuals and couples in West Tennessee.
Adopting With Hannah's Hope
- Contact Hannah’s Hope through the Pre-Application
- Receive and Review Hannah’s Hope Application with all attachments
- Meet with the Hannah’s Hope Director
- Home Study (extensive process)
- Matching & Placement
- Post-placement supervision
- Legal Finalization of Adoption
Adoption Services
- Pre-Adoption Counseling
- Home Studies (State of TN Only)
- Domestic Placements (open, semi-open, and confidential plans)
- Post-Placement Supervision
- ICPC Services
- Interagency Services
- Post-Adoption Counseling
Placement Services
Hannah’s Hope offers full service placement adoption services.
Our counselors, social workers, and staff are here to help you navigate the ups and downs of home studies, matching and placement, paperwork, legal proceedings, and emotions of the adoption process.
Most couples and individuals come to Hannah’s Hope preparing to be a Waiting Family.
*Note: Families are expected to complete the home study process within 6 months of their application or their application will expire and they will forfeit the application fee.
Waiting Family
A couple or individual who has completed the home study process and is officially approved to adopt a child through Hannah’s Hope.
Home Study
The process a couple or individual goes through in order to become approved to adopt a child. Hannah’s Hope also offers home study services to those seeking a private placement or adoption of a child already in the home.
Ready to start your adoption journey? Fill out the Pre-Application.
Professional Adoption Services:
Some individuals and couples have unique or private adoption situations. Hannah’s Hope can still assist those West Tennessee adoptive parents. Perhaps someone has taken a child into their home temporarily and is now ready to pursue adoption.
These individuals and couples have numerous Hannah’s Hope professional services available to them:
- Preliminary and Full Home Studies
- ICPC Services
- Post-placement Supervision
- Final Court Report Preparations
- Post Adoption Counseling
Looking for Professional Adoption Services?
Contact Hannah’s Hope.
Please note the following minimum requirements for adoptive couples and individuals:
- Hannah’s Hope requires an adoptive parent to be at least 25 years old.
- Hannah’s Hope requires married couples seeking to adopt to have been married for a minimum of three years.
- Single parents and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are welcome to apply at Hannah’s Hope.
- Hannah’s Hope does not require a statement of faith or doctrinal statement.
- US Citizenship required (for single parent) or one spouse required for married couple.
- Must clear background check.
- Documentation of infertility and/or motivation to adopt.
- Documentation by physician of good physical and mental health.
- Active member of faith-based community or other community of support.
- Documented financial stability.
- Documented proof of health, house/rental, car, and life insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will I have to wait for a placement?
There is no easy answer to this question. One factor that can either speed up or slow down the process is how open you are in the criteria for the child you desire (including race, medical issues, prenatal care, drug exposure, gender, etc.)
What does the legal process of adoption look like?
This includes the termination of parental rights by the birth mother and father, as well as the finalization of adoption (generally around six months after initial placement).
What are the fees for adoption placement?
Adoption fees can vary, but these fees will be clearly provided in your application packet. However, the schedule of all fees are made public on the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services website.
What will openness look like in open adoption?
An open adoption relationship is NOT co-parenting and it is NOT shared custody. Hannah’s Hope will always be there with you and always be a resource for you in the future. Relationships of this nature are individual and take time to develop. We typically begin with exchanging cell phone numbers, including the social worker on the thread. Then, the relationship progresses (or not) as the parties feel comfortable.
What are post placement adoption services?
After placement, Tennessee law requires a licensed agency to supervise the placement until the parental rights are terminated and the adoption is finalized. These services are included in the cost of a Hannah’s Hope placement, but may also be purchased separately in the case of an out of state or independent adoption. During the post-placement period, you will be required to submit Monthly Progress reports, all records for medical care and/or therapy received by the child, and the social worker will conduct periodic home visits. These visits are always scheduled in advanced and will include all family members in the home.
* Names changed for the privacy of Hannah’s Hope families