Did you know that families who are considering adoption through foster care can qualify for Pre-Adoption Services in the state of Indiana? These services are intended to provide support prior to an adoption, with the goal, of course, being a successful adoption finalization and a well-prepared family and child!
All Pre-Adoption Services are offered through Indiana DCS’s partner Lifeline Youth & Family Services, which also provides Post-Adoption Services & Guardianship Support across the entire state.
Families who are intending to finalize an adoption or guardianship of a child in foster care with either of those permanency plans can be referred for Pre-Adoption Services. The support services are intended to help the family and child adjust to some of the upcoming changes, and feel even more prepared for how their family will change with the adoption. Ordinarily, Pre-Adoption Services are discussed during transition planning (the plan made with the family after a match but prior to the child transitioning into the family home). Referrals are then made by the child’s team (the Family Case Manager (FCM) and/or the Regional Adoption Consultant), with the goal of a seamless transition and continuity of services for the child and family.
So what happens after a referral is made? Once Lifeline receives your family’s referral from DCS, an adoption-competent Care Coordinator will be assigned to your family. Your Care Coordinator will provide weekly support and services such as Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training for caregivers and creating or updating a current Lifebook for your child. Your Care Coordinator can also help provide resources on topics such as:
- Explaining the difference between adoption and guardianship
- How to reconstruct and interpret the child’s history
- Assisting the child in understanding their unique life experience
- Addressing feelings of grief and loss associated with the loss of the child’s biological family or foster family
- Discussing loyalty issues the child may be facing
- Coordinating mental/behavioral health services for the child and family
Lifeline works in collaboration with your family and the child’s team to ensure you receive the support and resources needed to navigate these later steps of the adoption process. All resource families are also invited to participate in the support groups that Lifeline offers – some are in-person, while others are virtual. View the current calendar of Lifeline support groups on their website.
If you’re interested in the range of services offered by Lifeline throughout the state, please visit their website. Pre-Adoption and Post-Adoption Services can be valuable to families and adopted youth, and we want to make sure that as many families as possible know about them! (And, there is no cost to you as a pre-adoptive or adoptive family to participate in them!)