Frequently Asked Questions

What does the term “Foster-to-Adopt” mean?

The term “Foster-to-Adopt” is used to describe the process of adopting a child from foster care. You’ll act as the child’s foster parent from the moment the child is placed in your home until the adoption is finalized.

Who are the children that Amara places in adoptive homes?

The children we place in adoptive homes represent the diversity of our community. We serve infants, toddlers and older children of any ethnic and cultural background. We place individual children and siblings.

Many of these children are in foster care for their own safety and protection. Some are infants who have been relinquished to us by their birthparents.

Who can apply to be adoptive parents with Amara?

At Amara, anyone who is 21 years or older can apply. We know that adults from all walks of life can be great adoptive parents. We proudly serve caring adults regardless of marital status, age, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, home ownership, income or education. 

We are a same-sex couple and wonder if our adoption will be valid in other states as well?

If a same-sex couple jointly adopts a child in Washington State, the adoption is legally recognized by all other states, including states that don’t allow same-sex couples to adopt.

What is a Home Study Document and why do we need one?

A Home Study Document, also known as a pre-placement report, is a detailed presentation of all aspects of your family. Washington State law requires that you have an approved Home Study Document before a child from foster care can be placed in your home for either temporary foster care or adoption.

For each family we serve, Amara creates a comprehensive Home Study Document that meets our high standards. It’s our experience that a thorough description of a family facilitates the child search process and helps us find the best fit for your family and the child.

How long does the adoption process take?

Every adoption process—and every adoptive family—is unique. So it’s difficult to predict the duration of your adoption process. But we can give you a rough idea of the timeline.

The adoption process can take between seven months and five years—though neither of these extremes is typical. We look at the timeline in three distinct phases: 1) Home Study, 2) Child Search, Match and Placement and 3) Post-Placement through Adoption Finalization. In most cases we complete a Home Study in three to six months but it may take longer. After the Home Study has been approved, it may take a few days or as long as two and half years before a successful match between a child and a family is identified. And the adoption of the child can be finalized between two months and two years after a child is placed in your home.

What is Open Adoption?

There is no single definition of Open Adoption: it means different things to different families. When an adoption is open, the child knows that he or she has been adopted and an avenue is created between the birth family and the adoptive family to communicate.

The degree of openness varies greatly among families. The birth and adoptive families can exchange letters and photos once or twice a year either directly or through Amara. But they can also establish and maintain an ongoing, more personal relationship.

We support open adoption at Amara. Research shows that children benefit from knowing their roots and being able to ask questions and to get answers about their adoption and their birth family. And from our nearly 90 years serving children, we know this to be true.  

At Amara, we provide training that helps you understand and think about Open Adoption. The required class helps you feel comfortable making an Open Adoption Plan that fits your family and the child you adopt.

How can Amara help us adopt a child?

At Amara, we provide practical support to ensure that adoptive parents receive the training and guidance they need throughout the adoption process. We practice ongoing encouragement and open communication to help families along the way. The best way to understand how we can assist you is to attend one of our monthly Adoption Information Meetings.

How many families do your Adoption Specialists serve simultaneously?

Best practices for social workers who provide adoption and foster care services are to serve no more than 25 families at the same time. Because we want to provide high-quality, hands-on service to our clients, we exceed these best practice standards. Adoption Specialists at Amara serve between 18 and 20 families.

Why do families choose to partner with Amara?

Many families come to us because we were recommended to them from our current and past client families. And we have families who return to work with us when they are ready to adopt another child.

But we also know that many of our clients choose to work with us because of our experience­—Amara has been working to create strong families since 1921. 

And families often choose to work with us because of our core value that there is no single definition of “family.” We are proud to offer our services to everyone age 21 or older, regardless of marital status, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, home ownership, income or education. 

How can we apply to adopt a child through Amara?
We ask that you first attend one of our monthly adoption meetings to learn about the process of adopting a child and how Amara can assist you. We want to ensure that you have a full understanding of the adoption process, who we are and how we can support you throughout the adoption journey before you decide to apply.

The next step is to meet with an Amara adoption program representative and go over your unique and personal questions in a confidential environment. Typically, you’ll receive an application form during this meeting.