Adoption Connection Program

The roots of the domestic adoption program at Spence-Chapin go back to the early 1900s when the independent Spence and Chapin nurseries began placing homeless infants with permanent families. Today, we work with birth parents from many different backgrounds and adoptive families, who may be either couples or single adults. An increasing number adoptive parents and birth parents are choosing open adoption — opting to meet each other and make plans for future contact. Spence-Chapin is actively and supportively involved in all aspects of the surrender and placement of an infant with his or her adoptive family.

Placements

  • After you complete your home study process, your profile is included in a special album that we share with birth parents who choose the couple or single adult to parent their child.
  • You can also become actively involved in networking, advertising, and making a direct connection with birth parents.

Spence-Chapin provides separate social workers and counseling for birth parents and adoptive parents. They fully support each participant in the adoption with sensitivity and expertise.

Pregnant women are encouraged to explore all their options, including family support and parenting. Birth parents receive extensive counseling to help them make the best decision for themselves and their child. We emphasize to both parties that birth parents will not complete any adoption plan until after the baby is born. If birth parents need time after the birth, interim care can be provided by Spence-Chapin for the baby.

Financial Considerations

  • Adoptive parents who work directly with Spence-Chapin pay a fee according to a sliding scale based on income.
  • Spence-Chapin assumes all pregnancy-related expenses for birth parents.
  • If a birth parent does not go forward with an adoption plan, Spence-Chapin continues to work with the prospective parents towards another plan with no additional fee to the adoptive parents.

Please see Affording Adoption to learn about making adoption from Spence-Chapin more affordable through federal adoption tax credits, corporate employee benefits, state subsidies and Spence-Chapin's special funds.

How to Apply for the Adoption Connection

Because there are fewer U.S.-born infants needing adoption than infants and children waiting abroad, Spence-Chapin schedules Adoption Connection information sessions infrequently. Please check our information session schedule for upcoming dates. Families who are able to parent infants with special medical or developmental needs are encouraged to consider the ASAP Program.

For more information, please contact the Adoption Department at 212-369-0300