Adoption Partnership

The Spence-Chapin Adoption Partnership is a program for families wanting to take advantage of Spence-Chapin's services while also working with additional adoption service providers, i.e. adoption attorney or agency. The Adoption Partnership offers a selection of pre- and post-adoption services to parents who are adopting domestically and internationally including home study, post-placement services, and expectant parent counseling. This program allows families to benefit from our extensive adoption expertise.

Service Options

Spence-Chapin’s Adoption Partnership team provides a range of services to New York and New Jersey families.

Options for families adopting domestically include:

Home study services
Expectant parent counseling
Adoption Counseling
Interim care for infants
Child placement services
Post-placement supervision

Options for families adopting internationally include:

Home study and parent preparation services
Adoption counseling
Post Adoption Reporting

Your family can receive counseling at any stage of the adoption process with one of the Spence-Chapin clinical social workers. Often families seek Spence-Chapin’s support prior to beginning the adoption process to explore their family’s expectations about becoming an adoptive family.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Home Study

Spence-Chapin can provide home study services to families adopting domestically or internationally living in the Spence-Chapin service area in New York or New Jersey. To begin the process, please contact the Adoption Inquiry Line: 212-400-8150.

What is the Home Study Process?
The adoption home study is a collaborative process between you and your social worker, which culminates in a detailed written report of your family according to established state and/or country requirements.

Spence-Chapin works with your family to complete all services as quickly as possible. These are the steps to expect:

Request and complete the Adoption Partnership application.
A social worker will review your application, be in touch to discuss next steps, and may request additional documents as needed. Once accepted into the program, your social worker will provide the necessary agency, state, and international paperwork, as applicable to your case and state of residence needed to move forward.
After all the documents and the home study fee are submitted, the family will be contacted by their social worker regarding scheduling the first meeting.

Regardless of where you live or where you plan to adopt, you'll need an adoption home study document to show that you are qualified to adopt under the laws of your state. You will gather legal documents and pertinent information about your personal history, and begin planning for the type of child who you hope to parent. Through a series of visits, interviews, and parent preparation classes, you and your social worker will work together to ensure that you are prepared for the adoption process and have begun to understand adoptive parenting. The home study process should be an interesting and positive experience, which prepares you for the journey ahead. Our home study services focus on adoption education, parent preparation and support.

Some important topics covered include:

Fundamentals of adoptive parenting
Transracial adoption
Understanding the birthparent experience
Post-placement contact in open adoption
Implications of prenatal drug and alcohol exposure
Institutionalization/Developmental/Medical Issues
Parenting an older child through international adoption

Domestic Adoption Home Study
Families pursing a private infant adoption can benefit from Spence-Chapin's expertise through the home study process. You will meet with one of our social workers in our offices and in their home. A Spence-Chapin social worker will provide a list of documents needed to complete the home study and a reading list for you to complete. You and your attorney or agency will receive a written home study document, with all required clearances. Your attorney will help you become pre-certified in the NY court system once the home study is complete.

International Adoption Home Study
We ask that families identify an adoption service provider before beginning the international home study process. The accredited attorney or agency will be the main resource regarding country-specific questions. In order to comply with Hague regulations you will attend workshops, meet with a Spence-Chapin social worker in our offices and home, complete a reading list, and attend other relevant activities at the suggestion of their social worker. Your social worker will provide a list of documents needed to complete the home study. You and your provider will receive a written home study document, with all required clearances. Spence-Chapin will also assist families in filing their initial immigration (USCIS) documents.
Please note that Spence-Chapin can only provide partnership home studies for countries where we do not have a direct placement program.

Expectant Parent Counseling

For domestic adoptions Spence-Chapin offers counseling to birth parents by social workers experienced in working with women who are considering making an adoption plan for their child(ren). Our approach is to help expectant parents consider their options before making a decision. This ensures that the adoption plan is made carefully and seriously, and that there is minimal risk of a disruption after placement. Please read more about Spence-Chapin's birth parent counseling services here. To contact a birth parent counselor, please call 800-321-5683.

If an adoptive family is connected to a prospective birth family living in New York or New Jersey, Spence-Chapin can provide placement services. Services include expectant parent counseling, surrender paperwork, interstate paperwork, and the placement of the child with the adoptive family. Once a child is placed in the home, the family will need to identify an adoption attorney in their home state to finalize the adoption after returning home.

Interim Care
Interim care is available if needed. Our interim care program provides time for the birth mother to make a permanent plan for the baby. The child is cared for by a family certified by Spence-Chapin and experienced in caring for newborns. Our interim care families typically takes care of one baby at time and ensures that he or she receives individual attention in a warm and loving environment. The baby will receive regular medical care by a team of pediatricians who work with Spence-Chapin.

Placement Supervision

Domestic Adoption Only
If your family is connected to an expectant family living in New York or New Jersey, Spence-Chapin can provide placement services. Services include pregnancy counseling, surrender paperwork, interstate paperwork, and the placement of the child with your family. Your family will need to identify an adoption attorney in your home state to finalize the adoption after returning home.

Adoption Counseling

Your family can receive counseling at any stage of the adoption process with one of the Spence-Chapin clinical social workers. Often families seek Spence-Chapin's support prior to beginning the adoption process to explore their family's expectations about becoming an adoptive family. Spence-Chapin's counseling team can help with a range of adoption and parenting-related questions and concerns. If you are working with an adoption attorney, he or she may be able to provide general counsel about the adoption process and experience.

Spence-Chapin's Adoption Resource Center provides services for adoptive parents, adoptees and birth parents. We offer consultations, counseling, support groups, referrals, programs for kids and teens, and a variety of workshops. Spence-Chapin is committed to being available for you at all points in your adoption journey. Our goal is to empower families to advocate for their children by providing information, resources and support.

Post-Placement Supervision

After you come home with your child, you may be required to have post-placement supervision by an agency or licensed social worker. This may involve one or more sessions with a social worker who will report to the placing agency or court regarding your family's adjustment and the child's development. This report may also be required by the court or country finalizing the adoption.

Included in the cost of the Adoption Partnership home study is one post-placement visit made in the home. Further post-placement visits can be provided at an additional cost. The social worker can connect families to additional services through our Adoption Resource Center.

Locating an Adoption Service Provider or Attorney

Spence-Chapin is able to help families identify the members of their adoption team. Below are suggestions on where to start.

Domestic Adoption
Families adopting domestically may work with an attorney or an adoption service provider. If working with an attorney, Spence-Chapin recommends working with an experienced member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. This website has a useful directory by state. Please contact us by phone if you would like recommendations - 212-400-8150.

International Adoption
Spence-Chapin asks that families identify an adoption service provider before beginning the international home study process. The State Department website is a good resource of current international adoption programs and practice (http://adoption.state.gov.) The State Department maintains a directory of Hague accredited agencies by state. The Joint Council on International Children's Services (JCICS) also provides a comprehensive list of accredited agencies.

Contact Spence-Chapin

The Partnership program serves families within the Spence-Chapin New York and New Jersey service area - within 100 miles of New York City.

If you have any questions about the registration packet or any aspect of our Adoption Partnership program, please call us on the Adoption Inquiry Line at 212-400-8150 or submit a Request for Information form.

410 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128 212.369.0300

Spence-Chapin is a 501c3.

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