Many married couples today choose to express their love for a child, their commitment to family life and their faith in the future through legal adoption.

If you have considered adopting a child, Volunteers of America can help. We've helped create thousands of new families in our state. As a nonprofit agency our mission is to serve individuals, families and the community. That is the key difference you'll experience in working with Volunteers of America.

Adoption is a loving choice that lasts a lifetime. It may be the most important decision in your life and a child's. But the process does not have to be complicated or difficult. Here are some frequently asked questions about legal adoption:

Who can adopt?
We look for financially-stable married couples of all religious faiths who can give a child love, understanding and guidance. We also work with many single parents interested in special needs or international adoption.

How do we apply?
Volunteers of America's application proces is simple. We'll ask you to fill out a confidential questionnaire covering lifestyle information, medical history and personal references. Once the application is complete, we can begin the home study process.

What is a home study?
As a licensed adoption agency, we are required by the law to visit your home to make sure the child will have a secure and loving home environment. Over several visits, your Volunteers of America adoption worker gets to know you better and helps you prepare for adoptive parenthood.

What is open adoption?
In an open adoption, the adopting parents meet the child's birth mother, usually during her pregnancy. Some relationship with the birth mother may also continue after the adoption is final. Open adoption has become the preferred way to adopt in recent years. It has many advantages for the child and for you now and as your child grows up.

Have you considered International Adoption?
For thousands of families, International Adoption is a miraculous, life-changing event. Many couples that thought they would never have a child to love have found International Adoption to be a true blessing.  In every city in America couples are turning to child placing agencies like Volunteers of America of North Louisiana to help them begin the process and hopefully create a forever family. Volunteers of America can network with any International Adoption Agency the family chooses.

How long is the wait?
It varies. The availability of healthy infants is a factor. To some extent, the waiting period also depends on how flexible adoptive parents are about openness and birth family circumstances. The waiting period begins after the home study is completed.

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids/Older Child Adoption
Volunteers of America urges families to consider opening their homes and hearts to foster care adoption. Volunteers of America North Louisiana and New Orleans work with Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, a national initiative of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, that helps children waiting in foster care find adoptive families.