Adoption. It's a love thing!

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How Will I Know If a Child Is Right For Me?
y ou can get a de cription of the child before you meet him or her. Often you can see a picture of the child. You will also get to know the child before you decide whether to adopt.
If there are any problem after the adoption becomes final, you can contact your DFCS ca eworker to di cu the situation. In a cri i , the worker can help the family find' re ource uch a coun eling, re pite care or financial a i tance.
Can the Birth Parents or Relatives Gome and Legally Take the Child Away?
No. Before a judge terminate parental rights, DFCS look for any relative who could take care of the child. Once the adoption is finalized, the child become. a permanent member of your family.

Is Adoption a Long and Complicated Process?
he wait for a child with pecial need can be a hort a 6 to 10 month . You can horten your waiting time by choo ing a child from the "My Turn ow' book, which publi he photograph of children waiting to be adopted. "My Turn ow" i al 0 . available on the Office of Adoption web ite. The child mu t live in your home for ome time before legal proceeding can b gin. A ca eworker will help you with any que tion or problems you may have during that time. The adoption u ually become final about six month after placement.

What is Adoption?
AOPlioni a
social and legal process
which creates a new family, gi ing adopted children the same right and benefits of tho e who are born into the family.

Many children in permanent state custody are waiting to find a stable, loving family. It's something they probably have never experienced because they were abused, neglected or abandoned. They need a safe and nurturing place they can call home. Some of these children have been in foster care their entire lives and have never had a family to call their own. Through adoption, these children become part of a new family.

Who Are These Children? Why are They Being Adopted?
t any given tim there are thou and of children who ar in th t mporary legal cu tody of the Georgia Department of Human Re ource du to unre olved family cri e . Many of the e childr n will become a ailable for adoption. om of the children' parent have voluntarily gi en up their parental right. H wev r, mo t have been remo ed from their birth parent ' home. by the courts and their parent ' parental rights have b en terminated due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. Mo t of these children come from difficult ituation. and have been cared for in fo ter home
while waiting to be adopted.
Adoptions of children in tate custody are handled by the DHR Office of doption. the county Department of
Familyand hildren ervice (DFCS) or through private, licen ed, adoption agencie .

How Much Does it Cost?
T h tat or any private agency under c ntract with the tate will not charge a fee to a a child. part of the home tudy proces , pro pective parent and other Ii ing in the h me must get a medical exam and mu t pay legal fe . to complet the adoption. Families adopting older children, ibling groups or children with pecial needs will be reimbursed for mo t of the e exp n e . Some employer al 0 offer benefit for adoption..

Can I Adopt a Child?
I f you are ingle, you must b at lea t 25 year old and at lea I 10 year. older than the child you wi h to adopt. Married couple mu t be at lea t 10 year older than the child they wi h to adopt. A family needs to make only enough money to co er their own living expen e .

Y oU will n ed to have a family a es ment (home tudy) done by DFC or a licen ed, private adoption agency. Thi i a chance for the caseworker t I arn about you and your family while you learn about the children who n ed home. If DFC doe y ur family a e ment, you will al 0 attend a 10\ eek training program called "Mod I Approach t Partner hip in Parenting" (MAPP). MAPP con ists of 30 hour of training and home vi it by a ca eworker. The adoption agency may al 0 conduct a similar parent preparation program.

The children needing homes are:

Children ages 8 and older

African American children older than 1

Brothers and sisters who need to be placed together

Children with physical, emotional or mental disabilities

Is There Any Financial Assistance Available?
S ome a i tance i available to help meet the co t of caring for children with pecial need . The amount of the a i tance depends on what the child' need are. More money may be available to help pay for medical or p ychological ervice. Some of the children with pecial needs will till be eligible for Medicaid after adoption.
What is the First Step?
Call the tate's adoption hotline at 1-888-460-2467, vi it our web ite
at www.adoptions.dhr.tate.ga.u , or contact your county Department of Family and Children Service (DFCS) and a k to peak to an adoption ca eworker. Say that you want to adopt a child and a k for an appointment to di cus it in per on or inquire about an adoption orientation meeting.
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GEORGIA DEPARTME T OF H MA RESO R ES Office of Adoption and Division of Family and Children Services uite I 1-210 2 Peachtree treet, W Atlanta. Georgia 30303-3142 www.adoption.dhr.tate.ga.u