|
The
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 will be encouraged before and after the birth.
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 not
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. Families, 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. Out of state
families should count on at least 10-day stay in the sending state if everything
goes well. However, if adopting parents arrive early before the birth and
Interstate Compact takes longer than usual due to complicating factors the stay
can be longer.
Additional
Information
JOH staff will also gather 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
expecting father.
Families will need to send JOH their approved home study or
have one completed by JOH-Oregon, JOH-Illinois, JOH-Washington if the family
resides in any of 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 but must review the
draft copy. Suggestions may be made and changes should be made. Staff will
want fifteen copies of the portfolio (five for each office) 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.
Open Adoption
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 2008 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 are 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 does includes 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
Say
Hello to Joseph!
Says Joseph's Mother:
"This was his first year playing football,
and they called him "Mr. Small Yet Mighty". Joseph played both
offense & defense, and was know for not letting anyone through the
line that he was guarding, despite the fact that they were 2x his
size.
He spent 2 weeks this summer,
volunteering in the local Youth Volunteer Program, working in 110
degree heat, making trails, clearing brush etc. He also plays
saxophone in the 7th grade band. Previous years he volunteered on
Saturdays at Heartland Humane Society.
Joseph has 2 bearded dragons as pets, and his Boston Terrier
"Sheba," along with our family cats George & Jackson, and dogs Busta
Clyde (boxer), Mei Ling (Chinese Shar Pei) & Tai Long (Chinese Shar
Pei) ."
Joseph came home to his forever family through the
Journeys of the Heart Domestic Child Adoption Program.
|
|
For
more information on this program please call or email:
info@journeysoftheheart.net
Susan@journeysoftheheart.net
Families Telephone 503-681-3075 9 AM - 5 PM Pacific Time,
Weekdays
More contact information please click here |
 |
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. |
|
|
Testimonial Updates: See What Our Families Are Saying |
|
New:
Why Domestic Families Should
Choose Journeys Of The Heart |
|
Click
here to see a short video- About a baby, just home. (large
file, broadband recommended) |
|
In the News: Why choosing an ethical agency is important.
Please click here. |
|
Fill out and Submit the
Application Online |
|
Email now
info@journeysoftheheart.net |
|
Get the most up
to date information on our
INTERNATIONAL or DOMESTIC Child
Adoption Programs emailed to you, including fees,
timelines, and new programs!
Learn more click
here. |
|
Learn more- About program fees,
for all programs - Please click here. |
|
Want to find out more at a free,
two hour seminar? Learn more, click here,
including information- About regular seminars in Oregon, Washington,
Illinois, and Hawaii. Come and meet staff
and families. |
|
|
How to contact us |
|