Adoption
One of Child Link’s primary directives is to secure permanent homes for orphaned and abandoned children (from birth on) through our foster-to-adopt program. Annually, we place ten to fifteen children in foster-to-adopt homes with concurrent planning. We coordinate no fee adoptions to prospective parents following state mandated background checks and home studies. Before commencing adoption proceedings, Child Link works to investigate the child’s status regarding family placement options to ensure there are no unplanned disruptions in the future. Our success rate remains exceptionally high due to our diligence and expertise with fostering and adoption programs.
Child Link’s adoption services are extremely thorough. It is important for us to place our children in safe homes with loving and adoring families. We want to be positive that the willing adoptive family is matched with a child or adolescent who best fits their living environment. Because we deeply care for each and every child in our adoption program, we always strive to provide the best possible services and resources for our adoptive children and families.
Child Link is an efficiently-run foster care agency that offers adoptions, youth counseling, and homeless youth intervention—but our child services institution delivers so much more to a less fortunate child’s life. Child Link makes dreams come true by making a family experience possible for people from all walks of life.
About four years ago, Jose and Manolo decided to become foster parents with the intention of helping children in need, not to mention wanting to start a family of their own. Diego was placed with them while DCFS was issuing their license, which was only a short time after they completed the licensing process and the required training courses.
Diego has given both Jose and Manolo an opportunity to learn about children’s development, as well as parenthood, and has enriched their lives with his joy and love. Diego has recently completed his first year in pre-kindergarten. He loves reading and math, and his parents are extremely proud of his academic achievements—he can read at a first-grade level!
Diego represents a great opportunity for us to serve humanity. Our son’s presence in our lives also represents a tremendous responsibility since his mission will impact the lives of many in the years to come.
Leonardo L. and his partner Christopher H. were prepared for a long wait to adopt a child, but they were in for a surprise. “I finished the training classes,” explains Leo, “and we got the call almost right away.” Illinois law requires kids from Spanish speaking families be placed with foster parents who speak Spanish. Leo and Christopher met these criteria, and they have enjoyed raising a bilingual child. Their foster son was born to drug addicted parents. When he arrived at the home of Leo and Chris, it was the third location in which he had been placed during his short three months of life. His name is Angel, and he is now a lively, happy preschooler who makes his presence felt in the home in a big way.
Leo and his partner are currently in the process of adopting Angel. Child Link has made it possible for their family dreams to become a reality.
My world is brighter thanks to our son. We love the swings, and toys, and all of the kid stuff. It is not always easy, but being a parent has changed my life in a wonderful way.
Ann Marie G. had a great life with her husband Jim, her 11-year-old son, and the family dog. She also knew they wanted to share their happy life. Now she has not only achieved her goal, but she has also become somewhat of an expert on transracial adoption with a blog and a website dedicated to the issue!
Ann Marie and her husband had ruled out an international adoption. “We knew from Child Link that there are many children right here that need a home,” she says. “We did not want to upset birth order, [and] did not care about gender or race.”
She and her husband made the commitment to receive the required training. They took classes on different days so they would not need childcare for their son, but they also benefited from learning from others in their different courses. After their training was complete, they still did not know if a call would come, and so they took the situation one day as a time as they waited. “Then it happened fast and it was so exciting!” They got “the call” about a baby girl.
Today, Ann Marie is mother to a three-year-old daughter, and has learned how both wonderful and challenging it is as white parents of an African-American child. Ann Marie feels it is important for her daughter to have personal relationships with African-Americans.
“You can’t just read Maya Angelou,” she says jokingly. “We’re lucky to have resources and to live near a rich urban center.”
We have been really blessed, and we wanted to give another child a great life.
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