What is Adoption?
Adoption is a process where a child is provided with a permanent home. Adoption should be undertaken only after much serious consideration and reflection. It is hoped that once a child is adopted, he or she will become attached to his or her adoptive family. This will give the child the foundation he or she needs to reach his or her potential. This commitment traverses a lifetime and does not end at adulthood. The child and the child’s needs are the focal point of attention throughout the adoption process. Decisions regarding adoption are made exclusively based upon the child’s best interest.
Adoption is the permanent, legal transfer of all parental rights and responsibilities from one family to another family. Adoptive parents have the same rights and responsibilities as parents whose children are born to them. It is the first step to a lifelong commitment of sharing your life with a child who is in need of a family that will keep him/her safe.
What we do…
In order to provide permanency for children in a more timely manner, GCCS will conduct joint foster and adoptive home studies for all prospective applicants. Adoption only home studies will be conducted if the applicant if the applicant is being considered for a specific child, e.g. relative adoptions of a child in the permanent custody of GCCS. GCCS will accept applicants who are interested in fostering and adopting special needs children. These include a child who is six years of age or older, is a member of a minority group, is a member of a sibling group of three or more being placed together, or has birth family history which put the child at substantial risk of developing a mental illness, mental retardation, developmental delay or developmental disability as determined by a qualified professional.
Basic Requirements
There is an age requirement -- adoptive parents must be at least 18 years old.
They must also have income sufficient to meet the needs of their household.
However, cultural factors such as race, marital status, sexual orientation, ethnicity and religious affiliation have no bearing. It also does not matter if adoptive parents rent or own their home, or whether they have children of their own.
Most important is the desire and willingness to share yourself, your love and your home with a child who needs you!
Additional Requirements
Applicants must complete the required pre-placement training
Applicants will have a home study completed which will include BCI&I and FBI criminal background checks and a state child abuse central registry check for all household members over the age of eighteen, a home inspection, reference checks and medical statements for all household members and interviews of all household members.
