Frequently Asked Questions

What is Adoption and Foster Care?

Adoption builds a family and provides a permanent home for a child. After birth parents have voluntarily given up their parental rights OR the court has terminated the parents’ rights, the adoption can be finalized in a court of law. The adoptive parent then becomes the child’s legal parent and has the same formal and legal responsibility for the child as

if they were the biological parent.

Foster care is the temporary placement of a child while a permanent plan for their future

is being developed. In some cases, a foster placement will lead to adoption.

What are the requirements to foster and adopt?

Criteria to become an Adoptive or Foster Family

- Are you 21 years of age or older?
- Do you have a stable & secure income?
- Are you in good physical/mental health?
- Can your home pass a safety/fire inspection?
- Are you free of any child abuse reports and free of a criminal background?
- Do you have a stable family relationship?
- Can you provide a child with opportunities for personal development, and commit

to a child for the duration of the placement?

What is "Special Needs" Adoption?

Mission West Virginia’s primary focus is on “special needs” children. Many children

in WV awaiting adoption are considered “special needs.” “Special needs” is often another way to say “waiting children.” This does not necessarily reflect any problems

the child may have. While some of the children who wait have a physical, emotional or educational challenge, many are healthy and are doing well developmentally. There characteristics that are used to describe “special needs” are defined as:

- Over the age of eight (8) which presents a barrier to adoption

- A physical or mental disability

- Serious emotional maladjustment

- A recognized high risk of physical or mental disability

- Over the age two (2) and has a racial or ethnic factor

- A member of a sibling group who should be placed together

- Has been certified as a special needs child by the DHHR (Department of Health

and Human Resources)

Many children awaiting adoptive families were removed from their biological families

due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. These children have endured hardships,

sadness, loss of relationships, and abuse. All of these children deserve a permanent home. Without a permanent, loving adoptive home, these children face the likelihood

of entering adulthood with no parental guidance or support. We believe that

ALL CHILDREN deserve a loving, safe home.

Who are the children awaiting adoption?

Children available for adoption are in the custody of the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (WV DHHR). Some of these children have been abused, neglected or abandoned. The majority of these children are considered special needs. The WV DHHR web site contains pictures and biographies of many children available for adoption. Their web site URL is www.adoptawvchild.org or the national photo listing is at http://adoptuskids.org. You can also visit the Waiting Children Page of this site.

Is there a cost to become an adoptive or foster parent?

There is NO COST to adopt a child through the WVDHHR. Private adoption

agencies may differ in cost. Subsidies are also available for special needs children

to assist with general and medical care.

Where are the children living while waiting to be adopted?

Most children waiting for adoptive families live in temporary foster homes. Others reside in group homes or residential facilities.

How long does the certification process take?

The certification process varies across the state, anywhere from 3 months to more

than a year. Families can begin by collecting required paperwork for their home

study as well as learning about upcoming trainings being offered in their county or neighboring communities. In addition, the Criminal Background Checks that are

required may vary in the length of time they are received from the clearing agency.

What is involved in the certification process?

In order to be certified as an adoptive family, families must complete the PRIDE

training course and have a completed homestudy.

PRIDE training is a required curriculum for families interested in special needs

adoption. The training covers topics such as child abuse/neglect, emotional and behavioral issues, discipline, and overviews of adoption and foster care. The training

is an excellent opportunity to meet other families who are going through the process

as well. It is also an opportunity to educate yourself about adoption and foster parenting and dispel myths and ease fears.

The homestudy is a comprehensive report of your family and home environment.

The Homestudy also examines your financial, physical, emotional and psychological capabilities to parent a child. The completed homestudy includes an application, summary of your family’s history, interviews, criminal background and child abuse clearances. The time line of the homestudy can vary from family to family.

What options are available to me?

There are numerous options available to families that are considering adoption.

These can include:

- Foster-to-adopt

- Domestic adoption from the foster care system

- Private adoption

- International adoption

Mission West Virginia primarily works with families that are interested in foster

parenting, foster-to-adopt and adopting from the foster care system; however, we

are a neutral referring agency who can assist you with finding the adoption that works

best for your family.

What characteristics are agencies looking for in adoptive and foster parents?

Agencies are looking for stable and sensitive people who are able to offer the

child a safe, loving and nurturing environment. The adoptive parent must also be

willing and able to address the needs of the child placed in their home (behavior,

school-related, medical, etc.).

Once a child is placed in my home, how long will the adoption process take?

Once a family is chosen for a child, visitation must occur to orient the child and

family with each other. Some of these visits may be overnight or over a weekend.

Trial adoption begins when the child moves in and actually lives with the chosen family. The trail adoption phase lasts for a minimum of 6 months. The time it takes to adopt a child is different for every family and depends on individual circumstances.