WHO CAN ADOPT?
Persons of any age, family size or marital status who live or work within a one-hour radius of Ann Arbor may apply. It is a policy of the Agency that a three-month leave of absence from employment be taken upon placement to facilitate the adjustment of the infant with the new parent(s). The leave may be shared among two parents so that outside care not be provided on a regular basis during the three months.

WHAT AGE CHILDREN ARE AVAILABLE/HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Newborn infants whose birth parents live in southeastern Michigan. Most placements happen within 12-18 months and the Agency places 15-20 infants/year.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ADOPT THROUGH CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF WASHTENAW COUNTY ?
See page 11 for fee information. Other fees to expect are court filing fees and birth certificate fees. You will incur attorney fees if you or your birth parent retain legal counsel. Michigan law also allows you to pay other birth parent expenses within reason. No fees associated with an adoption are recoverable if the birth parent changes the plan and decides to parent.

IS AN ATTORNEY NECESSARY?
No. Birth parents and adoptive parents who use attorneys must, however, be represented by separate counsel. Names of adoption attorneys may be obtained from the State Children's Ombudsman's Office: 517.373.3077.

MUST A BIRTH PARENT RELEASE TO AN AGENCY?
No. Michigan law allows for a birth parent to physically transfer temporary custody directly to the adoptive family if they reside in Michigan and have an approved Preplacement Assessment by a licensed agency. The birth parent must be assisted by an attorney or Agency, however, to do this.

WHAT ADOPTION SERVICES DOES CSS OFFER?
Preplacement assessments, counseling for birth parents, placement and post placement services are offered by Catholic Social Services. The Agency recognizes adoption as a lifelong process that significantly changes and impacts one's life. To that end, we offer counseling, education and support to anyone in the community whose life has been touched by adoption at any point in their lives.

WHAT IS A HOME STUDY?
More appropriately named a Preplacement Assessment, it is a mutual process of identifying one's readiness to adopt by exploring strengths, weaknesses, resolution of loss issues, and the capacity to parent through adoption. The law also requires us to have criminal clearances and medical reports on family members.

WOULD I EVER BE TURNED DOWN?
Probably not, unless there is reason to suspect harm to a child. CSS helps prospective parents stretch, grow and take risks in order to be fully informed about the challenges of adoptive parenting and to be the best adoptive parent(s) they can be to their child.

Based on years of experience of working with families in adoption, we may see that there are issues needing resolution before successfully entering adoptive parenthood. For example, difficulties with the capacity for a relationship with birth parents; unhealthy communication styles; unresolved issues of infertility; unstable financial conditions; or a psychologically unhealthy environment for a child. Medical conditions are not necessarily a reason to be rejected. Our concern is that one has a plan to be able to parent a child into young adulthood. It is not necessary to own a home nor are there income requirements. We look