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At Nightlight Christian Adoptions we understand that the Adoption process is important to your family and we are there with you every step of the way. We will assist you to help your Christian Adoption experience go as smoothly as possible.
To give you a better idea we have listed the Adoption process below. For more info on our domestic program, please see www.nightlight.org/domestic-adoption/
Adoption Process
Our introduction to you! After our first phone call or email we receive from you, we will set up a phone or in-person interview where we ask a few questions and answer some of yours as we get to know a little about you. If you feel ready to move forward, we will generate your “welcome” email to the eAdopt online account. The complete application packet is available for you to complete online. If you aren’t quite ready to move forward, you don’t need to fill it out right away; just let us know where you are at in the process and how we can help!
Once you have completed the online application packet and we have five (5) references and application fee, your Adoption Journey Specialist will forward the entire application packet to the Executive Director for approval.
Congratulations! Once you are approved, you will begin your home study. The home study is a thorough process in which a social worker conducts an in-depth review of your family’s life to determine if you are ready to bring a child into your home. Your Adoption Journey Specialist will generate the home study documents to be processed on your eAdopt account.
Once your home study has begun, you may begin your parent training. Nightlight requires 10 hours of training, all of which can be completed using one curriculum that has been carefully selected by the Nightlight team. During this time you may also work on your profile. This is the tool used to share your family with prospective birth parents. Our team is here to give guidance if needed to help you create a profile to yield a successful match
After you complete a profile that you are satisfied with, your profile will be shown to prospective birth mothers who match your preferences. Now it is time to wait. You may refer to this phase as “the waiting game.” Depending on the child that you are hoping to adopt, this phase may take a few months or a couple years. The average wait time for our families is about 18 months. We typically present our families in the order of those who have waited the longest.
This is the exciting moment of being successfully matched and bringing your child home. After bringing your child home, your post-placement home visits will take place. We will also assess any final fees and documents.
You have reached the final phase that will result in your child becoming legally yours! At Nightlight, we realize this is by no means the final phase in your adoption journey. In fact, it has really only just begun. We want all families who have adopted to know that we are here to support and encourage you even after finalization. Becoming adoptive parents often presents a unique set of challenges, but we always want you to remember that we are here if you need us. Nightlight is an ongoing resource you can access at any point down the road.
