Provides consultation, information and referral services at all stages of the adoption process, and placement services for prospective adoptive families.

We serve Expecting families looking to place a child for adoption, including from unplanned pregnancies or older children, prospective foster families, families looking to adopt children, including international adoptions and children with special needs and families that have already adopted children.

Provides a foster care program in Southern Illinois for children ages 21 and under. Services include monthly training and support, inclusion with child and family team meetings and care training.

Serves all Nebraska adoptive families - international, domestic infant, private, step-parent and foster adoptive families. Advocates for the special interests of adoptive families and connects families to one another. Six core services include Permanency Support Services, Respite Care Connections, Parent2Parent Network, Mental Health Connections, Training, and Support Groups and Family Activities.

Case management available for up to 180 days. Individualized family plan designed and implemented with the family's input.

Assists post adoptive and guardianship families in locating formal and informal respite providers and can provide financial assistance for respite services (limited). All families who receive financial respite assistance through the program will be asked to attend a training.

Mentoring in partnership with Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (NFAPA) to assist in providing peer mentoring services to post adoptive and guardianship families.

Mental health services - locates and refers families to professional post adoption and guardianship providers.

Training opportunities that can support skill building on issues related to adoption.

Support groups and networks for families and youth where social networks can be created and peer support can be achieved.

Recruits and prepares adoptive families. Offers services for identified adoptions, foster care adoptions, and post placement services.

Provides contractual home studies for domestic and international adoptions.

Serves families interested in adopting a legally free child.

Allows birth parents and adoptive parents to design an adoption plan that is in the best interest of the child, and recognizes the importance of the adoptive parents and birth parents developing an on-going relationship. Services include:

-- Counseling young women who are pregnant.

-- Adoption orientations.

-- Adoption home studies for domestic and international adoptions, as well as for special needs adoptions.

-- Post-placement supervision.

-- Finalization services.

-- Ongoing support groups.

-- Adoption searches.

Provides services to all those who have adopted, placed a child for adoption, or been adopted through our agency. The services provided include, preparing an adoption history report of non-identifying information, conducting a full search to locate birth parents or adoptees, updating the file with locating information.

Offers expectant parent advocacy that includes help and support for anyone who is pregnant, domestic adoptions and post-adoption services that includes counseling for children who have experienced trauma.

Assists expectant parents in examining their options and coming to a decision about placing their child for adoption. LCFS social worker meets with expectant family privately and confidentially, in a location that is comfortable for them. After placing a child for adoption the LCFS worker will continue to be available for follow-up support as needed. If the choice is made to not place the child for adoption, follow-up services are also available.

Services include:

-- Assistance with selecting adoptive parents.

-- Assistance with pregnancy-related expenses.

-- Follow-up services, including referrals to resources.

Provides a list of referrals for adoption agencies in the area.

Provides help for families to adopt children within the foster care system who are unable to return to their family of origin. A child placed in a foster home after six moths of care can become eligible for adoption. Families will receive the support of an Adoption Specialist who will help the family prepare for the transition. The adoption Specialist will also help the family identify any additional resources needed before adoption is completed.

Serves families interested in adopting a legally free child.

Allows birth parents and adoptive parents to design an adoption plan that is in the best interest of the child, and recognizes the importance of the adoptive parents and birth parents developing an on-going relationship. Services include:

-- Counseling young women who are pregnant.

-- Adoption orientations.

-- Adoption home studies for domestic and international adoptions, as well as for special needs adoptions.

-- Post-placement supervision.

-- Finalization services.

-- Ongoing support groups.

-- Adoption searches.

Adoption services include recruitment, screening, assessing, and case management provided to persons choosing to adopt an infant. Counseling and support are provided to birth mothers/fathers choosing to place a child for adoption, as well as post-adoptive services for those who are adopted, adoptive parents, and birth parents. This includes international and private adoptions.

Adoptive home assessments provide guidance to prospective adoptive parents and/or adoptive parents in Iowa and Illinois.

Provides services for birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted children.

Adoption Center's Programs:

-- Infant Adoption - The family will complete an adoption home study, become licensed as a foster parent and attend an adoption training. Adoptive families typically have an infant placement within 12-18 months. The Center requires potential adoptive parents to be at least 21-years-old. Families can come in all shapes and sizes and supports all potential parents in their dream of becoming a family.

-- International Adoption - The Center completes adoption home study services, foster home licensing services, and post placement visits for families pursuing international adoption.

The Center keeps extensive adoption records on file for children and families who completed adoptions through the agency. The adoption specialist is happy to assist an individual in locating information from his or her adoption file. There is a small fee for birth searches and fees are based on the time it takes to locate information.

Provides a list of referrals for adoption agencies in the area.

Provides a licensed child placing agency, finding adoptive homes for both infants and special needs children.

Provides accurate information on adoption, and lifelong support, so the family is successful in meeting the child's best interest by offering the following services and resources:

Provides free and confidential pregnancy counseling for families, every step of the way; before, during, and after the birth of the child.

Assistance with making an adoption plan or parenting plan.

Parenting education.

Support and education for baby's father on request.

Home studies for prospective adoptive parents.

Newborn care home for baby as a safe haven.