Post-Adoption and Post-Placement Services

ABC Adoption Services offers families living in Virginia personal and professional post-adoption and post-placement services.  Families living in North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Jersey are able to work with our parent agency, Carolina Adoption Services, for post adoption services.  You may ask, what are post-adoption services and will my family need them?

Post-Adoption and Post-Placement Services Explained

After you have adopted your child you will participate in either Post-Adoption or Post-Placement Services. During the post-adoption or post-placement process, a social worker follows up with you and your child to make sure you are adjusting well and have the support/resources that you need. Your social worker then prepares a written report about the adopted child, which is sent either to the placing agency and/or attorney and state of adoption (for domestic adoption cases) or to the placing agency or child’s birth country (for international cases).

The post-adoption/post-placement schedule and number of visits varies depending on the agency, state, or country.

The most important aspect of the post-adoption/post-placement period is to have a social worker who is specialized in the area of attachment and adoption issues, available to help you during your adjustment period, and as needed throughout the life of the child. All of ABC’s social workers are well trained in the issues of adoption; we are available to assist adoptive families with the difficulties and challenges that they may face during their child’s adjustment period.

Through the post-adoption/post-placement process, ABC helps you comply with the requirements of the placing agency, state and or the country of their child’s birth. We also help you with resources and needed support. Contact our Post-Adoption/Post-Placement Coordinator, Christie, with any questions you might have about services or visits.

Good to know post-adoption terms:

Post-adoption:

A period of time after an international adoption has been finalized in a foreign country and the adoptive family is still providing reports to that country.

Post-placement:

A period of time after the child has been placed with the adoptive parents until the adoption has been finalized in an U.S. court. Refers to domestic adoptions or international adoptions where the child came home under a guardianship (ex: Korea).

Finalization:

When a domestic adoption or international guardianship case is completed in a U.S. court.

Re-finalization/Re-adoption/Domestication:

When an international adoption has been finalized in a foreign country the adoptive parents may choose to “re-adopt” the child in their local court in the U.S. This can be done to provide a state issued birth certificate, a name change for the child, American citizenship, and insure the inheritance rights of the child.

If you have any questions about what to do after your adoption, please contact Christie Young.