Adoption is an undeniably thrilling and memorable time for any adoptive parent. As you begin to embark on your path to adopting a child, you may be filled with eager anticipation and hope. With these emotions, however, can also come understandably higher levels of stress and anxiety. Luckily, here at Adoptive Choices of Nevada, we are dedicated to making sure the entire adoption process from start to finish runs as smoothly as possible for you and all of our adoptive parents. In correspondence with this mission, we will walk you through the:

• Application/Application Financing
• Home Study 
• Family Profile
• Selection of Birth Family
• Placement
• Post-Placement Agreement
• Post-Placement Supervision

Adoption Financing Application

Your first step in the journey to adoption is to contact Adoption Choices of Nevada regarding your interest. Once you have contacted our office, we will figure out the best adoption process for you and provide you with the application you need to proceed. Throughout the application and the adoption process as a whole, our staff is here to support you with any questions you may have. We also offer numerous resources for application financing. These grants are both easily accessible and highly effective at lowering the expense of adoption for families with a tighter budget.

What is an Adoption Home Study?

After you complete a mandatory training program meant to prepare you for adoption and subsequent childcare, the state of Nevada requires a home study to be conducted. A home study is an approximately two-month-long assessment meant to ensure that potential adoptive parents have the adequate resources and appropriate environment to properly care for a child. Through a series of simple interviews, screenings, and home safety checks, an adoption caseworker will craft a report that accurately depicts your family. To ensure that this record is as precise as possible, you will be asked to provide the following documents, which can also be found on our Domestic Adoption Services page:

• Birth Certificates
• Financial Statement
• Divorce Decree from previous marriages (if applicable)
• HIV, Hep B, and Hep C test results
• Income tax returns for the last three years (first page only)
• Verification of Employment (letter from employer) and current employment history (where and for how long)
• Copy of Native American Heritage enrollment (if applicable)
• Marriage license or domestic partnership
• Verification of medical insurance under which the child will be covered
• Military Discharge (if applicable)
• Updated physician reports
• Five reference letters, with phone numbers for purposes of verifying. Nevada Applicants: We will send the reference forms to the references you provide on your application
• Copy of Social Security Cards, Driver’s Licenses, or Passports
• State Bureau of Investigation report, fingerprint check, Sex Offender and Child Abuse Registry, where available
• Profile Book and “Dear Birthparent Letter” (5 copies)

After these documents are provided and reviewed, the caseworkers will finalize their written reports. Once complete, they will work with you to guarantee that your household and family life are accurately depicted in the file. It is our goal that the process is self-reflective, meaning you will learn about your family dynamics and strengthen them throughout the home study. After that, you may choose to provide Adoption Choices of Nevada, through writing, permission to share your record with local attorneys, licensed agencies, and judges to complete the adoption. If you would rather this record not be shared, you can forgo this option, and the report would remain confidential. This would mean that you would not receive a copy of the report.  

While many worry that any “imperfections” found during the home study will prevent their adoption, this could not be farther from the truth. Here at Adoption Choices of Nevada, we aim to use any past challenges as proof that a family can overcome obstacles. While the caseworkers are obligated to take note of any potential risks, their end goal is always to find a safe and loving home for any potential adoptees. While it is not guaranteed that those who complete a home study will be able to adopt, the majority of adoptive parents are able to do so without complications.

Family Profile: Selection of Birth Family

Once you are approved for adoption, we will help you craft a family profile. Family profiles allow birth parents to explore potential adoptive parents and select the applicants that they feel are right for them and their child. These profiles consist of photos of the adoptive parents and their home, a method of contact, and a description of their story and interests. It is an opportunity for you to truly showcase your road to adoption and the love that you will bring to a child. Family profiles are a key element in connecting you with the birth parents that will work best for you. You will also be given information about various birth parents looking to place their child up for adoption through our agency. With this information, you will be able to choose which ones you would like to further explore and connect with.  

Placement and Post-Placement Agreement

When you and a set of birth parents both select each other as perfect for your needs and requests, we will help establish a solid network between you both. This line of communication will allow the proper arrangements to be made for both the birth and placement of the child. You even have the option of Skyping with the birth parents throughout the placement process to strengthen the bond between both families. On average, placement takes about half a year to a year. Once the child is placed with you, you and the birth parents will have the opportunity to determine whether you would like to have an open, semi-open, or closed post-placement agreement. Semi-open, or the occasional exchange of letters and photos through Child Connect, is the most popular decision.

Post-Placement Supervision

Once the child is placed with you, the final step in the adoption process is post-placement supervision. In Nevada, post-placement supervision involves monthly caseworker visits between the time of a child’s placement and the court’s decision whether or not to grant the adoption petition. After post-placement supervision is complete, the caseworker will generate a report concerning the status of the adoption with a statement reflecting the child’s welfare in your care.

How to Move Forward With the Adoption Process

Now that you know what is required to adopt in Nevada, you are ready to take the next steps to adoption. No matter what stage of the process you are in, Adoption Choices of Nevada will be right alongside to guide you closer to achieving your dream. For some encouragement and specific details regarding the adoption process, make sure to check out some of our adoptive family stories. And remember, the start of your new family is only one call or click away!

Adoption Choices of Nevada has been providing adoption and surrogacy services across Nevada since 2012. You can also call us to speak to someone now. Contact Us 24/7: 855-940-4673 (Toll-Free) | 702-474-4673 (Las Vegas) | 775-825-4673 (Reno) | 775-738-4673 (Elko) | 775-884-4673 (Carson City).

Meet the Author: Peter is a writer and editor based in New York. Currently studying at Binghamton University, Peter is majoring in English Literature and Rhetoric. Whether working with Marketing Choices or the mental health blog, Runaway, Peter seeks to provide comfort and warmth to those around him through his writing. A huge advocate for change, Peter looks to promote adoption, mental health awareness, disability awareness, and environmental improvement. Forever looking to make meaningful connections, Peter can be found with a group of friends or going on walks and waving to anyone he passes.