In most cases, age will not be a barrier to being an adoptive parent. The general rule of thumb is that the adoptive parents should be young enough to raise the child to adulthood. Empty nesters and retirees are highly encouraged to apply.

Obtaining a home study from a licensed, private adoption agency typically takes around two to three months. Prior to starting paperwork, consult with the agency about timeframes and confirm if the completed home study will apply to being considered for a child in foster care before signing the contract.

The complete home study assessment through the Department of Children’s Services can take up to six months, and includes TN Key training. If you have questions about becoming a licensed foster parent in Tennessee, please call 1-877-DCS-KIDS or (615) 920-2569, or click this link: TN DCS Foster Care Program.

If you have questions about getting approved as an adoptive family, please email inquiry@harmonyfamilycenter.org with your name, contact information and anything you’d like to discuss.

No, it is not. In fact, in Tennessee the Department of Children’s Services pays for the cost of finalizing the adoption. Many children qualify for some level of adoption subsidy after the adoption.

A child must be fostered in the potential adoptive home for six months before the adoption can be finalized. A recent law change allows a judge to reduce the waiting period to three months when there are extenuating circumstances such as a youth who will turn 18 years old before the 6 months have passed.

If you are considering adopting from foster care, we encourage you to watch the video links below from Allison Cooke Douglas, M.S., IECMH-E®, the Resource Center Program Director at Harmony.

Great Expectations: Truths and Myths about Adoption
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/7243646798579388939

Grief and Loss in Adoption
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/4555661926217216262

Trauma, Attachment, and Parenting
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5426800591012775950

Chidren in foster care who are legally available for adoption are typically older than eight years, medically fragile with health and/or developmental challenges, or part of a sibling group. They have various levels of care and are all deserving of a forever family willing to love and support them beyond childhood.

Adoptive parents may be employed or not employed but must be able to meet their own financial needs without the payment provided by the state.

In Tennessee, the residency requirement for foster parents is a minimum of three months as a legal resident. For out-of-state families, an ICPC (Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children) must be completed between the State of Tennessee and your residential state.

Please note, we review inquiries on weekdays, excluding holidays, from 9am-5pm ET.

• You must have a valid home study from a private adoption agency, a foster care study, or DCS to inquire on a specific child. Please upload your home study with your inquiry to expedite the process. If you inquire without an approved study, we will respond with the next steps you can take.
• After you submit an inquiry through this website, you should receive a confirmation email. If you do not, email inquiry@harmonyfamilycenter.org with your name and preferred method of contact. Remember to check your spam folder.
• Next, your inquiry will be shared with the child’s recruiter and he or she will respond to you within 7 business days if your home study will be reviewed by the child’s team and if it is not selected, why. Sometimes a potential family is selected before recruitment is placed on hold and the child’s profile remains visible on this site. We understand the frustration or disappointment this might cause, but please keep trying as so many children are hoping to find their forever family.
• We know waiting can be tough! Still, sending multiple inquiries for the same child will not speed up the process or increase your chances of being selected.
• If you can’t find a message from us, we will be happy to connect you with the right person. Just shoot a message to inquiry@harmonyfamilycenter.org.
• Again, please check spam, just in case!

What about Selection?

• A selection meeting occurs when the submitted home studies are gathered for review. The selection process is a team decision which includes assessing the child’s needs, strengths, and wishes as they compare to a potential family’s ability to meet the child’s needs both in the present and long term.

What is Full Disclosure?

• Once a family is selected as a potential pre-adoptive placement, the family will receive full disclosure about the child’s needs. If the family chooses to move forward after full disclosure, a transition plan will be put in place and the wheels are rolling.

What is a transition plan?

• The transition plan is determined by the child’s team and varies according to the child’s best interest. The plan may start with phone calls and virtual visits, then progress to in-person visits. Once everyone is comfortable and ready to move forward, the child will move into the family’s home and must stay for at least 6 months before an adoption may be finalized.

There are differences and similarities between foster care and private adoption home study assessments. Both types of home studies tell the foster or adoptive family’s story and are designed to make sure you can provide a child with a safe and nurturing environment.

With any type of home study you can expect the following:

• Interviews with all members of your family conducted by your home study writer
• A home inspection conducted by your home study writer
• Criminal background and child abuse clearances for all adult family members in the home
• Personal references will be requested and gathered from friends and family
• Autobiographies, parenting questionnaires, financial and medical statements, employment verifications, birth and marriage certificates, and proof of insurance are some of the documents that you can expect to be asked to gather in preparation for a home study

Discussion topics include:

• Your motivation for adopting/fostering
• Your childhood
• Your relationship history including your family of origin, marriage or current significant relationships
• The impact a child or children might have on your family
• Your financial situation
• Health
• How you handle discipline
• How you and your family handle grief/loss
• Any traumatic experiences that you may have experienced and how you have dealt with those experiences
• Your parenting philosophy and practices