Adoption is a loving, responsible plan made by birthparents for the legal transfer of their child to an adoptive couple who want to provide a child with a loving, enduring family relationship. Catholic Charities is committed to finding the best possible adoptive families for infants whose birthparents have chosen adoption. Counseling is available for adoptees, birthmothers, and families.

Catholic Charities provides a range of adoption-related services upon request. These include:

Building a family
The agency offers a number of services to people planning to build their families through the adoption process. The philosophy of the agency’s Infant Adoption program is one of openness, meaning birthparents play a major role in the selection of the adoptive family and may have ongoing contact with the adoptive family if all agree and participate as agreed.

Prospective adoptive parents are screened, participate in adoption education training, and undergo a family assessment (home study) to become approved through Catholic Charities. Supervision continues for six months following placement, until the adoption is legally finalized. In addition to offering adoption services to clients of the agency, Catholic Charities also assists step-parents, couples involved in private adoptions, and relative adoptions referred by the court. The agency also provides these services to potential adoptive families for international adoptions and for children with special needs.

Catholic Charities offers services to everyone involved in the adoption process: adoptees, birthparents, and adoptive parents. Post-finalization services are provided to those seeking help in finding information or desiring a reunion between adoptee and birthparents. All services are offered in compliance with current state law and regulation. In addition to providing this service to former clients of Catholic Charities, the agency has been given the case files of two community agencies that no longer provide adoption services.

Frequently asked questions for birthparents
Frequently asked questions for prospective parents

Inter-COUNTRY adoption
We work with Associated Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to facilitate the adoption of children from the Philippines and Korea. We also work with Children’s Home Society and Family Services in St. Paul, Minnesota, to facilitate the adoption of children from a variety of countries.

For more information regarding this program, contact our office at (260) 422-5625, ext. 258, or click here.

Catholic Charities also provides adoption-related services for international adoptions through other agencies. We only work with government-approved or licensed child-placement agencies, or other U.S.-based organizations that have similar agreements with child-placing resources in other countries. Catholic Charities can complete family assessments and provide post-placement supervision for these adoptions.

Search and reunion
Catholic Charities can assist an adoptee or birthparent seeking identifying information (which may include medical information) if the placement occurred at one of the following sites:

Indiana law requires that an adoptee be 21 years of age to initiate any information exchange about an adoption placement. Regardless of where your adoption took place—or where you placed a child—you must first register with the Adoption History Registry. You may obtain a form by calling (317) 233-7253 or by visiting their Web site (click here).

The registry itself is a free matching service; it does not actually search for any person. The registry can provide you with the following forms: Medical Information for Adopted Persons (State Form 47261), Identifying Information Adoption History Information (State Form 47896), and Non-Identifying Information Indiana Adoption History Registration (State Form 47897). If you wish to proceed with a search after you’ve received a written response from the registry, you may request a search packet from Catholic Charities.

Because Catholic Charities doesn’t receive funding from any other source for these services, we charge a non-refundable fee for search and reunion services. While it is our hope that the person initiating a search achieves the desired outcome, there is no guarantee that the person sought will be found, and if found, that the person will respond as desired.

For more information, contact our office at (574) 234-3111 or toll-free at (800) 686-3112, ext. 31, or click here.

The Indiana Adoption Program is a statewide effort to create permanence for children who are wards of the Department of Child Services. This program is administered by the Indiana Foster Care and Adoption Association (IFCAA). To learn more about the adoption program contact IFCAA at www.ifcaa.org or click here: DCS Indiana Adoption Program Information

Each region of the state is also serviced by a Special Needs Adoption Program (SNAP) Specialist. In 1989, Indiana established a program for hard to place children who are in the custody of the state. This is a federally mandated program that Indiana legislated under IC 31-19-27. The SNAP Program includes a permanency manager and seven adoption specialists serving in Indiana's 92 counties. It is the role of the SNAP Specialists to assist in the adoptive placement of waiting children by working collaboratively with case managers, families and service providers. For additional information on the role of the SNAP Specialist visit the DCS website.

The role of Catholic Charities in relation to the Indiana Adoption Program and the SNAP Program is to provide adoptive applicants with the initial training that is required to be considered for adopting children being placed through the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Families residing in Allen, Cass, Fulton, Kosciusko, Miami and Wabash County should begin the adoption application process by contacting IFCAA and/or their area SNAP Specialist to learn basic information about adoption. Once a decision has been made to apply for this type of adoption, applicants must contact their local Department of Child Services to apply for an adoption home study. Contact List of Local DCS Offices) Once this has been done, applicants in these six counties will then be referred to Catholic Charities to schedule their adoption training.

Families interested in private, infant or international adoption should contact Barb Burlingham in South Bend at 574-234-3111 or Laura Kanalas in Fort Wayne at 260-422-5625 ext. 258. Families interested in adopting through the Indiana Department of Child Services adoption program should contact IFCAA at 1-888-25-ADOPT.

Whether you're interested in adopting a foster child, have already adopted a foster child, or have foster children in your home who will be adopted, we have a spot for you in our adoption support group! Adoption is a wonderful experience but parenting can be an overwhelming experience, making it important to have a strong support network.

On the second Thursday of each month, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., in Room 37B at the First Assembly of God Christian Center (1400 W. Washington Center Road, Fort Wayne - enter through Door 15 on the east side of the church), we will be facilitating support and training sessions where those interested or involved in adoption can meet, receive training, and talk about adoption related issues.

Attendance is not required at all meetings in order to be a part of the group but it is certainly encouraged. Attendees must pre-register for each session by calling or e-mailing Robin (422-5625, ext. 223/ robins@mchsi.com).

Light refreshments will be provided but childcare will not be so be sure to make childcare plans as children may not attend.

This group is facilitated by Catholic Charities and made possible through funding from the Indiana Department of Child Services.

• Adoption Support Group Information
• Childrens Home Society