How do you complete an adoption in Virginia?

The state of Virginia requires prospective adopters to undergo orientation, training, application and home assessment to be considered as adoptive parents. Once approved, prospective adopters select a child, undergo a placement and supervision period and follow through with legal procedures and finalization to complete the adoption process.

Once a prospective adopter contacts the Adoption Resource Exchange of Virginia, that individual attends an orientation to learn more about the process and to meet other adopting families. The individual also undergoes a 28- to 30-hour training curriculum that includes instruction from social workers, adoptive parents, therapists and clinicians. An application follows, as does a home assessment during which a qualified social worker determines the individual's eligibility to be a foster parent.

The next step is selection of a child. Both the prospective adopter and a social worker discuss individual children and determine which are best for the individual to care for. A subsequent placement period gradually introduces the child to the prospective parent(s). After the child has moved in, the social worker pays a few visits to the family to see how the process is unfolding. Once a pre-determined amount of time has passed with successful integration, the adoptive parent gets an attorney and finalizes the adoption.