MISSOURI ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
ADOPTION PROGRAM
Missouri Alliance serves a broad range of children from ages birth to 21 years. We have found safe, permanent homes for over 500 children, usually through reunification, adoption, or guardianship.
Who can adopt? Most of the time a person who is interested in adopting one of the waiting children and can give a child loving care is eligible to adopt. Prospective Adoptive parents:
- Can be single, married, or divorced
- May or may not have birth children
- Must have space to accommodate the child
- Must not have a criminal history that would prevent licensure to adopt
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does MACF select families for available children?
Our agency conducts an adoption staffing by screen available resources consisting of 3-4 families who have expressed an interest in a child for adoption. Families are invited and interviewed by the staffing team. The staffing team reviews the family’s home study, life book, if available, and evaluates the family’s strengths and needs to parent the child. Individuals involved in the screening process may include:
- Children’s Division Representative
- Child’s Case manager and supervisor;
- Adoption specialist and supervisor;
- Child's placement provider (if placement provider is not an adoptive applicant for the child);
- Other foster or adoptive parents of special needs children;
- CASA/GAL;
- Juvenile officer;
- Child's counselor, therapist, psychologist, etc.;
- Community representative;
- Any other person who has vital significance in the child's life; and
- Adoptive licensing worker of families involved in the staffing process, if geographically feasible.
Are services available after the adoption?
The Adoption Specialist will provide the adoptive family with resources to help them access services for the child. The family will be assigned to an Adoption Subsidy worker through their local Children’s Division Office to ensure the needs of the child continue to be met.
What does it cost to adopt a child in state custody?
Missouri Alliance does not charge a fee to adopt a child.
Do I have to be married to adopt?
No, you can be single, married, or divorced.
Is there an age restriction for adoptive parents?
You must be at least 21 years of age to adopt.
Are transracial adoptions allowed?
Yes
Is any training required of prospective adoptive families?
Yes, families must attend and complete all STARS/PRIDE training (27 hours), be able to meet the 5 STARS/PRIDE competencies. Families must also attend and complete SPAULDING training (12 hours) and meet the Spaulding competencies in order to adopt children.
What is a home study?
The adoption home study consists of home visits and interviews by the Adoption Specialist. The Adoption Specialist interviews all applicants and family members residing in the home to learn about the family, their interest in adoption and to answer any questions the family may have regarding the adoption process. Through the home study process, a careful assessment is made about the readiness of the family to adopt a child living in foster care.
Are financial subsidies available to assist families adopting children from foster care?
Depending on the needs of the child, an adoption subsidy may be available to help parents with on-going expenses including basic care, Medicaid, Daycare, respite, and legal fees through the Adoption Subsidy Program.
How long does the adoption process take?
The time of an adoption process takes depends on the legal status of the child and whether the family is licensed and has an approved home study. How quickly families receive a placement depends on how flexible they are about the child they are interested in regarding the age, sex, race, and emotional, and/or medical problems. Once a child has been placed with an adoptive family, there is minimum 6 months supervision prior to the adoption finalization.
What happens after we express an interest in adopting a child from your agency?
You will be asked to attend orientation, complete the licensing process, which includes background checks, fingerprinting, a medical exam, trainings, several home visits to your home by the worker. The Adoption Specialist will want to get to know you so a good “match” can be made between a child’s special needs and your family’s strengths.
When do we get to meet the children?
Once the prospective family has been selected by the staffing team, arrangements will be made the child and family can start pre-placement visits.
We keep hearing about “the waiting children.” Who are they?
These children are of all ages, races, and both male and female. The majority of available children in foster care for adoption are 7 years and older. The majority of waiting children are African-American. We are especially looking for homes for sibling groups, which may be 2 or 3 children, and occasionally more. Some of the children have medical or other special needs.
How do children transition from a foster home to an adoptive home?
This transition is done through a series of pre-placement visits between the child and the prospective adoptive family with the help of the foster parent. The visits are based on the child’s comfort level. The more frequent pre-placement visits occur, the easier the move will be for the child.
Can we adopt more than one child?
Yes, especially when it comes to siblings. We welcome families interested in adopting siblings. We have many families who adopt a child and decide later that they want to adopt more children.
Do I have to make a certain amount of money to adopt?
No, there are no specific income requirements, but you must be able to financially manage the addition of a child(ren) to your family.
Can I adopt if I have ever been convicted of a crime?
You must pass a criminal background check, and have no prior history of involvement with the Child Welfare agency due to an allegation of child abuse or neglect.
What does “special needs” mean when adopting a waiting child?
Special needs refer to physical, behavioral and emotional needs that the child has stemming from the difficulty experienced in their life. All children who have experienced the trauma of neglect and/or child abuse, and have been separated from their biological family have some special needs. Others may be part of a sibling group, may be a minority or multicultural, or simply a child over the age of six.