Infant Adoption

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A New Beginning’s Infant Adoption Program places newborns and infants with home study approved adoptive families. We work with birth families who have selected an adoption plan for their babies, other adoption professionals including adoption attorneys, as well as with other agencies who are looking for qualified adoptive families.

Within the Infant Adoption Program it is most common for the birth family to select the adoptive family based on adoptive parent profiles.

General Requirements

General Adoptive Parent Requirements

Adoptive Parents must be at least 25 years of age

Single, married, or 2 yr+ partnership

Idaho resident or Out-of-state families with an approved home study

Training Requirements

Adoptive Parent Training Requirements

A New Beginning Adoption Specialists believe proper training and education for adoptive parents is essential to ensure the most successful child placement, a healthy adoption and positive family transition. The 12 hours of required training will be completed over a two or three day period. The Infant Adoption Program training sessions are offered once per quarter. Click here for the next training date. Both parent(s) are required to attend. Important parenting and adoption topics covered include the following:

Adoption Openness/Relationship

Establishing positive relationships with the birth family

Legal process

Grief and Loss

Attachment styles

Interactive adoption panels with adoptive parents, birth families and adoptees

Process

The Steps of your Adoption Journey

First Steps

Home Study Process

  • Complete home study paperwork
  • Have interviews with your Adoption Specialist
  • Have an approved home inspection

While You Wait

  • Pay the Phase 2 Fee and join the program
  • Complete your Adoptive Parent Profile with ParentFinder
  • Participate in support groups
  • Be selected to be interviewed by birth parents

Placement & Finalization

  • Phase 3 is due at time of Match
  • Develop a relationship agreement between you and the birth parents
    Prepare for the hospital
  • Baby is born!
  • Child is placed with you
    • Phase 4 Fee is due at time of placement
    • Birth Parent Deposit Fee is due at time of placement
  • Complete at least 2 post placement visits
  • Finalize your adoption! (5-6 months after baby is placed with you)
FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to the most frequently asked adoption questions by adoptive families. We encourage you to reach out to A New Beginning with any additional questions or consider attending an Adoption Information Seminar

Who are the children available for adoption?

A New Beginning works with birth families who select an adoption plane for their babies, or toddlers. These women have decided that finding a family to raise their child is in the best interest of the child.

Is there financial help for adoption expenses?

Adoption Tax Credit Refund
There is a federal adoption tax credit available to eligible adoptive families per adopted child (the amount changes each year). Please connect with your accountant to verify your eligibility and to maximize the credit. For more information, visit here.

Adoption Benefits through employer
Several companies provide adoption assistance. The Adoption Benefit is often considered a non-traditional benefit and may not be published in the regular human resources documents. Contact your employer’s Human Resources department for more information.

Fundraising
Families have creatively raised funds through various self-hosted events or through crowd-funding.

Grants
Grants are available through various resources and could include your place of employment, associations in which you are part of, bank etc.

How long do we have to wait to adopt a child?

The time it takes to complete an adoption varies greatly based on specific programs selected. Variables include the length of time it takes adoptive families to complete paperwork, collect documents and finish interviews and training, the child-family matching process, state and federal government processing and/or the Health & Welfare committee process. Also note that the adoptive parents’ specific requirements for the child they adopt can impact the length of time as well.

Can the birth family change their mind?

Each state has its own laws regarding birth parents’ rights to change their minds. Idaho requires birth families to go to court shortly after the birth of the child to sign a document to terminate their rights. The termination of parental rights are permanent. It’s important to be honest with your adoption specialists to determine what you are comfortable with as each state is different.

Is a Home Study required?

State and National adoption programs require a Home Study. Many programs specifically require home studies to be completed by an adoption agency.

Is training provided to help adoptive families with the adoption?

Yes. A New Beginning requires adoptive families to complete specific parenting training. Trainings address program specific issues, and can drastically impact the success of your adoption. A New Beginning provides training four times a year.

What is open adoption?

Open adoption is a form of adoption in which the biological and adoptive families have access to varying degrees of each other’s personal information and have an option of contact. In Open Adoption, the adoptive parents hold all the rights as the legal parents, yet the individuals of the biological and adoptive families may exercise the option to open the contact in varying forms: from just sending mail and/or photos, to face-to-face visits between birth and adoptive families. Each open adoption situation has a tailored agreement to meet the needs of both the birth family and adoptive family.

My home study was completed by another agency or a certified adoption professional. Can I still enter A New Beginning's program or utilize other services?

This is determined on a case-by-case basis. A New Beginning has specific home study requirements to prepare families for searching for children and placement. The home study is more than a document; it includes extensive preparation, ongoing education, and identifying barriers to success. A New Beginning’s home studies are highly regarded by caseworkers around the nation.