Adoption, Foster Family, Kinship Care, and Family Agency

The Institute for Black Parenting offers unique non-traditional adoption services which begin at intake and ends with Post Adoption Services.

Initial telephone or in-person contact with prospective applicants. IBP intake form completed.

Prospective applicants are invited to an adoption orientation meeting.

The Prospective applicant attends orientation meeting, is fingerprinted and receives the application to complete.

The Applicant returns application to IBP.

The Applicant attends Adoptive Family Training.  Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP).

Case is assigned to a contract social worker for home-study interviews.

Agency searches for child(ren) through networking with other agencies, co-op minority exchange, photo listing and showing parties.

Waiting Period - This time varies based on the age, sex, and background of child(ren) applicant(s) are requesting.

While you wait - "While you wait group meetings," are held quarterly to discuss available child(ren) and your anxieties about waiting for child(ren) to be placed.

IBP selects and matches a child(ren) according to the applicant(s) request. A pre-placement conference with child(ren)'s social worker and supervisor is initiated.

IBP and child(ren) social workers presents information on child to prospective adoptive family to discuss child(ren)'s background and current behavior.

Placement steps are initialed. The number and length of placement steps depends on the child's age and emotional needs/bonding to foster parents, etc.

Placement occurs/adoptive placement papers are signed or fort/adopt placement papers if child is not legally free.

State requires a minimum of six (6) months to one (1) year before the adoption can be finalized. During this six-month to one-year adjustment period, a minimum of four(4) home visits are required to assess child(ren) and family's adjustment to placement.

Finalization - Adoption petition is filed with the court; (adoptive family and child(ren) must appear in court on the final court date.) The decree of Adoption is issued to parents and IBP. The court forwards the documentation to the State of California Department of Vital Statistics in Sacramento to secure an amended birth certificate. (waiting period approximately six to eight months.)

Post-adoptive services or a family's questions about adoption or if the family or children need counseling.  We also offer Birth Parent Services.  Click here for more information.

• Adoptive Parent Support Groups for Adoptive parents.

• Individual and family counseling referrals for adoptive parents and their children.

• Telephone help line for advice and consultation to adoptive parents.

• Training on the provisions of the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP).

• Community resource linkage, advocacy and case management.