Adoption Info -> Domestic Adoptions -> African-American Infant

African-American Infant

The African-American Infant Program is a domestic program that offers African-American or bi-racial newborn infants for adoption. The waiting time for placement through the African-American Infant Program is estimated at two to six months after approval of an adoption homestudy. This program is open to families living throughout the United States.

We coordinate with several agencies across the country, primarily in Florida, Georgia and Texas, who are working with birthmothers planning adoption. These placing agencies share your family profile with the birthparents, giving them the opportunity to select the adoptive family. Occasionally circumstances dictate that PLAN and the placing agency select a family. When this happens we do our best to create a match that will best meet the needs of both the adoptive family and the infant.

Agencies do their best to assure good health for our infants by offering prenatal care and counseling to birthmothers. However, it cannot be guaranteed that birthmothers will follow the suggestions of their counselors, and there are cases when a birthmother is referred late in her pregnancy; therefore, prenatal care may be lacking. 

When an agency begins working with a birthmother a medical history is obtained and, when possible, one from the birthfather as well. We also provide families with the opportunity to tell us what health risks or conditions in an infant’s background they will knowingly accept. It is important to understand that PLAN cannot guarantee the health or good condition of any child and that, just as with birth children, there is always a risk of physical, emotional, or other problems.

STEPS TO ADOPTING THROUGH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROGRAM

EDUCATION: Pre-adopt education provides important basic information about adoption-related issues and is required for all adopting families. PLAN has joined forces with a wonderful, online preadopt course. For more information about preadopt education, please click here.

APPLICATION: The first step is to complete and submit a PLAN application. The following documents must be included: the fee listed on the application, two family photos (additional photos will be needed for your portfolio), most recent 1040 Tax Return form, marriage license, birth certificates, and divorce decree (if applicable).

CONTRACT:  Upon approval of your application, you will be sent a letter of instruction, contracts for services, and given information regarding the required Domestic Infant Training Course. You will be asked to submit the remaining application packet documents consisting of: medical forms, financial form, personal references, release of information form and a general autobiography.  This information is needed by the social worker conducting your homestudy. Once the contracts, PLAN fees and all file requirements including the Transracial/Transcultural Questionnaire have been received, a PLAN social worker will be assigned to conduct interviews with you and write your adoption homestudy.

ADOPTION HOMESTUDY: If you are an Oregon family, you will be assigned a PLAN social worker who will be your advocate, helping you prepare for your adoption. If you live outside Oregon, you will need to work with a social worker from a licensed agency in your state. The social worker will conduct your adoption homestudy that includes, but is not limited to issues such as; your racial and ethnic heritage, prenatal and medical background risks, your willingness to provide letters and pictures to the birth parents through the placing agency, your understanding of transracial parenting issues (if applicable) and your understanding of the grief and loss issues in adoption. The social worker will then submit your completed homestudy and a non-identifying summary to PLAN. After your study has been approved, your file will officially be transferred to the Domestic Infant Program Director who works with birth mothers across the country who are planning adoption.

PROFILE: After your contracts are received and you have completed the Domestic Infant Training Course, you will be asked to design a “Dear Birthmother” letter and picture portfolio that will be presented to birth mothers once your adoption homestudy is approved. Instructions for designing this profile and a sample are contained in the red manual included in the African-American Infant Training Course. The program director is available to help you if you have any questions. 

WAITING FAMILIES SEMINARS: The Waiting Families seminars are designed to provide additional support and education. These seminars are held on a Saturday in the spring and fall of each year. Participants may choose from a variety of workshops, including transracial parenting and dealing with racism, understanding birth parent issues, grief and loss in adoptions, and openness with birth families. The workshops also include panel presentations and the opportunity to interact with counselors and other PLAN staff.  Attendance either prior to or immediately after placement is a requirement of the program.

FAMILY SELECTION: Family selection is usually made by the birth parents. Occasionally circumstances dictate that PLAN and the placing agency select a family. When we are notified about a potential match we will contact your family and discuss details such as medical and social history, legal risks, placement and travel plans and fees. If at this point you don’t feel this is an appropriate match for you, we will wait for the next possibility.

CHILD ARRIVAL: Unless there are circumstances that prevent you from doing so, at least one parent will travel to the state where the baby is born. Some agencies require both adoptive parents to travel. Most adoptive placements are made two to ten days after the birth of the child. You may also have the opportunity to meet the birth parents at this time. Once a placement has been made and you have completed paperwork with the placing agency you will need to wait for interstate approval before returning home. This takes 5 days on average.

POST PLACEMENT: Your social worker will make in-home post placement visits and, in most cases, will recommend that you begin finalization proceedings. Rarely do agencies require more than two post placement visits.  We will coordinate with the placing agency to send the necessary legal documents to the attorney of your choice. You will initiate legal finalization after a post-placement period of about 6 months.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN INFANT PROGRAM FEE SCHEDULE

(Fees below are subject to change without notice; please contact PLAN for current fees.)

*Note: Approximate online fee to Adoption Learning Partners

PLAN realizes that the time spent waiting for a child is difficult and seemingly endless. It is our desire to not only help children find loving and caring homes but also to help our families as much as possible during this exciting, joyous and sometimes anxiety-filled journey. The program director is available to help you with any questions you might have–feel free to call. We look forward to working with you!

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Parents must be married at least one year.
• Single parents are accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• Usually, at least one parent travels.