Catholic Charities offers a number of programs and services for those who are considering adoption.
Domestic Adoptions – An Agency Placement Adoption can be confidential or semi-open, depending on the desire of the adoptive parents and the birth parents. In a confidential adoption, the birth parent may request that the agency choose the baby’s adoptive family. In a semi-open adoption, the birth parent may choose the adoptive family after reading a non-identifying profile and may meet with the family on a first name basis. In either type of adoption, the adoptive family receives the non-identifying medical history of the birth parents and there is the option of ongoing contact by the sharing of pictures and letters after the adoption is finalized. This exchange is facilitated through Catholic Charities in order to maintain the confidentiality of the birth family and the adoptive family.
A Parental Placement Adoption is an open adoption. Birth parents place their child directly with an adoptive family of their choice. Birth and adoptive parents can be introduced through Catholic Charities or may already know each other. We conduct a home study for the adoptive family, file necessary reports with the local courts, and offer counseling and all post-placement services.
International Adoptions – Catholic Charities provides home studies, education and support for families interested in International Adoption, and has networking agreements with multiple international agencies that can assist you in adopting abroad. In compliance with requirements of the Hague Convention, Catholic Charities offers post-placement supervision and provides to the courts all reports needed to finalize the adoption (or re-adoption) in the United States.
Special Adoption Services – Catholic Charities provides adoption services to families with unique circumstances and needs, including supervisory visits and adoption home study updates for families who have relocated to this area and are working with another agency.
Adoption Search and Disclosure Services – When an adult adoptee whose adoption was planned through our agency wishes to contact his or her birth mother, Catholic Charities will assist with search and disclosure
services. We also can prepare a heritage summary and offer counseling to adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents.
