SALEM — Virginia Baptists' HopeTree Family Services is one of several agencies that provide adoptive home studies and supervisory visits. HopeTree is licensed to accept children from their birth parents with the purpose of agency adoption. Adoption Services also facilitates special needs, international, private and domestic adoptions with other licensed agencies.
“We have few infants to adopt, but we are happy to work with Christian couples wishing to adopt,” said Stephen Richerson, president and executive director of HopeTree. “Typically the best service we can provide those wishing to adopt infants is to help coordinate their local options. We have been very successful, however, in placing foster children in families which then adopt them. In the last few years there has been a tremendous increase in foster-care adoptions. More often than not they are children with special needs.”
Mark Early, communications director for HopeTree, said, “We have a horrible time keeping foster parents because they keep adopting the children placed with them! This is a great thing, but it means that we have to continually look for people who will serve as foster parents. The hearts connect and the souls get involved and the next thing we know they are ready to adopt.”
Adoption Services are available across the Commonwealth from offices located in Salem and Chester. All adoption candidates must complete an application process which includes a series of home studies.
To adopt an infant (from 0 to five years old) a candidate must be a Virginia resident attending a Christian church; married for at least three years; financially stable; in good health; and not over 40 years old.
To adopt a child 6 years old or older or a special needs child, a candidate must be a Virginia resident and attend a Christian church; be financially stable; and be in good health.