Our Services, Your Adoption
Domestic Adoption
Domestic adoption (or private domestic adoption) refers to the placement of U.S. born infants for adoption by their birth parents, who legally consent to the adoption with an adoptive family of their choosing. Learn how domestic adoption works with Adoption Choices of Arizona by contacting us! We are your trusted, licensed agency for building Arizona families!
How To Adopt – The Domestic Adoption Process
Adopting a Baby Through Private Domestic Adoption
Requirements to Adopt a Child
Adoption For Same-Sex Couples
Transracial Adoption in America
Military Adoption Information
Schedule an Orientation
A home study or certification study is required for all individuals seeking to adopt in the state of Arizona. Arizona requires that all household members five years and older are interviewed and interviews shall occur on at least two separate occasions with no less than a total of four hours of face-to-face contact. If you have regular or seasonal visitors, they may also need to be interviewed and/or complete some of the paperwork.
The home study, along with the agency’s recommendation, is submitted to the Superior Court in the county in which you reside. The Court has up to sixty days to review and certify the applicant as being acceptable or not acceptable to adopt children based on the report and recommendations. If the court finds that the prospective adoptive parents are acceptable to adopt children, an adoption certification is issued and it will remain in effect for eighteen months from the date of its issuance. If no adoption petition has been filed within that time, certification can be extended for one year periods if the court determines that there have been no material changes in circumstances that would adversely affect the acceptability of the prospective parents to adopt.
We are your partner in building your family in Arizona! Our office strives to make the certification process informative, seamless, and positive, while helping you discover the unique attributes you bring to parenting an adopted child. Our specialists are trained professionals who are compassionate and understanding with many years of experience in working with prospective adoptive parents. We will provide you with all the documents required to complete your home study, including the contract for services, application, financial statement, physician statements, and other agency paperwork.
Once you receive your adoption certification and have provided copies of your profile books to our agency, you are ready to be presented with adoption opportunities!
Need a Home Study? Have a Home Study?
The first step for all applicants (needing a home study or wanting to apply with our agency) is to complete an orientation to provide you with the necessary information about private adoption in Arizona, as well as Adoption Choices of Arizona. It is strictly for informational purposes and it is at no-cost to you. If you are married or in a relationship, it is best to have both of you available for the presentation. A copy of the presentation as well as the orientation paperwork will be provided to you at that time.
Once the paperwork has been submitted, our staff will contact your home study agency to obtain the necessary documents to create your file and will obtain additional information after you have been matched.
If you have any questions, please email us at mmccraneygonzalez@adoptionchoicesofarizona.org
Post-placement supervision is required by the state of Arizona and all states. It is the period between the placement of a child with the adoptive parents and the time that the child’s adoption is finalized in court. The purpose of post-placement supervision is to gather the compulsory information that will be required for our agency to prepare written reports to the Court. The final report will recommend that the adoption petition be granted and state that finalization will be in the best interest of the child.
The number of post-placement visits required will vary state to state, based on the laws of the state whose agency has custody of the child. Arizona statutes require about 2-3 visits after placement, depending on when the adoption is finalized. The first visit must occur within 30 calendar days of the date of placement and occur every once every three months until the adoption is finalized. In cases when the adoptive child is a child with special needs, the visits shall occur at least once a month. Should a child be placed from a state other than Arizona, Adoption Choices of Arizona will adhere to the laws of that state and will provide visits and reports at more frequent intervals, for an additional fee.
Think about what you like to know about people when you first meet them and share that information about yourself. If you have children of your own and they had to be placed with someone who you did not know, what questions would you ask or what would you want to know? Nobody is perfect, so you do not need to portray your family as the utopia of all families.
As you write, it may sound like the biographical information in your home study. However, this is written TO THE BIRTH PARENTS, who will not see your home study. Any identifying information that is provided by the adoptive parents on any forms that are given to the birth parents will not be deleted since it is presumed that it is intentionally placed on the documents. Only include information that you are comfortable sharing. Do not feel obligated to answer every single question listed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of home studies do you provide?
2. Designated adoptions (you locate the birth mother on your own)
3. Gestational carrier/surrogate home studies
How long does it take to complete the home study?
What happens if the birth mother chooses to parent?
How open or closed will our adoption be?
Confidential (Closed) Adoption
In a Closed Adoption, there is no contact between birth parents and adoptive parents except for the birth parents’ non-identifying social/medical information that is provided to the adoptive parents. This type of adoption is rare in private adoption situations due to social media and the internet.
Semi-Open Adoption
In a Semi-Open Adoption, birth parents and adoptive parents usually meet prior to the birth of the child, and the adoptive parents are often present for the birth. After placement, communication, such as pictures, texting, phone calls, letters and emails, may occur. Last names and addresses of both parties are not disclosed, unless otherwise agreed upon by the birth parents and adoptive parents. This type of adoption allows for some communication between the birth parents and adoptive parents while also maintaining some privacy. Keep in mind, the level of openness is always changing and shifting throughout the adoption and after placement; relationships change as time goes on.
Open Adoption
In an Open Adoption, birth parents and adoptive parents are in direct contact with one another and share identifying information with each other. This type of adoption may involve the methods listed above in the semi-open adoption as well as in-person visits, without going through the Agency. The plan for openness is decided and agreed upon by both the birth parents and the adoptive parents. Open adoptions allow the child to connect more easily to his or her birth parents and to maintain a relationship. Keep in mind, the level of openness is always changing and shifting throughout the adoption and after placement; relationships change as time goes on.
Resources for Adoptive Families
the abba fund
The ABBA Fund helps Christian families overcome the financial obstacles of adoption by providing interest-free loans that can be paid back over time. They also administrate Matching Grant and Interest-Free Loan Adoption Funds for churches at no cost to the church so that local communities can help their families with adoption costs.
www.abbafund.org
academy of adoption and assisted reproduction attorneys
The mission of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Family Formation Charitable Trust is to provide financial assistance to those individuals and non-profit organizations seeking to build families through adoption and assisted reproductive technology. For more information and access to the grant application, please visit adoptionattorneys.org/aaaa/charitable-trust/applications-for-grant.
a child waits foundation
The adoption assistance programs through A Child Waits are open to qualified couples and individuals who are seeking to adoption internationally.
www.achildwaits.org
adopt together
This non-profit funding platform helps families raise money to pay for adoption costs. Check out how it works by visiting Adopt Together.
adopttogether.org
adoption loans
Check with your local bank on the availability of unsecured adoption loans, or how to qualify for a home equity line of credit. In addition, some employers allow loans against 401K plans.
adoption tax credit
Most families qualify for the Federal Adoption Tax Credit, available for up to $14,300 in adoption expenses per child; to be used to pay for adoption fees, court costs, medical care and other adoption expenses. Learn more by going to the IRS website. Contact your tax specialist to determine whether you qualify.
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8839.pdf
Adoption Tax Credit FAQs by North American Council on Adoptable Children
america’s christian credit union
Adopting a child is a special event for the Christian family. While many financial institutions do not understand the unique situation surrounding the adoption process, ACCU choose to respond to those needs. As part of their continuing effort to “reach, serve and teach,” they are happy to offer Adoption Loans.
www.americaschristiancu.com
anna cheri foundation
The foundation’s mission is to inspire people to orphan care around the world through both adoption and adoption support. They will award a grant every year to a family who is selected. For more information, please visit inspiringorphancare.org
buescher foundation
Families that are adopting domestically and have been approved by an agency or facilitator can apply for a grant. There is no income requirement.
cade fondation
The Tinina Q. Cade Foundation’s Family Building Grant provides up to $10,000 per funded family to help with costs of domestic adoption and medical fertility treatment. The only restrictions for applying are must have a diagnosis of infertility from your doctor and be a legal, permanent US resident.
www.cadefoundation.org
dave thomas foundation for adoption
The adoption assistance programs through Dave Thomas Foundation awards grants to adoption organizations that connect children with families, particularly adoption through foster care. The website provides general information about adoption, as well as prototypes for employer assistance programs.
www.davethomasfoundation.org
www.adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org
domestic infant support fund (scholarship)
The Domestic Infant Support Fund was originated to provide assistance to flexible families, reducing the costs and breaking down financial barriers associated with the adoption of infants or older children through the Gladney Domestic Infant Program. Each family must meet the program qualifications and those outlined in Support Fund Request before the request for a support fund may be submitted.
dove men+care paternity leave fund
A $1 million commitment to fund paid paternity leave for real dads across the country over the next two years. Dove’s fund will extend $5,000 grants to dads without access to paid leave so they can spend time with their children and show how paternity leave benefits families, workplaces, and communities. Take the Pledge for Paternity Leave here.
dream4adoption is accepting applicants for grants for the home study phase of adopting families. This program seeks to fund up to $1,500 directly to the agency involved in your home study phase. When the adoption is finalized Dream4Adoption also gives grant recipients an additional $500 as a “Welcome Home” portion of the grant.
www.dream4adoption.org
family formation charitable trust
Formed to assist those in their efforts to form their families and to help children.
https://www.facebook.com/familyformationcharitabletrust
federal medical and family leave act
Visit Here.
frost financial adoption assistance
Since 1868, Frost has been offering products and services to people in our community. Their commitment to doing business honestly and ethically explains why so many Texans trust them as a safe and sound place for managing their finances.
Frost Application Process
gift of adoption
This organization provides adoption assistance grants that give vulnerable children a permanent home and the chance to thrive. www.giftofadoption.org
helping kids cope
Adoptive couple can be of any race and child to be adopted can be of any race, age or gender.
www.helpingkidscope.com
help us adopt
Helpusadopt.org is a national 501(c)(3) financial grant program that helps couples/individuals (regardless of ethnicity, gender, marital status, religion, or sexual orientation) with the cost of their adoptions by awarding grants up to $15,000.
www.helpusadopt.org
it’s a child’s life foundation
A small non-profit organization based out of Ada, OK with a heart for helping in the areas of foster, adoption, mentoring and support for children.
www.itsachildslife.org
jewish free loan association
Loans up to $35,000.
www.fundyouradoption.org/adoption-loans/
katelyn’s fund – orphan ministry
Provids grants to Christian families.
www.katelynsfund.org
lending club
The world’s largest online marketplace connecting borrowers and investors.
www.lendingclub.com
lifesong for orphans
Rncourages Christian couples to adopt a child by relieving some of the financial burden of international and domestic adoption. They provide Adoption Matching Grants from $1k-$4k per child, and also offer Interest-Free Loans up to $10,000. Contact them at info@lifesongfororphans.org, or call 309.747.3556.
www.lifesongfororphans.org/adoption/apply/
lightstream
Adoption loans from $5,000 to $100,000
www.lightstream.com/adoption-financing
military subsidies
National Military Family Association, Inc.
Phone: (703) 931-6632
www.militaryfamily.org/info-resources/adoption
national adoption foundation
The adoption assistance programs through National Adoption Foundation are available to any family whether they are adopting a child domestically, abroad, or from foster care. Open to all legal adoptions or non-related children and does not exclude private adoption, agency adoption, international adoption or special needs.
www.nafadopt.org
www.fundyouradoption.org/adoption-grants
oxford adoption foundation
Helps families adopt internationally by providing low interest loans to assist with the expenses associated with the international adoption process.
www.oxfordadoption.com
pathways for little feet
Provides interest-free loans to qualified adoptive families who need financial assistance to finalize their adoptions.
www.pathwaysforlittlefeet.org
project hope ministries
Provides matching grants to Christian families that adopt older, special needs, or sibling groups from Colombia. The purpose of the match is to help encourage your friends, family, and church to give to your adoption. Please download a PDF version of the grant.
Link to pdf
prosper
Provides hopeful adoptive parents across the U.S. with access to low-interest, unsecured adoption loans.
www.prosper.com
resources 4 adoption
This website provides you with a database of adoption grants and loans and many resources to help you start the adoption process. www.resources4adoption.com
show hope
Through adoption assistance grants, Show Hope donors have helped provide loving, Christian families for over 2,000 waiting orphans from 40 different countries, including the U.S.
www.showhope.org
the sparrow fund
An organization committed to encouraging and supporting these families in the adventure of adoption. We do this by providing grants to families in financial need to enroll in programs specifically designed to provide counsel and comprehensive medical reviews of their referred child.
www.sparrow-fund.org
Both Hands helps families fundraise for their adoptions. A family gathers a team of volunteers and Both Hands coaches them to coordinate a service project fixing up a widow’s home. Similar to a 5k race, the volunteer team sends letters to raise sponsorship for their day of service. However, instead of running, the team serves a widow in their community.
Crowdfunding (GoFundMe)
Garage Sale
Pure Charity Adoption Fundraising
Selling t-shirts
Using Social Media to Help Pay for Your Adoption Journey
More fundraising ideas with Adoption Choices
Testimonials