HOW IT WORKS

ADOPTION

 
In accordance with the Tennessee Code Annotated, AFO provides services to families engaged in the adoption process independently of public or private agencies.  These are commonly referred to interchangeably as private adoptions, independent adoptions, and parental placement adoptions.  ​The child-placing programs of Appalachian Family Outreach are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.  We work with the adopting family and their legal counsel to perform licensed home studies and post-adoption studies.   

Home Studies

Appalachian Family Outreach provides full, thorough, home studies in compliance with Tennessee law and licensing standards.  We are a licensed child-placing agency, therefore our home studies are recognized by Tennessee courts as being compliant with adoption laws.

Preliminary Home Studies

In some cases, there are requests to have a preliminary or sometimes termed “expedited” home study.  This is simply a preliminary assessment of your home that is gathered from a smaller portion of information than what is required from a full home study with an understanding that a full home study will follow.  Depending on caseload size of the social worker, a preliminary home study can be completed in a few days and there will be an additional fee. A full home study will need to be completed before the adoption finalization.  

​

Supervision of Child in Placement

AFO provides post-placement services after a child is placed in your home.  This will include visits to your home and reports to the court regarding the well-being of the child placed in your home.  In the State of Tennessee, a child must be in your home for a period of 6 months in order for an adoption to take place and the placement must be supervised during that time.  ​

Let's Start Working Together!

Appalachian Family Outreach

Address: 337 Carter St. Suite #5 Bluff City, Tennessee 37618

Telephone: (423) ​833-7317