D.A. Blodgett for Children has a full range of services available to adoptive parents and individuals thinking about making an adoption plan for their child. The services that are provided to adoptive parents include free orientation and consultation services. D.A. Blodgett also provides family assessments and free education classes before children are placed adoptively in the home. The education classes cover topics such as understanding and working with individuals considering adoption for their child, openness in adoption, infertility and raising an adopted child. The adoption worker will help families put together a family profile and picture album, which are reviewed by prospective birth parents as they make their decision to place their child for adoption.

Once the family assessment is completed and the family profile is ready, many families will wait several months to several years for an infant to be placed in their home. The agency strives to have approved families from a variety of backgrounds available to every birth parent who is choosing adoption for their child. D.A. Blodgett cannot guarantee the placement of a child in every approved home. Adoptive and birth parents are offered a continuum of openness in their adoption relationship including confidential, semi-open and open adoption. Contact with birth parents can take the form of meetings, phone calls, pictures or letters, both before and after the adoption. Most birth parents and adoptive parents prefer some degree of openness in their adoption relationship. It is rare that D.A. Blodgett facilitates a traditionally closed, or confidential, adoption.

Once a child is placed in the adoptive home, the agency provides post placement supervision and support. Assistance is also available through our Post Adoption Support Services program following the finalization of the adoption. Adult members (at least 18 years of age) of the adoption triad (adoptive parent, birth parent, adoptee) may also access Search and Confidential Intermediary Services, provided by D.A. Blodgett.

Free and confidential counseling services are available to individuals considering adoption for their child and their families. If the parent(s) choose adoption for their child, the agency will support them in choosing a prospective family based on written profiles and picture albums. The agency also provides counseling, prior to release or consent and for a minimum of one year following release or consent. Financial assistance for special circumstances is available to prospective birth parents on a limited basis. All birth parents are empowered to consider some degree of openness in their adoption plan.

Requirements

D.A. Blodgett for Children will work with married couples who are stable and emotionally and physically healthy. Single applicants will also be considered. Adoptive parents need to be able to provide a loving and secure home to an infant and also need to be open to building and maintaining a relationship with a child’s birth family.

Fees

Our fees vary depending on the number of services we provide. You may request our current fee schedule by speaking with someone in the Infant Adoption Program. We can also give you information on the adoption tax credit which can help offset adoption expenses. We strive to keep our fees affordable.

Other Services

The Infant Adoption program at D.A. Blodgett works with attorneys that facilitate adoptions. The Infant Adoption program also works with persons needing an independent family assessment completed for domestic or international adoptions. The services that we can provide include family assessments, counseling with birth parents, adoptive family education, post placement supervision, and support and consultation on adoption issues.

Getting More Information

If you are interested in finding out more about our Infant Adoption Program, please call 616-451-2021 and ask to speak with someone in the Infant Adoption Program.