Domestic |
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Quick Facts:
Age requirements:
No older than 45-46 years old for an infant; birth
parents tend to choose families who look young
Hague: No
Characteristics of Child:
Newborn infants, on occasion
children up to toddler age. The ethnicity of the
children varies but can be Caucasian, African American,
Hispanic, or Asian. Currently JOH is placing 75%
Caucasian and 25% minority races.
Wait Time (Vary) :
70% of JOH families complete an adoption within 6 months
of being home study ready. Approximately 85% of families
complete an adoption within one year.
Eligibility:
Usually, birthparents choose the adopting parents and
often choose a couple who have 0-2 other children.
However, families who don’t meet this criteria also get
chosen - call or email with JOH to discuss your
situation (Kimberly@journeysoftheheart.net)
or (susan@journeysoftheheart.net).
All families must embrace or be able to come to
embracing open adoption - Call or email with JOH staff
who will describe typical open adoption situations. |
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Overview:
The domestic adoption
program has been placing infants and toddlers since1993
and is a highly successful program. Over the years
it has grown to a program that places approximately
38-40 infants a year. The program remains
open to new adopting families all year.
This program is set up to provide for minimal financial
risk to the adopting parents. Journeys pays for
the birth mother’s expenses during her pregnancy and if
she decides not to place Journeys’ absorbs those costs.
Almost all our adoptions are open ones with at least
one-three visits a year (97% in 2009). For that
reason it is important that all the adopting families
embrace open adoption. We suggest reading “Making
Room In Our Hearts,” by Micky Duxbury who takes the fear
and mystery out of open adoption. We firmly
believe after raising adopted children to adulthood that
knowing the birth parents helps the child emotionally.
JOH staff strives to develop a close, trusting
relationship with the expecting parents in the program
and meet as many of their pregnancy related needs as is
possible. The agency can assist with rent, food,
maternity clothes, medical bills and any other
pregnancy-related necessities. A drug and HIV screen is
completed during the pregnancy if at all possible.
Another screen for drugs is often completed on the baby
at the hospital as part of hospital policy. Counseling
to discuss options, the grief process, and other issues
that may be pertinent to the birth parent's specific
situation is available to all and is encouraged before
and after the birth.
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Adopting parents who enroll
in the program will fill out the application and
additional paperwork allowing JOH staff to assess
whether the program will meet their needs. After an
in-person or over-the-phone interview, the family will
be notified about their status in the program. For more
information please call (503) 681-3075 Monday-Friday, 9
AM to 5 PM or email
info@journeysoftheheart.net
Please Click Here
to read testimonials from our families. |
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| Laws: |
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Oregon
Adoption Law-
Oregon adoption laws are among the most
progressive in the United States and are
strongly protective of the adoptive
parents. It is not necessary to have the
birth father's signature to complete the
adoption if he is not married to the
birth mother nor has supported her
throughout the pregnancy. Oregon birth
mothers usually sign legal documents
about 24 hours after the birth or close
to discharge from the hospital.
Once the adopting family has custody of
the baby and the birth mother has signed
the legal documents the adoption is
irrevocable.
However, if the
birth mother changes her mind after the
adoption has taken place and takes court
action, the Oregon courts may explore
the legality of the adoption for up to
one year after finalization. The birth
mother has to prove fraud or duress
during the adoption process in order to
prevail. The birth father may also take
court action up to one year
finalization, under the same conditions.
If the birth mother resides in Oregon
the adopting parent’s, even those from
other states, must finalize in Oregon
because of the protective nature of
these laws.
Washington
Adoption Law-
Birth parents are able to sign legal paperwork prior to the birth of the child
and their rights are terminated 48 hours after the birth of the child. The birth
father must be notified of the adoption plans and he has 30 days to come forward
to take steps to prevent the adoption.
Illinois
Adoption Law-
The birth mother cannot sign legal documents until 72 hours after the birth.
During that time the baby can be placed with a foster family or with the
adopting parents. The birth father must be notified and he has 30 days to come
forward and take steps to prevent the adoption.
Interstate Compact-
Interstate Compact, which is a review of the adoption documents and jurisdiction
between the sending state and the home state of the adopting parents, usually
takes 5-10 working days to complete after the signing of the legal documents.
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| Additional Information: |
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JOH staff gathers information
about the medical and mental health history of the
expecting mother's family. The accuracy of this
information will vary depending upon the expecting
mother's knowledge of her family. There may be no
information available about the father.
Families will need to send JOH their approved home study
or have one completed by JOH-Oregon, JOH-Illinois, and
JOH-Washington if the family resides in these states.
Families also need to complete a portfolio that will be
shown to expecting mothers considering families. JOH has
good instructions for putting together a successful
portfolio and will review the draft copy.
Suggestions may be made and changes should be made.
Fifteen copies of the portfolio (five for each office)
are necessary because they are not always received back
from expecting parents. Families may be asked to
replenish the supply, as necessary. Expecting mothers
almost always choose the adopting family and start a
relationship with them during the pregnancy.
Photo listings and Family Letters are posted to the
website where expecting parents can view and get to know
the adopting parents better. This is a powerful
family-building tool. Click here to view our
Waiting Families Page. |
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| Open Adoption: |
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JOH believes that open adoption is the healthiest
arrangement for the child. This belief comes from many
sources including pleased children, families and birth
parents who are actively involved in open adoptions and
knowing the grief of many children who will never know
their birth parents. It is encouraged with all
expecting parents and in 2009 over 90% chose an open
adoption arrangement. Therefore, it is necessary that
all adoptive parents who apply to the program feel
comfortable with and are willing to be in an open
adoption. JOH staff educates expecting
parents that all adopting parents enrolled in the
domestic program desire and are willing to be in a
lifelong relationship with them, all for the good of the
child.
JOH staff is pleased to talk with adopting parent(s)
about open adoption and we recommend reading “Making
Room In Our Hearts,” by Micky Duxbury for more
information on this arrangement.
Open adoption helps the child in these ways:
-Know they are loved by their birth parent
-Reduce the feelings of loss, abandonment, rejection,
shame
-Gives access to birth family information (family
stories, medical information, cultural knowledge)
-Encourages connections that are lost in a traditional
adoption (siblings, extended family)
Open adoption does include visits with the child and the
birth parents and should not be viewed as something the
adopting parents have to do in order to be in the
program. Instead it should be seen as a positive
arrangement put in place to benefit the child and one
that the adopting parents look forward to being involved
in.
Adoption agreements between birth parents and the
adopting parents are legally binding in many states and
must be adhered to by the adopting family.
It is anticipated that this program will place babies, toddlers and older
children who may be Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian or full or part African-American.
JOH is looking for families who can help the child achieve and maintain an
ethnic identity if adopting across racial lines.
Adopting parents who enroll in the program will fill out
paperwork allowing JOH staff to assess whether the program will meet their
needs. We are looking for adoptive parents that are open to more that just
a full Caucasian child, willing to have an open adoption with the birthparents,
and open to exploring the possibility of minimal drug exposure in-utero.
After an in-person or over-the-phone interview, the family will be notified
about their status in the program. There are no guarantees that a family will be
chosen by expecting parents, and no time frames can be predicted. For more
information please call (503) 681-3075 Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM or email
info@journeysoftheheart.net
A
special service for families in our Domestic Program:
Photolistings and Family letters. Families in our Domestic
Program may choose to submit content for the web: pictures and
letters to potential Birth Mothers. You can find an
example by clicking
here.
Photolistings and Family Letters are posted to
all four of our sites, where Birth
Mothers from all the across the United
States can view and get to know you
better, any time night or day. We
find this to be a power family-building
tool
Please Click Here
to read testimonials from our families. |
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| For
more information please email
info@journeysoftheheart.net |
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| Links : |
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