Most of the steps involved with adopting a child through LDS Family Services are the same as or similar to adopting a child through other avenues. A homestudy is completed, prospective parents are subjected to criminal and child abuse background checks, and they must provide a variety of documentation about marriage, financial and employment status, and health. Couples also typically write a “dear birthparent” letter and create an adoptive parent profile that can be reviewed by expectant parents who are considering an adoption plan. Profiles include information about the couple such as age, education, employment, appearance, length of marriage, hobbies, and other children already in the... more

In this series, we’ll be looking at the primary adoption options for LDS families, and we’ll be starting with domestic adoption through LDS Family Services.

The social services arm of the Church has existed in one form or another since the Restoration. In the beginning, charitable work was primarily the undertaking of the Relief Society, but over the decades it became clear that the social needs of the Saints warranted creation of a separate program. Although organizations within the Church formally assisted with the placement of adoptive... more