Many families wonder (and are nervous) - Can I be an adoptive parent? Do I meet the eligibility criteria to be approved as an adoptive parent?
Can I Be An Adoptive Parent? Only you can answer this very personal questions:
- Can you love a child that is not born to you?
- Can you give love, comfort, security, and stimulation for a child?
- Can you learn how to support the social/emotional needs of an adopted child?
- Can you learn how to support the medical and developmental needs for a child with less than a perfect start in life or for a child with little known birth history?
- Would you be comfortable that you may not have the complete medical or social history of your child?
- Can you be flexible and patient with the unpredictability in the adoption process?
- Can you take the time needed to travel to your child’s state or country of origin for the adoption?
- Can you open your home and heart to a child of a different culture and ethnic group (if you choose to adopt trans-racially)?
- Can you expand your family’s cultural identity and incorporate your child’s native heritage into your family life (if you choose to adopt trans-culturally)?
- Can you love a child that doesn’t not resemble you and help that child to develop a positive race identity?
If you answered Yes! to at least five of these questions, adoption can be the path that leads you to your child.
Do I meet the eligibility criteria to be approved as an adoptive parent? Most prospective adoptive parents are nervous about meeting the eligibility criteria for being approved as an adoptive parents. Every State in the U.S. has their own eligibility criteria for adoptive families and every foreign country has its own criteria for acceptable adoption parents. The criteria detailed below is specific to the requirements of New York State:
The prospective adoptive parents must have the: capacity to give and receive affection; ability to provide for a child's physical and emotional needs; ability to accept the intrinsic worth of a child; ability to risk and share the child’s past; ability to understand the impact of the separation and loss that the child has experienced through adoption; capacity to have realistic expectations and goals; flexibility and ability to change; ability to cope with problems, stress and frustration; ability to make a commitment to a child placed in the home; and ability to use community resources.
Specifically prospective adoptive parents must:
1. Age of Prospective Adoptive Parents: At least one of the prospective adoptive parents must be at least 18 years old. The individual(s) should have a reasonable expectation to live until the child's majority.
2. Health of Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): Prospective adoptive parent(s) shall be in such physical condition that it is reasonable to expect him/her to live to the child's majority and to have the energy and other abilities needed to fulfill the parental responsibilities.
3. Marital Status of Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): The marital status of the prospective adoptive parent(s) is not a factor in the acceptance or rejection as adoptive parent(s).
4. Fertility of Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): Prospective adoptive parent(s) may not be rejected for adoption because of his, her or their fertility (capacity to have biological children).
5. Family Composition of the Prospective Adoptive Family: Prospective adoptive parent(s)’ family size and composition is considered as it relates to the ability of a family to care for another child and the quality of life that will be offered to an adoptive child.
6. The Health and Safety of the Home of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): The prospective adoptive parent(s)’ home will be inspected for safety and appropriate space for a child(ren).
7. Sexual Orientation or Gender of Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): Prospective adoptive parents may not be discriminated against or rejected as adoptive parents on the basis of sexual orientation or gender.
8. The Religion of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): The religious beliefs of the prospective adoptive parents may not be discriminated against or considered in their approval or disapproval as adoptive parents.
9. The Race of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): The race and ethnicity of the prospective adoptive parents may not be discriminated against or considered in their approval or disapproval as adoptive parents.
10. The Financial Status of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): The prospective adoptive parents must have the ability to budget their resources (income, assets, and liabilities) in such a way that a child placed with them can be reasonably assured of minimum standards of nutrition, health, shelter, clothing and other essentials.
11. Employment and Education of Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): The employment, education, or volunteer activities of the prospective adoptive parents will be explored during the home study investigation but may not be a factor in the approval or rejection of an individual as an adoptive parent.
12. The Stability of Employment and/or Residence of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): Prospective adoptive parents with frequent changes in employment and/or residence shall not be rejected as adoptive parents, unless it is determined that such changes reflect an inability to provide for the well-being of a child to be placed in the home.
13. The Parenting and/or Child Care Experience of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): The home study investigator (social worker) will explore the prospective adoptive parents’ experience as parents or with caring for or educating other children. No prospective adoptive parent will be rejected as adoptive parents solely on the basis of a lack of such experience.
14. The Social Networks and Community Support of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): The prospective adoptive parents’ ability to locate and take advantage of human support (family, friends, church, etc) and organizational resources (e.g. medical services, therapies, educational resources, support groups, etc) to strengthen their capacity as parents.
15. The Child Abuse and Maltreatment History of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): There may be no history of child abuse and maltreatment.
16. The Vulnerable Persons Abuse or Maltreatment History of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): There may be no history of abuse or maltreatment against persons with special needs.
17. The Criminal History of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s): If a prospective adoptive parent or adult household member has a criminal history or is currently under investigation for an alleged crime, the home study provider agency shall determine on the basis of the information it has available whether to approve or reject the individual as an adoptive parent. In New York State, any individual who has been convicted of crimes involving violence, or endangering the welfare of a child are automatically disqualified as an adoptive parent.
Family Connections, Inc., an authorized New York State adoption agency that has acheived Hague Accreditation from the Council on Accreditation, recognizes that every individual and family is unique. Thus if you have specific questions regarding your family’s eligibility to become approved as adoptive parents, please contact our agency at 1-800-535-5556 or info@adoptfamilyconnections.org. We would be happy to explore your qualifications as adoptive parents.
To learn more about eligibility and the home study process, please click below to download a free Home Study Guide.
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