HOW TO ADOPT IN ARKANSAS

If you have questions about how the private adoption process works in Arkansas, you’re in the right place. In this guide on how to adopt in Arkansas, you will learn everything from how to prepare for a match to post-adoption services. And for those of you (like me) who like to read by listening, I’ve created an audio version of this guide just for you. Just click HERE to download your copy.

1. PRE-MATCH PREPARATION

While the legal process for adoption starts after a match has been made, there are a few ways expectant parents can jumpstart their adoption process and speed up the adoption process once they’ve matched.

A. HOME STUDY

The first step expectant parents can take before matching is to get a home study. A home study is an assessment of prospective adoptive parents to see if they are suitable for adopting a child. Home studies are required in Arkansas and typically take several weeks (sometimes months) to complete.

As the name implies, home studies require a licensed social worker to examine your home (inside and out) and report to the court on its suitability for a child. Be prepared to discuss just about every area of your life with the social worker, as he or she will need some very personal information about your family, including your family history, how you plan to discipline children, and even your family’s income.

B. REFERENCE LETTERS

Reference letters are a required part of your home study, but I wanted to make a separate section to discuss this requirement because it is a box you can check even before hiring a social worker to complete your home study.

You will need at least three letters ready for the social worker to include in the home study. Make sure these letters are from friends, co-workers, or anyone who has seen how you interact with children. Do not get reference letters from relatives unless you want to include them in addition to the 3-4 from non-relatives.

This step can take time. By the time you ask a friend for a reference letter to the time you actually receive it, weeks could have passed. In my experience, the reference letter is something friends tend to put off until “later.” Remember, life gets crazy and people are busy. Do not feel bad about a friendly follow up text to help move this process along.