Adoptive Family Next Steps | Open Arms Adoption Network

Thanks so much for your interest in Open Arms Adoption Network. We are a comprehensive infant open adoption program licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York. Open Arms Adoption is a program of JFCS of Greater Philadelphia, a non-profit social service agency that has been providing vital services to children, youth, families and seniors since 1855.

Our open adoption program is firmly rooted in the belief that acknowledging and honoring an adopted child’s whole being is important for the healthy development of self-identity and self-worth. Therefore, we are committed to working with our Birth and Adoptive Families to establish and maintain healthy open adoption relationships that benefit all, especially the child.

As a non-profit program grounded in integrity and best practice, Open Arms strives to maintain a pool of hopeful adoptive families that is richly diverse so that the pregnant women and new moms we serve will have varied adoptive family options to consider as they determine who is the right family to raise their child.

Due to this commitment to maintain a diverse pool of waiting families; at this current time, our program is only welcoming in Hopeful Adoptive Parent(s) who is/are Black or African American, or who are an Interracial couple (where one parent is of Black/African American Ancestry) or families who are not Black or African American but whose children are Black or African American. If you are a family that does not fall within this group, please feel free to check back with our program in August to see if we are once again welcoming in other families.

And finally, as a child-centered open adoption program, we are focused on our babies’ entire childhood, therefore, we do require that one prospective adoptive parent (if a couple), be 47 years old or younger or that the prospective adoptive parent (if a single person), be 47 years old or younger, at the time that their homestudy and adoptive family profile are completed.

If you have any additional questions, please email Michele at mlemasney@openarmsadoption.net.

Open adoption is a wonderful way to build a family. We, as a team, are committed to offering our Expectant and Birthparents and our Adoptive Families great compassion, support, and education throughout this journey. We thank you for your interest in our program and look forward to meeting you.

While each adoption process is unique, the following are several steps necessary to adopt a baby.

Attend a free Information Meeting-- Contact us for Upcoming dates

To learn more about Open Arms Adoption Network, the first step is to attend a free information meeting. When you attend a meeting, you will meet a member of the Open Arms team who will explain our process and philosophy to you, as well as answer all of your questions and address your concerns.

Attend a personal orientation session

After attending an information meeting and learning more about our program, the next step is an orientation meeting. This is a personal session, where we can address your unique situation and circumstances which led you to adoption, and discuss any other questions or concerns that you wish in private.

Complete the Open Arms Home Study application packet

To get started with the Open Arms process, you will complete an application packet, which will be sent to you after your personal orientation session. Included in this application packet is all the paperwork that you need to complete prior to our beginning your homestudy. Items included in the application packet are documents to obtain criminal clearances, references, medical and financial forms, etc. The application process can seem a bit overwhelming, which is why we are always available to answer questions and help you along.

Complete your homestudy, create an adoptive family profile and become an approved waiting family

At this point in the process, an adoption coordinator will be assigned to you to work with you through the next phase of your process. Your adoption coordinator will complete in-home interviews with your family, as well as prepare all necessary paperwork to complete the homestudy process. You will be guided through the creation of your adoptive family profile, which is a booklet unique to you, that we share with expectant parents considering adoption for their babies. At the completion of your homestudy, you will become an approved Open Arms family ready to adopt a baby.

Attend Open Arms Workshops

We offer a vast array of educational programming to educate you on all topics related to adoption, attachment and bonding, and more. Adoptive families are required to attend certain workshops, while others are recommended and optional. Topics include titles such as “Newborn Care 101,” “The Hospital Experience,” “Living as a Multi-Cultural Family,” etc. These workshops are a great way to prepare you for adopting, as well as giving you the opportunity to get to know other families in our Open Arms community going through the same process as you.

Be supported by Open Arms as you wait to become a parent through adoption

Once your homestudy and family profile is complete, your profile will be shown to Expectant Parents considering adoption. While the exact timeline of when you will become a parent is not known, we will be there to support you during the wait. In addition to our “Weight of the Wait” workshop, we offer a group called Coffee Talk specifically designed to offer support to our waiting families. Additionally, your adoption coordinator is ready and available to meet with you during this time to offer additional support and education, if desired.

Adoption is facilitated by Open Arms

When your family profile is chosen by a potential Birthparent, we will contact you to fill you in about the woman who has interest in your profile. During this conversation, we will share information with you about her; typically, we are able to inform you of her hobbies, talents, why she chose you, and the details of her pregnancy, including prenatal information. Should the adoption move forward, the birth parent typically signs legal adoption documents a few days after giving birth, followed by the adoptive family completing paperwork which grants you physical custody of the baby.

Complete post-placement supervisory visits with Open Arms staff

Your adoption coordinator will meet with your family within 2 weeks of placement, and will follow the post-placement schedule as dictated by the state in which the adoption occurred.

Secure legal services to finalize adoption through court

The last step in the legal process is to finalize your adoption after successful post-placement visits and reports have been completed. At the time of finalization, the agency transfers guardianship to you. We will work with your attorney throughout this process to make certain that all necessary paperwork is completed and finalization takes place in a timely manner.

Please check back with us in July to find out about our upcoming information meetings. We look forward to hearing from you!

Next Steps for Hopeful Adoptive Parents

While each adoption process is unique, the following are several steps necessary to adopt a baby.

Make A Referral