Domestic Adoption

About Us

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CHSofNJ has over 100 years of expertise in adoption and since 1894 we have placed thousands of children with adoptive families. We are committed to working with birthparents of all backgrounds to help them to make a plan for the care of their child, and when that plan is adoption we work diligently to place the child with a permanent and loving adoptive family. We welcome adoptive families of all races, religions, ancestries, national origins, ages, sexual orientations, and genders, as long as at their core is their ability to love, care for, and support a child. CHSofNJ will offer our support and professional assistance from the application process through your adoption finalization. We believe that adoption is a lifelong process, and our services are designed to support families for the long term.

 

Our list of waiting families is now full.  Applicants can join the wait list and will be contacted when the agency begins accepting applications for domestic adoption.  There is a wait list fee of $100 which is non-refundable and will be applied to the application fee when the application is accepted.

If you are interested in adoption please review the frequently asked questions and complete the on line request for more information. Our adoption services are available to residents of New Jersey, Bucks County PA, and the area of Montgomery County PA that borders eastern Bucks County.

Birth Parents & Pregnancy Services

Being pregnant may have you scared and confused. You are not alone. The Children’s Home Society of NJ will help you and support you. We offer pregnancy options counseling and placement options counseling, including parenting, placement with relatives and placement with an adoptive family.

Don’t be pressured into making a hasty decision. This may be the most serious decision you have to make in your life for yourself and your child. You do not have to make a decision while you are pregnant or while you are in the hospital. You have many options and we are here to help. To speak with one of our experienced professionals, call our Pregnancy Helpline at 1-800-247-6365.

Birth Parent and Pregnancy Services are free, private and confidential.

Adoption Inquiry Form

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FREE PREGNANCY HELPLINE 1-800-CHSofNJ (1-800-247-6365) – OUR COUNSELORS ARE AVAILABLE 24/7

 

CALL NOW! We are here to help you.

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1. Complete the on line request for more information
2. Consult with one of our adoption specialists to determine if adoption is right for your family
3. Submit the adoption application
4. Complete an adoption home study and required training
5. After placement of a child, complete post-placement supervision visits and court finalization.

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[toggle title=”What is a Home Study? And what does the process entail?”]

The primary purpose of the home study is to evaluate adoptive applicant’s potential for parenthood and their ability to accept a child as an integral part of their family on a permanent and legal basis. This process assists the applicant in understanding the nature of adoption and its inherent challenges and is legally required as part of the adoption process.
The adoption study consists of an intake interview with the family, one individual interview with each person, a minimum of one home visit, and one or more joint interviews. Children of the perspective adoptive family must be interviewed as well as any other member of the household. Medical and financial statements are required, employment is verified, and three personal references are required. A school/day care reference is required, if the applicant already has a child. Documents to be verified include: birth certificates, marriage license, and divorce decree (if applicable). State and Federal fingerprint clearances, Local Police Check clearance, Child Abuse Registry clearances, and Motor Vehicle abstracts are required for the adoptive applicants and all household members 18 years of age and older.

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CHSofNJ has set fees for each service related to the adoption process and we offer a sliding scale placement fee to make adoption affordable and accessible to as many families as possible. To see our current fees please see downloadable form and access the Adoption Fee Scale.

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[toggle title=”If I am single, can I apply to adopt?”]

Applications are accepted from single persons. The single applicant must meet the same home study requirements as married couples.

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[toggle title=”Are there health requirements to become an adoptive parent?”]

The Agency considers good emotional and physical health a prerequisite for adoption. Any atypical health situation will be considered on an individual basis. Medical information regarding any health situation will be requested and assessed on an individual basis.

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[toggle title=”Is there an age requirement for adoption?”]

Minimum age requirement is 21 years old. The adoptive parent must be at least 10 years older than the child to be adopted. There is not a maximum age for adoptive parents but birth parents frequently select the adoptive parents and often show a preference for younger applicants. The age at the time of application will be considered on an individual basis. The applicant’s ability to appropriately parent and care for a young child into adult will be assessed.

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The Agency has no specific requirement as to the amount of income or savings one must have; however, it does require that a family have adequate economic stability and security to raise a child. This is assessed as part of the home study.

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Home ownership is not required, although adequate and safe housing is necessary.

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[toggle title=”Can I apply for adoption if I have other adopted or biological children?”]

Applications for adoption are accepted from singles or couples who have biological children, or who have previously adopted.

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[toggle title=”Does the agency facilitate open adoption?”]

CHSofNJ facilitates both semi-open and open adoption. Open adoptions vary according to the wishes of all parties involved. In many open adoptions, the birth parents participate in the selection of the adoptive parents from the agency’s approved families. Some parents choose to meet face to face without exchanging last names. Before a child’s placement, the degree of future contact is discussed and agreed upon. Contact may include photographs and or progress reports, which are typically sent annually through the agency.

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[toggle title=”Once my home study is approved, how long will I wait for a child?”]

Once you are approved as an adoptive family, you will be placed on our wait list. When a child is considered for possible placement with your family, your adoption worker will contact you and share with you all available information about the child and his or her background, except identifying information. Often times the birth parents select a waiting family for their child. Your wait time may depend on your levels of acceptance of a child.
If you have further questions please e-mail us at Adoption@CHSofNJ.org.

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Adoption Fee Scale
Service Agreement between CHSofNJ and Adoptive Families
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• Home Study Only Services are provided for families who are working with birth parents, attorneys, or another Licensed Non-Profit Adoption Agencies for the placement of a child. These services are being provided in compliance with all State, Federal, and Adoption Licensing statutes and regulations.

• Identified Adoption Services are provided to families who have been identified by the child’s birth parent(s) as his or her potential adoptive parents.

• Adoption Home Studies in Cooperation with the Interstate Compact forthe Placement of Childrenare provided to families adopting privately from another state. CHS of NJ follows and fulfills the requirement of the sending and receiving States and all State, Federal, and Adoption Licensing statutes and regulations.

• Adoption Complaint Investigations are provided when CHS of NJ has been ordered by the Court to do so. An ACI is ordered when there has been a petition for adoption by a person/family who has received a child through a non-agency placement, such as a stepparent, grandparent or other relative, or non-related person/family. A report, including the recommendation for the approval of the adoption, is prepared and submitted to the Court regarding the findings of the investigation. An Adoption Home Study is also conducted when required by State Adoption laws and Adoption Licensing regulations.

• Adoption Post-Placement Supervision Services of the child in the adoptive home are provided, according to State, Federal, and Adoption Licensing statutes and regulations, when requested by the Court (Next Friend Supervision), by the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children, or by another licensed non-profit Adoption Agency.

• Criminal History/Child Abuse Clearances Only are referred through New Jersey County Surrogate Offices for step-parent and relative adoptions. When this request is made, the required documents are sent to the family. After the results are received an affidavit is written and sent to the requesting Surrogate’s Office.

• Adoption Placement Services is the placement of a child from CHSofNJ’s Birth Parent Counseling Program or its Infant Foster Care Program with a waiting adoptive family. The fee for this placement is 15% of the adoptive family’s last reported gross annual income with floor of $10,800.00 and a ceiling of $32,500.00.

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Please visit our adoptive family profiles page by clicking the link below..read about some of the wonderful adoptive families from CHSofNJ. Who knows you could be next!

Adoptive Family Profiles
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Please complete the form below. You will receive a response from one of our Adoption Specialists by the next business day.

Adoption Inquiry Form

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For more information on Domestic Adoption Click Here

For more information about Birth Parent Counseling Click Here

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  • We can refer you to community resources for medical care and information on financial and day care services.
  • We can help you learn how to take care of your child.
  • We can provide you with supportive services.

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  • You can choose the adoptive parents for your child from our approved families, or you can ask us to choose an adoptive family, according to your wishes.
  • You may be able to meet the adoptive family, if you choose to do so.
  • You may be able to receive yearly progress letters and photographs from the adoptive family.
  • You may be able to choose an adoptive family who you know.
  • You can continue to receive counseling and supportive services, even after you make a decision.

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If you’re just not sure, you can place your child in one of our loving temporary care homes while you work with a counselor to decide.

  • You can visit your child while he or she is in a baby care home.
  • Your child’s medical care will be provided free of charge.
  • Your child will be provided with clothing and all of his or her needs free of charge.
  • You will receive counseling and supportive services to help you make a permanent plan for your child and to help you with other problems you may be experiencing.

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Valerie Fiorentino
Adoption Services
(609) 695-6274 Ext. 175
vfiorentino@chsofnj.org

Marie Braun
Intake
(609) 695-6274, Ext. 115
mbraun@chsofnj.org

Janine Cook
Birth Parent Counselor
(609) 695-6274, Ext. 174
jcook@chsofnj.org

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