STEP ONE
Attend an adoption information meeting.
These meetings are held once a month, and feature presenters from Adoption Rhode Island and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. At the meetings the adoption process will be explained in more detail and you will learn about the children who are waiting to be adopted. There will also be plenty of opportunity to ask questions. Applications to start the adoption process are available at the meeting if you decide you are interested.
Information meetings are held each month on Tuesday or Wednesday nights. The meetings are free. Because of the sensitive subjects discussed in the meetings, they are not appropriate for children to attend. Meetings are held at our office at Two Bradford Street in Providence unless otherwise noted. Click here for the schedule of upcoming meetings and directions.
TEP TWOMeet with an adoption homefinder (social worker who will write the homestudy) in your home.
The social worker will get to know you better, answer additional questions you have at this time, and begin to discuss the type of child you believe will be the best fit for your family. This will not be a white glove test of your housekeeping skills!
STEP THREE
Enter a homestudy/adoption preparation class.
These classes meet once a week from 8-10 weeks. They are designed to prepare you to parent a child who has been in state care, to help you decide what kind of child will fit best into your family, and to help the homefinder get to know you better so she/he can make a good match with a child.
STEP FOUR
Complete a homestudy.
After finishing the classes, the homefinder may meet with you one or more times,and collect homework and other paperwork from you. The social worker will then write your homestudy, a 12-15 page document describing your family, your lifestyle, and the kind of child or children you hope to parent. This homestudy will be registered at Adoption Rhode Island in order to be matched with waiting children.
ARI can only accept homestudies which are forwarded by the family's adoption worker/agency. We are unable to register a homestudy sent directly from the family.
STEP FIVE
Wait for a match
Copies of your homestudy will be mailed to DCYF caseworkers of waiting children who match the type of child you are seeking. The caseworker selects the family who she/he believes can best meet the child's needs. This waiting period can last from a few weeks to a year or two, depending on how flexible you are in the type of child you are willing to consider.
STEP SIX
Learn about the child or children for whom you are being considered.
When a caseworker decides that you may be a good match for a child or sibling group, she/he will meet with you to present background information on the child (medical history, educational records, professional assessments, and other information). You will have the opportunity to ask questions, speak with people who work or live with the child (foster parents, teachers, group home staff, therapists, etc.), and decide whether you believe the match is a good one.
STEP SEVEN
Meet the child and begin visits.
If you decide to proceed with the match, you will meet the child and begin a series of visits. These visits will last just a few hours at first and build up to overnight and weekend stays. On placement day, the child will officially move into your home.
STEP EIGHT
Finalize the adoption.
After the child has lived with you for at least six months, you will go to Family Court and legally adopt the child. She/he will then be given your last name, and you will have full parental rights and responsibilities as if the child were yours by birth.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to download an information packet