Adoption

What is Adoption?
What Kinds of People Adopt?
Am I Ready to Adopt?
Domestic Adoption through MBCH Children and Family Ministries
Home Study Services/Post Placement Services
For More Information
 

What Is Adoption?

     Adoption is the permanent, legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities from a child’s birth parents to the adoptive parents. There are two basic ways to adopt:

• Independent adoption means the adoption is arranged directly with the birth parents and an attorney.
• Agency Adoption means using either a public or private agency to facilitate an adoption. Adoption agencies conduct a home study on the prospective adoptive family and provide counseling, networking and placement support after placement of the child.

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What Kinds of People Adopt?

• Adoptive parents don't have to be perfect.
• Adoptive parents don't have to have a certain minimum income level.
• Adoptive parents don't have to have their own home.
• Adoptive parents don't have to be the same race or ethnic background as the child they adopt.
• Adoptive parents can be married or single.
• Adoptive parents have a love of children and parenting.
• Adoptive parents share a strong desire to help a child grow up to reach his/her potential and to be happy and fulfilled adults.
• Adoptive parents may be first-time parents or may have already had children but feel they have room in their homes and hearts for more.
• Adoptive parents have patience and perseverance.
• Adoptive parents have a good sense of humor!
• Adoptive parents love unconditionally.
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Am I Ready to Adopt?

• Do I have a clear understanding of why I want to adopt?
• If there are infertility issues, have I worked through this enough to understand that an adopted child cannot replace the child I could not have biologically?
• Do I understand the concept of the child being shared – that the child will always have birth parents too, even if he/she never has any contact with them?
• If I am married, do my spouse and I work as a team? Are we BOTH committed to adoption?

These are important questions to answer as you consider whether adoption is right for you.

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Domestic Adoption Through MBCH Children and Family Ministries

     Birth parents voluntarily terminate their rights and place their child through MBCH Children and Family Ministries (MBCHCFM). Non-identifying profiles of adoptive families approved by MBCHCFM are given to the birth parents who choose the adoptive family for their child. Although birth parents and adoptive parents can choose a closed adoption if they wish, MBCHCFM strongly encourages and supports open adoption when it is in the best interest of the child. The adoptive parents and birth parents are educated on open adoption as a part of the services provided.

     The basic requirements for applying for a healthy infant/preschooler (birth to four years) are as follows:

• Must be 45 years of age or younger. If married, at least one spouse must meet this requirement.
• Must be physically and emotionally healthy.
• A professing Christian and active in an evangelical Christian church..

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Home Study Services/Post Placement Services

MBCHCFM provides the following home studies:

• GUARDIANSHIP – Either a relative or non-relative of the child is given legal authority by the court to care for the child. Guardianship does not sever the legal relationship between the biological parents and the child. Examples of when guardianship is necessary: a parent may become too ill to parent the child; abuse or abandonment of the child may have occurred, etc.
• Domestic or International Home Study – Required in order to be considered for a domestic or international adoption.

MBCHCFM provides support after a child is placed for adoption through home visits, phone calls and adoption reports for the court and/or international agency.

For More Information

     MBCH Children and Family Ministries has regional offices in Jefferson City, Joplin, Lee’s Summit and Springfield. These offices focus on foster and adoptive parent recruiting, training and placement and case management for children needing homes around the state.

11300 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Missouri 63044

3628B West Truman Blvd., Jefferson City, Missouri 65109

1831 Conner, Joplin, Missouri 64804

4001 NE Lakewood Way, Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64064

430 S. Glenstone, Springfield, Missouri 65802

     To discuss the possibility of becoming an adoptive parent, call the MBCH Children and Family Ministries Foster/Adoptive Department at 1-800-264-6224. You can e-mail us at foster.adoptive@MBCH.org. You may download the Foster/Adoption Application form to print and complete on paper or use the on-line version of the Foster/Adoption Application form. If you elect to download the form, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and print the form.
Download Foster/Adoptive Application

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© MBCH 2002 * Last Modified 3/12/2008 * Webmaster