Adoption At The Home

The Adoption Program at The Home is dedicated to helping the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) find and prepare permanent families for children of all ages.

THE CHILDREN IN NEED OF HOMES

The Home’s Adoption Program predominantly places school-aged children with families. However, some children as young as three and as old as 18 need adoptive homes. Representing all racial and ethnic backgrounds, these children come from a variety of backgrounds and have experienced multiple types of maltreatment, such as neglect or abuse. Due to their trauma, they often present challenging behaviors and have emotional/behavioral, developmental or medical needs.

HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES PREPARE FOR ADOPTION

We are proud to be an organization that defines family in a broad manner. We offer couples and single persons of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic backgrounds and religions the opportunity to start or add to their families.

Our program provides all the necessary training, licensing, matching, and supportive services for adoptive parents. Subject to background checks, adoptive parents must provide a safe, clean home with adequate space for the child and must meet the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ standard for licensing.

SERVICES THAT EDUCATE AND SUPPORT PRE-ADOPTION PARENTS

The Home offers ongoing training and support to potential adoptive parents, including:

Information Sessions — We host information sessions in our office, online or occasionally in the community to provide a quick, easy way to learn about our programs and get answers to your questions. Check back for a list of upcoming information sessions.

MAPP Training — Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) training is a free, 30-hour course required by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Find out more here.

Pre-Placement Support Group — Our Pre-Placement Support Group offers peer support, educational opportunities, and community building to potential adoptive parents who have completed MAPP. Groups are held at The Home the first Monday of the month from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Home Study Assessment — The home study begins after MAPP, is facilitated by your assigned Family Resource Worker, and includes all family members. The process involves reviewing a home’s physical standards, in-depth interviews, and documentation completion and collection – all with the goal of obtaining a pre-adoptive license.

Pre-Adoptive Licensing — We help ensure that your license as a pre-adoptive resource is maintained annually through ongoing monthly home visits, mandatory interviews, and collection of all necessary paperwork.

FACILITATING THE BEST MATCH

After you are licensed, you will work collaboratively with your Family Resource Worker, DCF and other service providers to identify a child who could benefit from being in your family. Matching typically takes six to 18 months and varies based on a child’s age and needs, your openness to siblings, and the presence of other children in your home.

POST-PLACEMENT SUPPORT

We hold a monthly post-placement support group for The Home’s adoptive families, offering peer support, educational opportunities and community building the first Saturday of the month from 10am-11:30am at The Home.

POST-ADOPTION SEARCH AND REUNION

The Home offers search services for birth parents and adopted adults whose adoptions were facilitated by The New England Home for Little Wanderers, Boston Children’s Services Association, and/or Church Home Society, providing support, sharing non-identifying record information and facilitating reunions. Please contact Alisha Patrick at adoptioninfo@thehome.org for more information.