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Adoption Process

BECOMING A WALDEN PARENT

In order to become an adoptive parent with Walden, you must also become certified as a professional foster parent.  Please see the foster care link in the navigation pain to the left for more information on the certification process.

 

COURT PROCESS FOR ADOPTIVE PLACEMENTS

.26 Permanency Planning Hearing: Determine a plan for the child.  The Court may determine adoption, legal guardianship or long-term foster care.  A plan of adoption requires that parental rights be terminated at this hearing.

State Acknowledgement: The County will submit documents to the State to release the child for adoption.

Adoption Signing: The County sets up a meeting with the private agency adoption social worker (Walden adoption social worker)

Finalization Process: The private agency adoption social worker (Walden adoption social worker) collaborates with the County to complete Court Finalization Paperwork.  The family makes legal arrangements for representation in Court Finalization.

Court Finalization: The adoption is finalized in court, a new birth certificate if ordered and the adoptive family may use court papers for all legal purposes until a new birth certificate is received. 

 

MATCHING

Once you have become a certified adoptive parent, the matching process may begin. It is possible that a foster child in your home may become free for adoption and you will begin the process with this match.  Otherwise, Walden will assist you with locating an adoptive match. This process very interactive and we will be in frequent contact with you to discuss potential matches.

During the matching process, your home study and family book will be presented to county adoption workers throughout California. Walden adoption workers regularly attend meetings where county adoption workers from many counties gather to review the home studies and picture books of waiting adoptive families. In addition, we are in nearly constant contact with local and regional county adoption workers who are looking for possible matches for adoptive children.

  

PLACEMENT

When a potential match has been identified, one of our adoption workers will accompany you to a Disclosure meeting or Telling with the county adoption worker. By law, the legal custodian of the child (the County) must disclose information about the child to families pursuing adoption. At the time of the adoption placement signing, the adoptive family will receive hardcopies of information that had been previously disclosed, as well as any additional information that has been obtained.

During a Disclosure meeting or Telling the county adoption worker for the adoptive child will meet with the family in order to provide information regarding the following:

  • Reasons why the child was removed and current assessment.

  • Medical history of the adoptive child.

  • Any behavioral problems or other concerns.

  • Parental history of the biological father and mother.

  • Other information that has been provided regarding the child and/or biological family.

This is also an opportunity for the county adoption worker to meet with you face to face and discuss aspects of your home study. As part of the home study process, we will prepare you for what questions to expect during this meeting.
 

After disclosure, if the decision is made to move forward, a pre-placement visit will generally be arranged. This visit may take place in the adoptive child's current foster home or a neutral setting such as a park or restaurant. Depending on the age of the child, these visits may progress to overnight visits at your home, or an immediate placement.

 

POST PLACEMENT

For 6 months after the initial placement, the identified adoptive child is technically still considered a foster child regardless of their court status, even if they are legally freed for adoption. During this time we render our extensive post-placement support services, including:

  • Weekly or Bi-weekly visits to your home
  • 24 Hour on-call availability
  • Individual child assessment
  • Family counseling
  • Development of community resources
  • Educational planning and development
  • Counseling planning
  • Parenting skills

During this time you will also receive a monthly reimbursement at standard foster care rates to help offset expenditures. After finalization, this rate will change to the Adoption Assistance Program rate.