There is a growing need for families to open their hearts and homes to children who cannot be cared for within their biological families. Adoptive parents provide permanent families for children who do not have families of their own. Most of the children we serve come to us via the foster care system. These children frequently have “special needs” which may include:

• Children who have been abused or neglected
• Children who are older, especially ages 8 and above
• Children of racial minorities
• Children that need to be placed with their siblings, especially 3 and more
• Children who are physically, emotionally, behaviorally or mentally challenged

 When children are in foster care and the court determines that they cannot return home, the children are most frequently adopted by their current foster parents or relatives.  OFS staff can help you to decide if foster care and/or adoption is right for you and your family.

If you have an interest in helping to provide for children in our community, please email OFS or call Oakland Family Services 248-858-7766.
 

The primary goal of the adoption program is to provide loving, stable and permanent homes to children of all ages who are legally available for adoption.  OFS believes that bringing families and special children together can be a positive fulfilling choice for everyone involved.   We believe that adoption is a service to children. We understand that successful adoption recognizes the importance of the birth family for the child. Our caring, committed adoption staff offers personalized, responsive adoption assistance to families to support them in the decision making about what type of adoption is best for them. 

 Who qualifies as an adoptive parent? Any person at least 18 years or older who:

• Has a safe and stable home environment
• Understands the needs of children and can provide love
• Has good emotional and physical health.
• Couples or single adults may be foster parents
• Adoptive parents may reside in an apartment, mobile home or single family home.

 Preparation for adoption includes:

• Full disclosure of information about the child(ren)
• Information about neglect, abuse and the child welfare system
• Education about the child’s needs and the special parenting skills required.
• Visits which allow your family to adjust to your new family member.

Orientation: Applicants are invited to attend a group meeting where an overview of the adoption process is provided.  Information on the legal aspects of adoption, the family and child assessment and the different types of adoption are explained.

Training: Applicants are invited to participate in training to assist in understanding the special needs of an adopted child and becoming prepared for the role of adoptive parent.

Pre-placement assessment: An assessment includes interviews with all individuals who live in the applicant’s home as well as completion of written materials required by the State of Michigan and the court.  In the assessment a recommendation for adoption is developed, specifically addressing the type of child the family wishes to adopt.   

Matching: Many applicants are the foster parents or relatives to a child that is already placed in their home. In special needs adoption, an applicant may be matched with a waiting child.  Waiting children are frequently school age and older, are members of a sibling group, are minorities and are children who experienced abuse and neglect.  

Infant adoption: Birth parents may choose to make a voluntary plan for adoption of a newborn. Most birth parents wish to choose the family that the child will be placed with and frequently birth parents desire an open adoption.   

Identified adoption: Birth parents and adoptive parents find and select one another, external to the agency. The agency may provide birth parent counseling and the pre-placement assessment for the adoptive family.  

Direct adoption: Birth parents may desire to place the child from the hospital at the time of the birth, directly into the adoptive home.

Interstate adoption: Assistance with placement, planning and Interstate Compact procedures may be provided.

If you have an interest in helping to provide for children in our community, please email OFS or call Oakland Family Services 248-858-7766.