Infant Adoptions - Since 1902, CHS has placed infants in adoptive homes throughout Florida to ensure these precious children would receive the love and nurturing needed to have a healthy and happy life. Today, CHS still provides services to birth parents and adoptive parents with the goal of finding loving parents for children. Pregnancy counselors provide support to birth parents and help them decide whether to parent or make an adoption plan. Prospective adoptive parents work with an experienced social worker to prepare them for adoption and the home study process. Services are provided to both the birth parents and adoptive parents throughout the entire adoption process.
The voluntary infant adoption program also assists with specialized types of adoptions such as:
- Attorney-Assisted Adoption - In some instances, birth parents or adoptive parents who wish to plan an independent adoption will approach an attorney to handle the legal component of the adoption. That attorney may then refer the birth parents or adoptive parents to CHS for appropriate counseling and adoption services. CHS has a strong working relationship with many attorneys around the state, making the process smooth for everyone.
- Identified Adoption - Some prospective adoptive parents may have knowledge of a birth mother who has specifically requested to have that family adopt her baby. CHS will complete the home study, provide counseling to the birth parents, facilitate placement, and provide support and supervision until the adoption is finalized. In these cases, the services of a private attorney are not necessary. CHS will provide all legal services.
International Adoption - CHS works collaboratively with a variety of international agencies throughout the United States to place children from many countries around the world with adoptive families in Florida. For the purpose of International Adoption, we serve as the "Direct Service Agency.” CHS works in cooperation with the international adoption agency to offer services directly to local couples or singles waiting to adopt from a foreign country. CHS works directly with the families while the International Agency works directly with the authorities in the foreign country. While conducting a thorough home study, CHS also prepares families adopting internationally for the placement of the child. The International Agency is responsible for placing the child with the adoptive parents. After the child is placed in the home, CHS provides post -placement services and provides reports in accordance with the schedules requested by the various countries.
Foster Care Adoption - CHS works collaboratively with community based care agencies throughout Florida to place children currently in foster care who are legally available for adoption into adoptive homes. Families seeking to adopt are required to have an approved home study and complete Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP) training. This course prepares families for parenting children who may have experienced trauma in their past. Click here to see some special children in our care who are looking for a loving forever home.
