How is an infant matched with an adoptive family?
Approved adoptive families put together a scrapbook for the birth family to view. After reviewing family scrapbooks, the birth family chooses which family they would like to place their child with. The two families then meet face-to-face.

When does the adoption placement occur?
Placement can happen at the hospital or later if the birth family needs additional time to decide on their adoption plan.

Is there information available about the infant's health history?
Birth mothers and birth fathers (when involved in the process) complete social-medical histories including information about their health and the health of their extended family.

What types of families are able to adopt?
Various types of families are eligible to apply, including married or single persons, families with or without biological children, and families with or without a stay-at-home care-giver.

Can I specify what type of child I wish to adopt?
Adoptive families may specify preferences for ethnicity, age, and willingness to care for infants with special needs. However, the more specific the preferences are, the longer the time that may be needed for the family to be selected by a birth family. Adoptive families are not able to specify gender preference.

How long does an adoption take?
The approval process can take approximately six months to a year. The length of time for an adoptive family being chosen by a birth family varies greatly based on the preferences of the adoptive family and the number of birth families choosing to make an adoption plan with COBYS. After an infant is placed, an adoption can be finalized in approximately six to twelve months, depending on the case.

How much does it cost to adopt a child through COBYS?
Assistance for adoption fees can be found through grants, loans, and tax credits. Click here to view the infant adoption fee schedule. Additional information about grants, loans and tax credits are covered during orientation.

If adoption fees are a concern for your family, you may want to consider adoption of children in Pennsylvania's foster care system (link to SWAN adoption page). In most cases such adoptions are finalized with little or no cost to the adoptive family. Sometimes financial assistance also is available following an adoption.

How much will we interact with our adoptive child's birth parents?
Typically, birth families and adoptive families meet prior to the birth of the infant. COBYS requires adoptive families to provide monthly photos and updates about the infant for the first year, which are forwarded to the birth family. The degree of ongoing contact between families is typically agreed upon prior to the placement of the infant.

As a Christian organization, what kind of expectations does COBYS place on its resource families?
COBYS desires that resource families seek to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of children. Full participation in the life of a church community is strongly encouraged.

More questions? Please contact a COBYS Resource Home Coordinator at careforkids@cobys.org.

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