What is Adoption?

Adoption is the legal process of making a child not born to you your own. For a child, it means a “forever family” who will accept them and raise them as their own.

Where do the children come from?

While each child in need of adoption has a unique background, the children have all been identified by area departments of social services as abused, neglected, abandoned, or dependent. The children have either been freed for adoption or are in the process of being eligible for adoption because reunification is not possible.

A child is not free for adoption until termination of parental rights has occurred.

Children that come into our agency are already in the DSS system. The children come from North Carolina counties such as: New Hanover, Columbus, Craven, Brunswick, Bladen, Pender, Onslow, Cumberland, Wayne, Jones, and Carteret.  

Who are the children?

The children are all from North Carolina. They may be individual children or they may have siblings. They may be newborns or teenagers. They have all suffered the loss of being removed from their families, so they will need new parents that are dedicated, loving and patient. They need new parents that will see them through the good times and the not so good times. Every child that comes into our care has their own unique characteristics and experiences. 

What are the requirements to become an adoptive parent?

Adoptive parents may be married couples or single-parent households who are over 21 years old. Adoptive parents must have their own transportation, telephone, a high school diploma or GED, and have sufficient income to meet the needs of their own family. All potential adoptive parents must first complete Boys & Girls Homes Adoption training and become licensed foster parents. 

The recruitment, training, licensing, and placement process id designed to be flexible and timely. Cases can take anywhere from three-six months to three years in order to be complete; it just depends on the case. Boys & Girls Homes of NC does not deny any person the opportunity to become an adoptive parent or a foster parent, on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the person or the child involved. There are no agency fees affiliated with the recruitment, training, and licensing of adoptive homes and the placement of children with those homes. 

Once a child is adopted that child becomes “your” child. He or she is now a part of your permanent family. 

What kinds of support services are available for adoptive families?

Homes of NC provide pre- and post- adoption consultation and counseling, 24-7 availability and support, and access to support groups. 

Financially, most adopted children are eligible for State Adoption Assistance, tax benefits, and Medicaid coverage until 18 years of age. As of October 2007 adopted children age 12 or above are now eligible for tuition benefits for four years of college.

Are you interested in becoming adopting a child?

For information contact:

Missy Creech

(910) 646-1124 extension 266

missy.creech@bghnc.org

or

Donna Yalch

(910) 646-1124 extension 236

donna.yalch@bghnc.org

Additional websites and information that you might find helpful: 

Fostering Families Magazine

Foster Care: “Change a Lifetime”

North Carolina Department of Social Services Website