Adoption Program - Fairfax County, Virginia

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/childrenyouth/adoption-program.htm

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Adoption Program
Fairfax County's Department of Family Services is committed to providing services that protect children and keep families intact. When a child must be removed temporarily from the home, we provide services designed to strengthen families with the ultimate goal of returning the child to a safe home. When all attempts to return a child to the birth parents or relatives are unsuccessful, the agency obtains the legal authority to place the child in a permanent adoptive home

Purpose and Goal of the Adoption Program

"The purpose of adoption services is to help children who have been permanently and legally separated from their birth parents become permanent members of a new family." (From the Virginia regulations regarding adoptions) Fairfax County's Adoption Program is committed to serving everyone involved in the adoption process birth families, adoptees, and adoptive parents while providing permanency planning for children whose birth families are unable to raise them. We offer counseling to birth parents considering the option of adoption, make adoptive placements for children in the agency's custody, offer support services to prospective adoptive parents and provide post-adoption social services and financial assistance.

Related Links
Disability Services Planning and Development Child Care/Office for Children Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Child Support Enforcement Community Action Advisory Board

What is the profile of children available for adoption through Fairfax County's Adoption Program?
Children available for adoption tend to be school-aged and part of a sibling group. The majority have been removed from their families because of abuse or neglect. They are legally available for adoption as a result of an termination of their parental rights through the courts. Many of these children have special physical, emotional, or educational needs. Nearly half are of children of color. About 70 percent of the children placed for adoption are adopted by their foster parents. Foster parents expressing interest in becoming adoptive parents for a child in their home are given first consideration in recognition of the importance of continuing relationships for children.

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What is the difference between foster care and adoption?

Children are placed in foster care a temporary placement outside their home when their parents decide they are unable to care for them, or when the children are removed from their home as a result of abuse, neglect or other circumstances that make their present living situation unsafe. Foster care is a temporary situation in which a child lives with a family, in a group home, or in a residential facility. During this time, problems in the family of origin are addressed so that the child can return home, or plans are made for permanent placement of the child outside his or her birth family. Adoption addresses the permanent needs of children who cannot return to their parents or relatives.

What adoption-related services are available through Fairfax County?

Fairfax County's Adoption Program offers a variety of programs and services: Information & Referral information about adoption in Virginia and referrals to adoption resources within the state Adoption Counseling counseling services for birth parents (and their families) who are considering placing their child or children for adoption Home Studies for: Agency adoptions involving families wishing to adopt a child in the agency's custody. Training and support are also provided. Independent adoptions (also called parental placements or private adoptions) involving families who have identified a specific child or children they wish to adopt and have made arrangements directly with the birth family. The training and home study process completed by all applicants is designed to promote self-assessment in prospective adoptive parents. It focuses on preparing them for their adjustment in becoming adoptive parents and their future role in raising an adopted child. Because of the serious commitment they are making, prospective families are encouraged to consider their decision at each step, particularly before meeting a child. Components of the home study as required by state law include: a background check of national, state and local police records background check of child protective services a medical/physical examination marriage and divorce verification. Other components of the home study include an assessment of the financial stability of the family, a brief autobiographical sketch, individual interviews, feedback from references and a home visit. Special Needs Adoptions adoption of children considered to have special needs for one or more of the following reasons: they are school-aged or older they have one or more siblings

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Adoption Program - Fairfax County, Virginia

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/childrenyouth/adoption-program.htm

they have special physical, mental or emotional needs there is a hereditary tendency, congenital problem, or birth injury that could lead to future disability they are members of a minority race or of mixed racial heritage which may make it difficult to locate an adoptive home. These children are eligible for ongoing support from the department and a subsidy to assist with the costs of ongoing treatment, services, or special accomodations. Post-Adoption Services including: assistance for adults adopted in Virginia wishing to search for their birth parents consultation services to other adults interested in the search process general information about adoption subsidies ongoing assistance to families who adopted in Fairfax County and who are applying for or are receiving an adoption subsidy a support group Special Needs Adoption Family Exchange (SAFE) Newsletter Step-Parent Adoptions the investigation and writing of court-ordered reports in certain step-parent adoptions.

Who is eligible to adopt a child in the agency's custody through Fairfax County's Adoption Program?
Married couples or single persons who are residents of Northern Virginia, who are at least 21, and who can provide a stable and loving home for a child are eligible to adopt through the Adoption Program. Those considering adopting a child in the agency's custody are required to participate in a home study process which includes attendance at a 27 hour foster/adoptive parent training series. Applicants are encouraged to use the home study process to learn about themselves and to determine if adoption is right for them. The goal of this process is to provide participants critical information about the life-long issues they will face as adoptive parents. Individual interviews and home visits complete the home study process.

What is the cost for services through the Adoption Program?

The application and home study services are offered at no cost to those applying to adopt a foster child through this agency.

What assistance is available for those adopting children with special needs?
Adoption assistance subsidies are available for agency placements of children with special needs. Each family receiving an adoption assistance subsidy works with a social worker to access subsidy assistance and obtain supportive counseling, information, and referral services for needed community resources.

To learn more about Fairfax County's Adoption Program call: 703-324-7639 TTY 703-222-9452

8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

For anyone interested in foster care or adoption, the Adoption Program offers:
Orientation Meetings The second Monday of each month 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Human Services Center - Pennino Building 12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia 22035 (Registration not required) Representatives from Adoptive Families of Northern Virginia (formerly Families Adopting Children Everywhere) also are available at these meetings to answer questions about independent and foreign adoptions.

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[ 12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035 ] [ 703-324-7500 ]

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Adoption Program - Fairfax County, Virginia

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/childrenyouth/adoption-program.htm

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