Cornerstones of Care Family Link

Family Link
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Families come in all sizes and shapes and hundreds of children are seeking homes -

is it YOUR home?

How to Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent
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Attend an informational meeting - First Monday of each month, 6-7 p.m. For locations, contact 816.508.6206 or homes4kids@cornerstonesofcare.org
Learn more - Enroll in STARS classes. 27 hours total over a period of 9 weeks, includes CPR, First Aid and medication training. SPAULDING classes cover an additional 12 hours of Adoption specific training.
Foster/Adoptive Home Study - Completed during STARS and SPAULDING trainings.
Licensure Approval - Upon successful completion of training and an approved home study, you will become a licensed foster and/or adoptive family resource.
Child Search for Adoption - Visit websites profiling waiting children, such as

Attend recruitment events at churches, malls, parks, libraries, etc.
When you identify a child(ren) that seems like a match for you, contact the child's recruiter for more information and to submit your home study for consideration.
Waiting Period - If your home is selected to be considered as a potential adoptive family resource, a copy of the child's case record will be sent to you, along with a list of attorneys. After reviewing the child's information, if you choose to proceed with adoption, contact your chosen attorney to file a petition to adopt. After the petition is filed, if the child is eligible for subsidy, a subsidy will be prepared prior to adoption court hearing.
Placement - If the child has been placed in your home as a foster child for 6 months or more, the Court can award final adolptive custody. If less than 6 months, the Court can order temporary adoptive custody, then finalize after 6 months.
Post Placement - If placed in your home in temporary adoptive custody, supervision by the child's case manager and/or recruitment will occur during the 6 months prior to finalizing adoption.
Adoption Finalization - After the child is in your temporary adoptive custody for 6 months, your attorney files a petition for final adoption custody.
Post Adoption Services - The child's case manager and/or recuriter will work with you to develop a child and family specific plan for services afer the adoption is finalized.