Philosophy:

Family Services subscribes to the philosophy that every child has the right to a permanent home. The welfare of the child is the primary consideration in adoption with the needs of the prospective parents being secondary. Furthermore, to reinforce this philosophy, a thorough adoptive applicant assessment must be completed before adoptive applicants are approved.

Adoption is the legal and social process whereby the relationship of parent and child is created between persons not related by birth.

All adoption services must be in compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare licenses the agency and all adoption services provided are in compliance with existing social service regulations as established by statute.

• Infant Adoption

  A program providing for the placement of healthy infants with loving couples who have completed the adoptive assessment program. Funding is derived from placement fees.

  Adoptive couples must reside in Erie County, and must have sought medical consultation regarding infertility. Applicants are drawn from the Infant Adoption Waiting List that was closed to new applicants in March of 1991. If the couple’s status remains the same as when they applied, i.e., still living in Erie County and still childless, they can be assessed for infant placement.

  The primary constraints of this program are the few infants available for adoption.

  The Infant Program also encompasses Search and Private Placement Homestudies. Both services are available for a client fee. The Orphan’s Court approves applicants for Search, and other post-placement services are provided upon request of the Office of Children & Youth Services or adoptees who were originally adopted through the agency.

• Child Welfare Adoption Program

  The agency recruits and assesses families who wish to adopt children available through the Office of Children & Youth Services. The children are of all ages and may have a history of physical or sexual abuse or neglect. They may have medical or educational limitations or emotional problems.

  Applicants generally live in Erie, Crawford, Warren, McKean or Venango Counties; couples must be married at least two years, and single adults may also adopt.

  Funding is derived through a contractual agreement with the Erie County Office of Children & Youth. Applicants are responsible only for legal fees to finalize the adoption.

• State Wide Adoption Network(SWAN)

  The agency has a contractual agreement with the state to provide adoption services for children and adoptive applicants referred through SWAN. The children may be from anywhere in Pennsylvania and the adoptive families may be from Erie County or any surrounding county. The children's local office of Children & Youth Services refers the children to SWAN.

  We provide services to assess the child’s needs, compile social history information, and prepare them for placement and adoption. The children typically will be those considered having "special needs" and of the same background as described in the Child Welfare Program.

  Adoptive families may be couples or single individuals who will be assessed for adoption of special needs children. The geographical area to be served encompasses Erie, Crawford, Warren, McKean and Venango Counties. The only fees involved are minimal legal fees.