Our experienced staff can help families realize their dreams of adopting a child born in the United States.

Miriam’s Promise provides education, counseling, home studies, placement services, and post-placement services for couples wanting to adopt domestically-born infants and children. Miriam’s Promise is a licensed child-placing agency in the state of Tennessee. Please read below to learn about some of the services we offer to prospective families.

Education
An important part of the agency adoption process is the home study group – Adoption 101. The home study group is formed twice each year, once in spring and once in fall, and meets for 5 weeks. The group is limited to 6 to 8 couples. Topics include moving from infertility to adoption, the legal process, birthparent issues, talking to your child about adoption, and coping with the wait. Successful completion of the group is required before your home study can be approved. This ensures that all agency families are educated about the issues involved in adopting and raising an adopted child. It also reassures our birthparents that the families approved by our agency are prepared to manage the unique challenges of raising an adopted child.

Additional educational opportunities are available at Miriam’s Promise.  These include:  1) Adoption 201, a series of classes designed to prepare families for a second adoption.  This series is required of families who wish to adopt their second child through Miriam’s Promise.  Topics first covered in Adoption 101 are further explored, (see above) as well as issues related to sibling rivalry and managing differences in your children’s adoption stories.  2)  Extended Family Training.  A three hour training for the relatives and friends of our waiting families.  The class covers such topics as appropriate adoption language, openness in adoption, and how to lend support to waiting families.

Counseling
Each couple who comes to the decision to adopt needs to understand the emotional issues involved. At Miriam’s Promise we have staff who are trained and experienced to counsel prospective adoptive parents at all stages of the adoption process. From the initial interview through finalization and beyond, our counselors are there to hold couples’ hands, guide them through the process, be caring listeners, and celebrate with them as a new family.

Home Studies
A home study is required for all adoptions in the state of Tennessee. After completion of the home study group and filling out the required forms, your counselor will conduct individual and joint interviews, visit your home, and then write your home study. Once written, your home study will be staffed and you will receive a letter upon approval. With an approved home study, you will be accessible to birthparents as a potential adoptive family.

Placement Services
As an agency family with an approved home study, you will write “Dear Birthmother” letters, create a résumé, and compile picture pages, all of which can be presented to birthparents choosing an adoptive family for their child. The waiting time to be chosen varies, but the average wait is 2-3 years. After reading your profile, a birthparent may ask to meet you. After your child is placed into your family, Miriam’s Promise will provide supervisory visits for six months and file a written report to the court recommending the adoption.

Adopting the Older Child
Miriam’s Promise also provides counseling at no charge to birth families considering making an adoption plan for older children.  (Older children are defined as children older than 1 year).  When needed, interim care for the children is provided until an appropriate adoptive family is identified and prepared.  Prospective adoptive families for older children are recruited on an as needed basis.   For more information on placing or adopting older children please contact us or call (615) 292 – 3500.