When the planned visits are completed and both you and the child are ready to proceed, arrangements are made to move the child into your home. Generally, the adoption can be finalized in about six months to a year after the child is placed with you. The adoption specialist will talk with you and visit regularly during this period. At the finalization, the judge will declare the child to be a permanent member of your family. To view the Indiana Adoption Initiative's photo listing of special needs children available for adoption, click here .
Initiative is a special outreach effort to recruit African-American families to adopt.
A large percentage of waiting special needs children are of diverse racial heritage. The program targets African-American churches, news publications and volunteer groups to cultivate an awareness of the need for adoptive families for waiting special needs children. Call Children's Bureau's Family Place at 317.545.5281 to request an information packet. Begin working on your application packet. Sign a release that will allow the office to obtain a state criminal history check, child protective services check and the sex offenders registry check.