Services  
Considering Adoption?

Consider CONCERN  

Adoption services are provided through CONCERN's Greater Berks, Lehigh Valley, Northeast, and Southeast offices.

ADOPTION SERVICES & FAQ’S

CONCERN-Professional Services for Children, Youth, and Families is a licensed Pennsylvania adoption agency, member of North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC), and affiliate of the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN).

Each family is assigned a worker to help them through the adoption process and to meet and evaluate your family. If you are approved through this process, then placements could occur. Our adoption process has basic components that are common to most adoptions:

APPLICATION/ORIENTATION

A preliminary gathering of information pertinent to the process and an initial review of the interest and capacity of the family.

FAMILY PROFILE/APPROVAL DOCUMENT

Also known as a home study, it is a lengthy document compiled by a caseworker through interviews and written materials supplied by the family. Numerous documents are required for submission by the family as well as the completion of several agency-provided documents. The profile is a comprehensive depiction of the family and its current circumstances, as well as an examination of critical factors which determine the best adoption environment. The profile serves as the basis for evaluation and recommendations for an adoptive placement.

FAMILY PREPARATION TRAINING

Training is required as part of the family profile process. CONCERN requires 21 hours of family preparation training which takes place over the course of several Saturdays; a limited number of trainings are available on weekdays. The trainings are offered in our offices located in Bethlehem, Eynon, Fleetwood, Lewisburg, and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

MATCHING/PLACEMENT

Our procedures lead to a process of matching you/your family with a child or children within certain criterion that you specify. Most children waiting in the system are older than five with moderate issues. Younger children do become available, but the waiting time can be lengthy. Matching is a process of sharing family and child information and then profiles, followed by visits/contact between family and child to make sure that the match is appropriate. Matching/placements are carried out to mutually benefit the adoptive family and the children with whom they are being matched.

POST-PLACEMENT/POST ADOPTION

Once placement has occurred, the child is supervised in the pre-adoptive home for six months prior to finalization of the adoption. Ongoing support and information is also available, as needed, after the adoption has occurred.

Frequently Asked Questions…

How long does it take to complete the Family Profile/Approval Document?

Approximately 4 to 6 months. The timing of the Family Profile/Approval Document is driven by the family. Most of the documentation that is required must be submitted before the interview process can begin. The timing of the family’s attendance at the trainings can also impact the completion of the profile.

Can I see the Family Profile/Approval Document?

Yes. Once it is completed, you will have the opportunity to review your profile for accuracy before CONCERN shares it with other adoption agencies. As the most critical piece of the adoption recommendation process, it’s vital that the information contained in it be accurate and valid. Family Profiles are generally required for all adoptions in Pennsylvania.

How long does it take to complete the adoption process?

Generally about one year. Along with the type of adoption, there are a number of other factors that determine the exact time necessary before an adoption is finalized. In many cases, however, adoptive families are matched with children and adoptive placements are made within a year of completing the Family Profile.

Building a family through special needs adoption...

As a SWAN affiliate, CONCERN generally works with children from the foster care system in Pennsylvania. These children are considered special needs children. This means they potentially suffer from the impact of neglect or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. This impact often results in behavioral issues. Additionally, children in foster care might have such diagnoses as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or Post traumatic Stress Disorder. Most children waiting in the system are older than five with moderate issues. Younger children do become available, but the waiting time can be lengthy.

CONCERN provides education and preparation that form the foundation for a rewarding and enriching adoption placement.

CONCERN is considered a treatment foster care agency, meaning that we often receive children who are older than five with moderate issues, but younger children can and do enter our foster care program. CONCERN does not participate in domestic infant or international adoptions.

The Greater Berks Regional Office holds monthly adoption information meetings in the Wyomissing, Pennsylvania office/

Click here for a printable brochure if you are considering adoption

Click here for a printable Adoption Brochure

Click here for a printable Foster/Adopt Brochure

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