Special Needs Adoption
Department of Human Services (DHS) formally known as Services to Children and Families (SCF) has established a program to find homes for special needs children who live in Oregon. The children vary in age from toddlers to teens, may be part of a sibling group, minority race, or may have a physical or emotional disability. Many of these children are entitled to a subsidy which could help the family meet medical needs of the child or help with general expenses in caring for the child.
Holt works with the DHS to recruit and provide adoption home study and post placement services to families seeking to adopt special needs children awaiting placement. Holt is a member of the state's Special Needs Adoption Coalition with other participating Oregon licensed agencies under contract to provide home study and post placement services to Oregon families. Because these children's special needs require extra parent preparation, DHS requires that all applicants complete their pre-adoption classes. This is a prospective adoptive family's first step in planning an DHS adoption. Placement is by adoption committee and process is regulated by law. The state seeks to place the child with the family who can best meet the child's needs.
The State of Oregon placed over 860 children in adoptive homes in 2002. More children come into care, however, each day. Oregon, a state which requires early permanency planning for children in care, depends on agencies like Holt to provide some of the adoption home study and post placement services for children as a supplement to state services. Our desire is to see Oregon's children in permanent, loving adoptive homes.
Fees consist of the following:
$150 application fee.
Home study fee of $1500
Processing fee of $1200.
(These fees may be refunded through the adoption tax credit.)
Call Holt, Oregon Branch at 503-244-2440 for more information about this process.
Independent Adoption
Families interested in arranging an independent adoption (not using an agency program), may request an Independent Adoption Home Study to be written by Holt. This involves submitting an application and background materials and participating in a home interview with a Holt social worker. When your study is completed a certificate of approval signifying that the study has been approved will be sent to your attorney. This approval is valid for a maximum of two years from the date of completion of study (provided significant changes have not occurred in the household), or until a child is placed with the family for the purpose of adoption. The fee is $1500 payable to Holt with the application. Call 503-244-2440 to arrange for service throughout the state of Oregon. The Placement Report to the Court is required to be written after a child is placed in your home through independent adoption. The fee is $675 paid to the Department of Human Services (DHS), Independent Adoptions Department, State of Oregon, 500 Summer Street. NE, Salem, OR 97310. The fee is payable when your attorney files your adoption petition with the court and with the State of Oregon. DHS may then refer the case to Holt upon your request, or when your Independent Adoption Home Study has been prepared by Holt. Service is available throughout the state of Oregon.
Counseling Services
It is required by the State of Oregon that birth parents be notified of their right to counseling. Holt may provide this counseling services for birth parents that desire an independent adoption. By providing birth parents with counseling, adoptive parents can rest assured that every effort has been made to ensure that the birth mother (and if possible, birth father) has considered the many ramifications of her decision.
Adoptive parents and birth parent’s extended family members may also utilize this counseling service as well. The fee is $75 per hour. A retainer fee of $600 is required to begin services to birth parent(s). Unused fee will be refunded to adoptive parents.
Mediation Services
Sometimes adoptive parents and birth parents need a third party to help negotiate a plan that meets the needs of both parties. Holt has adoption mediation specialists that may provide this service. The fee is $75 per hour. A retainer fee of $225 is required to begin services. Unused fee will be refunded to adoptive parents.
|
