Our Adoption Process

• Birthmother Adoption Process
• The 6 Step Adoption Process

The 6 Step Process of Adoption

Step 1: Application Process

• Click on the links below to view the adoption information and pre-application packet. Once the information loads, read, fill out and return necessary documents to Gentle Care’s office along with any applicable fees.

Links below are in .PDF format. You need Adobe Reader to view.
Download Adobe

Click here for our Adoption Application

1. General Information
2. Infant Program Fees
3. Target Packet
4. Medical and Possible Additional Fees
5. Financial Aid Form
6. Home Study Procedure Outline

• You can also contact us at Adoption By Gentle Care via e-mail or call us at (800) 824-9633 to have the pre-application sent to you.

Step 2: Completion of Required Paperwork

• Once your application is received, Adoption By Gentle Care will send you the required paperwork for completing the adoption process.

Step 3: Education and Training

• Group & Assessment
With confirmation of acceptance, adoptive parents are invited to our first informational/educational meeting which is called a Group & Assessment Meeting.

• Adoption Issues Seminar
This seminar deals with post-placement adoption issues.

Step 4: Home Study

• The Home Study is a cooperative effort between Gentle Care and the applicant to assess the applicant’s ability to successfully parent an adopted child.

• A Gentle Care counselor is assigned to the adoptive parents. She will perform the Home Study by visiting the adoptive parents in their home and collecting accompanying required paperwork.

• View our Home Study Procedure Outline

Step 5: Placement

• Upon notification of completion of their approved Home Study, the adoptive parents should prepare for the placement of their child.

• Adoptive parents will be notified when they have been selected by a birth mother and will receive all social and medical information concerning the Birthmothers.

• Adoptive parents will be informed when the baby is born and when and where placement will occur.

• Placement of the baby cannot occur until 72 hours after the birth. At this time the adoptive parents will sign documents acknowledging their responsibility to care for the child and acknowledging receipt of the background information on the Birthmother(s) and on the child.

Step 6: Pre & Post Finalization Services

• Monthly post-placement supervisory visits will be made by a Gentle Care counselor with the adoptive family and the child from the time of placement until finalization 6 months later.

• Adoptive parents are required to provide letters to the Birthmother(s) and photographs of the child monthly for the first year following placement.

• Gentle Care will refer the adoptive parents to an attorney experienced in obtaining Final Decrees of Adoption through Franklin County Probate Court for finalization.

• Adoptive Parents will be notified of the court date for finalization of the adoption, at which time they and the child will appear in court and the adoption will be finalized.