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Are You Ready To

To Make the Difference of a Lifetime For A Child?

For every child there is nothing more important than having the love, protection, and care of a parent.  Tragically, today there are more than 100,000 of these children in US foster care.  Legally free for adoption, they are waiting to join a permanent family that will love and care for them.  At least one million more children languish in orphanages or institutions in other countries.  Many have been waiting a long time for the miracle of adoption.  Unless adoptive families are found for these children before they reach the age of eighteen, they will be forced out to face an even harsher world without a family to give them the love and security that every child needs. This is why we need people like you.  Each of these children come from homes in which they were abused, neglected, and/or abandoned.  Thankfully these children, like every other child, do not require perfect parenting.

For these waiting children in America we particularly invite individuals of color to experience the joys of adoption. Currently our greatest need is for families with at least one African American parent.  If you wish to consider parenting a child with a racial background different from your own, please talk with us. Opportunities are greater than you may have imagined.

What is our Philosophy?

At FASI we constantly strive to uphold the principle that Every Child Deserves a Family.  In carrying out this principal, we must not overlook any child in need of a permanent family. Therefore, we are multi-dimensional in our approach, and we recruit and serve without discrimination as to their race, socio-economic status, or preference of type of adoption.

Making the Parenting Choice

You have to make a big decision.  You may feel as if you have no choices, but you do. We treat you as we would wish to be treated - with respect and honesty.  Look forward to individualized assistance, education and support.  You can count on us to help you understand things as they come up:  how to connect with your child, how to meet the legal requirements, and how to anticipate the emotional passages that most adoptive families experience along this special journey.

Please Understand

Things are not always what they seem.  How does race matter?  Can you imagine yourself entrusting a child to another family?  What does it feel like to grow up adopted?  How will you help your child develop a positive identity?  How will your past influence your parenting style?

 What Are You Like?

You can be single, married, or divorced.

You may already have other children (birth or adopted).

You can be a working Mom or Dad.

You don't have to own your home.

You can have a modest income.

You can be over 40.

 What Is Involved in the Adoption Process?

Every prospective adoptive parent is given considerable information in preparation for adoption.  Each adoptive applicant will complete a home study that involves an investment of at least four hours with our staff, and two or more hours on your own.  You will be expected to provide forms such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, health evaluations, personal references, child abuse/neglect registry check, criminal records check, and the completion of several personal inventories.

After the home study is completed, you and your adoption specialist will develop a plan for placement of the child.  The wait can be as short as 6 to 12 months.  However, in some circumstances it may take longer.  When selected, you will receive information about the child, and usually will receive a photo.

After a child has been placed with your family, your Adoption Specialist will provide you with information on resources that may be needed, and help you with any questions or problems.  After a child has lived with you for at least six months, the recommendation for finalization of the adoption will be made.  A similar process, often called "re-adoption," is completed for international placements.

What you need most is the desire to be parents and a commitment to family unity.  If you accept children as unique individuals, have a sense of humor, enjoy the challenges of complexity, are able to think of your child's comfort before your own, then adoption may be right for you.

Available Children - Who are They?

Your personal adoption plan

We can help you develop your own personal adoption plan.  We believe informed people make successful decisions about adoption.  We can help you find clear, straightforward answers to your questions and concerns, and even offer some answers to questions that you haven't thought of!  We believe that you can decide best for yourself as to the type of adoption, i.e. domestic or international, and the characteristics of the child (or children) to complete your family.

 We provide a number of information sharing and networking opportunities to help you develop the adoption plan which best suits your family.  If you have a need that we can't meet, we will refer you to a resource that can help you. 

Create a vision for your family.

Who is the child that you want to adopt?  What degree of openness are you looking for?  What can your budget handle?  What other financial resources are available?  Why are you considering adoption?  Would you consider a child of color?  How do racial issues affect your situation?  Are you willing to adopt an older child?  Why have you decided to adopt internationally?  Are you willing to learn about that country so you can teach your child to honor his or her heritage?  Adoptions work best when everyone thinks of the other person first.

 Did You Know?

Both single (unmarried) and married couples can adopt. You don't have to own a home or make a lot of money.  The amount of education you have makes no difference. You can be a full-time parent or be employed. There are adoption subsidies for eligible children and tax credits available. You can already have children.  There are no "white glove" inspections of your home.  There are flexible upper age limits for adoptive families.  There are support groups to connect you to other adoptive parents.  More African-American families are needed.

 Parents Make Adoption Work.

Parents - not agencies, laws, or do-gooders make adoption work. It takes the collective effort of a birth parent that loves her child enough to assure a better future for it and the adoptive parent who is willing by choice to generously give the time, energy, and personal resources to parent that child into adulthood. The depth and resourcefulness of this sacrificial love investment by both birth parents and adoptive parents are what makes adoption work. Agencies, laws, and well meaning friends and professionals occasionally help but often confuse. It's parents who really make adoption work for all.

Adoption Works for Everyone.

The child:  Every child deserves to grow up in the safety and nurturing of a stable, loving family.

The birth parent:  One of the greatest feelings an adult can have is the assurance that her child's future is safe and promising.

The adoptive parent: These mature adults have a lot to give a child and steadfastly make the child's best interest their number one priority.

The adoptive family:  These extended families, some small, others very large, keep on giving, thrive on inclusiveness, and honor the child's struggle to find self.

The community:  The large financial costs and social burden of long term foster and institutional care is profoundly reduced when adoption is made possible.

The Basics of Adoption in Arkansas

 In order for an adoption to occur in Arkansas, there must be several participants involved.  Birth parents, adoption parents, a lawyer, the appropriate court, the placing entity, and a home study provider (almost always a licensed social worker).  Arkansas has requirements and minimum licensing procedures and duties of each participant which must be followed. These laws can be found in Arkansas Child Welfare Agency. 

 Adoption by Arkansas Families

 Arkansas families can adopt in several ways: domestic, international, and kinship.  Each requires a home study prepared by a licensed social worker or licensed placement agency.  Domestic placements refer to the placement of children resulting in Arkansas or another state.  When an Arkansas family adopts a child from another state, the laws of each state must be satisfied (this is referred to as an interstate placement). In international adoptions, the laws of Arkansas and the country of the child’s residence must be satisfied, as well as the regulations of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.  Of course, every adoption is different, but some are more complex than others.  This is why it is very important for you to work with experienced professionals, and to make sure that you are clear about the process, costs, approximate time frames, etc.  If in doubt, ask!

Also, keep in mind that beyond Arkansas law, attorneys, adoption social workers, and agencies also have their own requirements, and these vary among agencies.  Some licensed placement agencies do not assist in the placement of children with single parents.

A special message to all birth parents and to families residing in other states seeking to adopt:

Families are Special does not provide legal, maternity care, or foster care services.  Therefore we do not have children in our care to place, nor do we place children in other states.  We can, on occasion, refer such requests to other agencies or adoption attorneys.