Since 1988, St. Elizabeth Foundation has helped mothers with unplanned pregnancies. We make sure they feel supported and cared for, helping them find loving families who want to adopt a baby. So far, we’ve helped over 600 babies find happy homes in Louisiana! If you’re interested in learning how adoption works and want to know how to adopt a baby in Louisiana, St. Elizabeth Foundation is here for you. Here is the step-by-step process of applying, preparing, and finalizing, so you can know exactly how it works with our agency.
1. Make Sure You Qualify
If you’re wondering how to adopt in Louisiana, the first step to our process is to make sure you meet our standards. At St. Elizabeth Foundation, couples must be married for at least five years before adopting. This helps us know the baby will grow up in a loving and stable home with parents who are already used to living as a committed family.
2. Complete Your Adoption Application
Once we know you qualify, the next step is to fill out your adoption form. This gives us the necessary information we need to keep your adoption moving forward, like:
- Your education
- Employment
- Family background
- And medical history
We’ll take a close look at your application to make sure everything is filled out correctly. This might take some time, but checking all the details helps to keep the process running smoothly. Once we’re done, we can move on to the next step — the home study.
3. Finish a Home Study Process
The home study is an incredibly important part of the adoption process. A social worker will come to your house to make sure it’s safe for a new baby. They will check for fire safety risks, potentially unsafe pets, or anything that might harm the baby.
You’ll also talk with the social worker about your emotional health and parenting plan. They’ll ask about your relationship with your spouse and how you plan to care for the child together. These questions are personal, but it’s all with the purpose of making sure the baby has a safe and happy home to grow up in.
4. Take Our Education Program
Adoption classes can help parents know what to expect during and after adoption. These classes teach parents:
- How to work together better as a parental unit
- How to better understand the decisions you will have to make
- How to become a stronger family before the adoption is final
- And what to expect as you parent an adopted child
You’ll also learn about the different kinds of adoption, how to have a relationship with your baby’s birth mother, and meet other families who are adopting so you can support each other.
5. Be Chosen By a Birth Mother
Next, you will make a family profile book for birth mothers to look at. This book helps a birth mother get to know you and why she should place her baby with you. Take your time and make it special!
Share information like:
- What your family is like
- Your goals
- Your traditions and interests
- And what your family enjoys doing
This book shows why your family could be a great match for the baby. A birth mother will read this book and choose the family she thinks is the best fit for her baby. Then, the adoption can move forward.
6. Understand the Legal Details of Your Plan
There are three types of adoptions: open, semi-open, and closed. The type of adoption determines how much birth mothers will stay in touch with their babies and the adopting family. At St. Elizabeth Foundation, birth mothers get to make this decision. We explain the expectations and legal rights for everyone involved so you can better understand your adoption.
7. Finalize Your Adoption
You’re now at the final step of adopting a baby: finalizing. Once all the steps are done and a birth mother has picked you to adopt her baby, St. Elizabeth Foundation will help you complete the process. This includes handling the final details in court. If it’s an open adoption, we’ll also help set up meetings between you and the birth mother.
Wondering How to Adopt in Louisiana? St. Elizabeth Foundation Can Help
The adoption process can be a long one, but St. Elizabeth Foundation helps make it as simple as possible. If you aren’t sure how to adopt a baby in Louisiana and are ready to start the process, contact us today. You can call us at 225-769-8888 or message us to learn more. We look forward to helping you welcome a baby into your home!