What is the Adoption Process?
We prioritize personal contact and support throughout this journey, providing reassurance to both families and the children they adopt, which leads to successful adoption experiences. We believe that thorough preparation before placement and ongoing support after finalization are essential for every family. Families Thrive Inc. offers lifetime access to our agency’s resources post-finalization.
Our agency serves families across New York State and works with all U.S. states to help place out-of-state children with New York families. Families Thrive Inc. invites individuals from all backgrounds to apply for adoption, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or financial status. The primary requirement for applicants is to have an approved background check.
Initiating the Process
Families Thrive
When an interested party contacts the chosen agency, the agency will conduct an educational session that covers the entire adoption process. Following this, there will be an application process that requires references, a thorough background check, a medical examination, and participation in a home assessment that reviews your history.
Training Expectations
Families Thrive
All foster and adoptive parents are required to complete a 30-hour New York State mandated training course over the span of ten weeks. This training, known as the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC), includes trauma-informed education to help caregivers better understand the needs of foster children today.
Upon successfully completing the training, families receive certification (or licensing) that allows them to provide home placements for children in care. After certification, families must fulfill a minimum requirement of 20 training hours each calendar year, as stipulated by Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) regulations and agency policies.
Search & Match
Families Thrive
The agency assists families in their search for the child they wish to adopt, working closely with our adoption program staff. Once a potential match is identified, the process begins with the custodial county for selection and placement. The duration of the visitation phase can vary. However, after a child is placed in a home, many states require them to live with the family for at least six months, in accordance with agency policy, before finalizing the adoption. Additionally, we provide families with the necessary resources to meet their child’s needs, offering support through monthly monitoring meetings and visits.
