What Does an Adoptive Family Look Like?
As an embryo adoption applicant, you must be committed to providing a child with a constructive, wholesome and spiritual home environment. As a couple, you are encouraged to be married a minimum of three years when the matching phase begins. You are also required to undergo a home study and a medical exam (to verify good health).
Ultimately, the genetic parent's preferences determine the age of the adopting parents, and age limits may also be set based on a woman's ability to have a healthy pregnancy (she must be physically able to carry a pregnancy to term as determined by her attending physician). Nightlight requires applicants to provide a letter from their doctor confirming that there are no contraindications to pregnancy.
Single women are not excluded from adopting; however, past experience indicates that few families have been open to placing with a single mom. Since it would require the use of a surrogate, single men are ineligible to adopt through the program at this time.
The Process for Adoptive Parents
As an adoptive family, Hope Cottage acts as your local support agency, walking alongside you through the Nightlight process.
You can expect the process to go something like this:
- Submit an application, agreement, photo and application fee.
- Participate in a home study.
- Receive information on how to prepare a "Dear Genetic Parent" introduction letter, a short biography and a photo collage.
- Make contact with a Nightlight Snowflakes program social worker who reviews your home study and clarifies your contact arrangements.
- Begin the matching process with genetic parents.
- Arrange for Hope Cottage's adoption education services and required post-birth supervision.
We encourage anyone considering this option to attend one of Hope Cottage's adoption information seminars. The session is an excellent way to have any preliminary questions answered, get to know the Hope Cottage staff and meet other families exploring adoption as well.