Spence-Chapin is the premier resource in our area for Hispanic families and birth parents who are interested in adoption. The agency began this program in 1996 with consideration for birth parents who want to choose adoptive families who share their ethnic background, and for prospective adoptive parents in our growing Hispanic community. Our clients vary in age, social, professional, religious and economic background. An increasing number of adoptive parents and birth parents are choosing open adoption — opting to meet each other and make plans for future contact.

Placements

• After you complete your home study process, your profile is included in a special album that we share with birth parents who choose a couple or single adult to parent their child.
• You can also become actively involved in networking, advertising, and making a direct connection with birth parents.

Spence-Chapin provides separate social workers and counseling for birth parents and adoptive parents. They fully support each participant in the adoption with sensitivity and expertise, and provide welcome guidance.

Pregnant women are encouraged to explore all their options, including family support and parenting. Birth parents receive extensive counseling to help them make the best decision for themselves and their child. We emphasize to both parties that birth parents will not complete any adoption plan until after the baby is born. If birth parents need time after the birth, interim care can be provided by Spence-Chapin for the baby.

Financial Considerations

• Adoptive parents who work directly with Spence-Chapin pay a fee according to a sliding scale based on income.
• Spence-Chapin assumes all pregnancy-related expenses for birth parents.
• If a birth parent does not go forward with an adoption plan, Spence-Chapin continues to work with the prospective parents towards another plan with no additional fee to the adoptive parents.

Please see Affording Adoption to learn about making adoption from Spence-Chapin more affordable through federal adoption tax credits, corporate employee benefits, state subsidies and Spence-Chapin's special funds.

How to Apply to the Hispanic Program

The first step is to join us for a free information session. To make a reservation or be notified of future information sessions, please call the Adoption Department at 212-369-0300, providing your name, address and phone number. Information sessions about the African-American and International programs are also scheduled frequently. Families who are able to parent infants with special medical or developmental needs are encouraged to consider the ASAP Program.