Our Current Adoption Program:
North Dakota Infant Adoption
North Dakota Infant Adoption places healthy newborns and toddlers. When a birth family is considering an adoption plan, we access our pool of approved and waiting families who have successfully completed the preparation, training, and assessment process. A placement happens on average 1–2 years after assessment approval. This program is open to families with one or no children. Children come from diverse backgrounds.The Adoption Process
After potential adoptive families have attended an Informational Meeting with the local adoption social worker, they will be able to begin the adoption process. The following is a brief outline of the steps required in each type of adoption:ND INFANT | IDENTIFIED/RELATIVE | INTERSTATE | INTERNATIONAL |
| Application: Payment of fee and completion of application. | Application: Payment of fee and completion of application. | Application: Payment of fee and completion of application. | Application: Payment of fee and completion of application. |
| Assessment packet: The assessment packet will be mailed directly to you. | Assessment packet: The assessment packet will be mailed directly to you. | Assessment packet: The assessment packet will be mailed directly to you. | Assessment packet: The assessment packet will be mailed directly to you. |
| Adoption Preparation & Training Workshop: Payment of workshop fee. Attend two-day workshop with other prospective adoptive parents. Training is offered quarterly. | Adoption Preparation & Training Workshop: Generally the timing of Identified Adoption does not permit attendance. Should you desire to participate on the next available training, we can make arrangements. | Adoption Preparation & Training Workshop: Payment of workshop fee. Attend two-day workshop with other prospective adoptive parents. Training is offered quarterly. | Adoption Preparation & Training Workshop: Payment of workshop fee. Attend two-day workshop with other prospective adoptive parents. Training is offered quarterly. |
| Assessment Process: Payment of assessment fee. Submit paperwork to social worker. Complete Taylor-Johnson and AAPI. Interviews with social worker (including at least one home visit, and two to four additional visits as needed). | Assessment Process: Payment of assessment fee. Submit paperwork to social worker. Complete Taylor-Johnson and AAPI. Interviews with social worker (including at least one home visit, and two to four additional visits as needed). | Assessment Process: Payment of assessment fee. Submit paperwork to social worker. Complete Taylor-Johnson and AAPI. Interviews with social worker (including at least one home visit, and two to four additional visits as needed). | Assessment Process: Payment of assessment fee. Submit paperwork to social worker. Complete Taylor-Johnson and AAPI. Interviews with social worker (including at least one home visit, and two to four additional visits as needed). |
| Selection Profile: Prepare profile and birthparent letter to be placed in selection book and website. Profile is shown to birth families making an adoption plan. The average wait time from assessment to placement is 1–2 years. | Birth Family: Relationship building with your identified birth family occurs on an ongoing basis. Future relationship and openness agreements are reviewed. You will meet with your attorney to initiate legal process. | Selection Profile: Prepare profile and birthparent letter to be sent to your networking agency. This will be shown to their birth families. The average waiting time varies at each networking agency. | United States Immigration & Citizenship Service (USICS): Begin during assessment process. Your networking agency and The Adoption Option will assist you in this process. |
| Referral of Child: You will receive all known non-identifying information to consider a specific opportunity. | Referral of Child: You will be involved in and receive all information from the hospital, regarding the child's birth and birth family's social/medical history, provided in accordance with the ND Identified Adoptive Parent Law. | Referral of Child: Your networking agency will contact you to consider a specific adoption opportunity. You will travel to that state for placement. Returning home can happen once both states provide approval thru ICPC. | Referral of Child: You will be given all known information about the child. Once you accept the referral, you will travel to the country for adoptive placement. Escorts are used in some countries. |
| Placement of Child: A formal placement occurs upon birthparent's legal relinquishment and termination of parental rights. (The length of time varies depending on situation). If licensed for foster care, a legal risk placement from the hospital may occur. | Placement of Child: Placement occurs with a legal Temporary Custody Order. It becomes a formal adoptive placement upon birthparent’s legal relinquishment and termination of parental rights. | Placement of Child: A formal placement occurs upon birth parent's legal relinquishment of parental rights. The length of time varies, depending on state and situation. (ICPC) Interstate Compact process is required. Your networking agency and The Adoption Option will assist you in returning home as soon as both states approve. | Placement of Child: If you travel to the country on an IR3 visa, placement will become formal in the country. Child becomes U.S. citizen upon return to U.S. If the child is escorted to the U.S or has an IR4 visa, placement day is arrival in USA, and upon finalization in the U.S., citizenship becomes effective. |
| Post-Placement Support & Supervision: 6 months required by ND before legal finalization can occur. | Post-Placement Support & Supervision: 6 months required by ND before legal finalization can occur. | Post-Placement Support & Supervision: 6 months required by ND before legal finalization can occur. | Post-Placement Support & Supervision: May not be required; or need 6 months before re-finalization can occur. Each country has it's own additional guidelines. |
