Adoption is the permanent, legal transfer of all parental right from one person or couple to another person or couple. Children's Bureau, Inc. offers Adoption Services for healthy infants, children with special needs, and our Homes for Black Children Initiative.

Healthy Infant Adoption Healthy infant adoption is considered a private adoption. The parent/parents of the unborn child make a plan to place the infant for adoption. Most of the parents place their infant for adoption due to their current situation and the desire to offer their unborn child a safe, stable and nurturing environment. What is the cost? The family will incur fees for the Family Preparation Summary, placement, supervision, attorney fees and court costs. Foster care fees may incur if the consents to adopt have not been signed prior to hospital discharge. Is financial assistance available? No. These infants are not considered "special need" and are not in the child welfare systems. Healthy infants are not eligible for state, county or federal subsidy or Medicaid coverage.

Special Needs Adoption Children's Bureau specializes in the adoption of children with "special needs."  Our goal is to connect a family with children who are typically of school age and often possess physical, mental or behavioral and emotional problems. Many of these children are of minority racial heritage or members of sibling groups, recruiting families, educating them about adoption and providing support during and after the adoption process are the keys to our successful special needs adoption program. Homes for Black Children Initiative The Homes for Black Children Initiative (HBC) is a special outreach effort designed to recruit African-American families to adopt. A large percentage of waiting special needs children are of diverse racial heritage. The program enlists African-American churches, news publications and volunteer groups to cultivate an awareness of the need for adoptive families for waiting special needs children.

How long does it take? Infant adoption is a demanding area in the adoption arena. Due to the high demand for infants, the waiting period may vary from six months to several years. The family is encouraged to search for infants within the state as well as outside the state. The Adoption Specialist will assist the family in the search process. What is the Family Preparation Summary? The Family Preparation Summary consists of a series of meeting between the family and the Adoption Specialist. The meetings are held in the family's home.

This allows the family to learn more about adoption and to further consider personal motivations and expectations for adopting. When the Family Preparation Summary is completed, the adoptive family and the adoption Specialist will review the summary and discuss any necessary changes. The family will then sign the preparation stating they have read the contents and are in agreement with the finished product. Can I adopt from another state? All infants coming into Indiana must be approved by Interstate Compact prior to entering the state. The Interstate Compact step can be a timely process, but is a requirement. Who can adopt?

• Single and two-parent families are welcome.
• Couples must be married for at least one year.
• Families with or without children are welcome.
• All applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
• There is no minimum income requirement; the family's ability to manage
  on available income must be demonstrated.
• Both parents may work as long as appropriate care is provided for the
  child/children during work hours.
• Individuals may rent or own their place of dwelling.

What do I do next? For more information on making dreams come true for a waiting child, contact us at 317-545-5281 or via fax at 317-547-6378 and request an information application packet.