Desiring to Adopt

We believe that every child has the right to enjoy a safe, healthy, happy, and stable home. We do believe that every adult has the right to adopt. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, or Christian faith. New Beginnings families are carefully screened per Mississippi DHS protocol including Criminal Background Checks, Child Abuse Registry Checks, and Reference Checks. New Beginnings also requires a Pastoral Reference Check and signed Statement of Christian Faith. Your Home Study must be completed by a Licensed Social Worker who is employed by a Licensed Adoption Agency.

New Beginnings International Children’s & Family Services has an International Adoption Program that has achieved 2 – Year Temporary Hague Accreditation from the Council on Accreditation. All of our International services are provided in compliance with the Hague Convention. We currently have two International Adoption Programs, Nepal and Poland and are able to make referrals for other countries through the National Christian Adoption Fellowship. Click here for more information on International Adoption.

New Beginnings International Children’s & Family Services is a faith-based service organization with a strong Christian heritage.

We believe that “Every Child Deserves a Forever Family.”

General Qualifications for Adoption*

EACH COUPLE MUST:

Have a Christian commitment. Family devotions and training a child in a Christian atmosphere are important.
Be motivated to adopt by a desire to share their lives with a child and a willingness to love that child as if it had been born to them.
Have been married for at least two years.
Be in good physical health and free from communicable disease. The use of tobacco products is absolutely prohibited.
Be at least 21 years of age and not over the age of 45 in considering an infant adoption. If the child being considered is not an infant, it is preferable for there to be at least 18 years difference between the parents and child.
Be financially secure.
Provide a childcare plan if both parents work outside the home.
Have a home large enough to accommodate an additional child with no more than two children in each bedroom
Have water and sewage tested and approved by the local health department if your home is outside city limits. The home must also meet fire inspection codes with recommended smoke detectors and fire extinguisher.

*These requirements may vary depending on the type of adoption (domestic or international) and which country if international.

APPLICATION AND ADOPTION PROCESS:

Domestic/International Adoption Application – Completing the appropriate Adoption Application and accompanying forms is the first step in the application process. Click here to download the Adoption Application and forms . If you are unable to download the documents, you may request copies by contacting Brenda at 662-842-6752 . The documents will be mailed to you.
Once you have completed the Adoption Application and accompanying forms, please mail all documents with a check for the $500 processing fee to New Beginnings International Children’s & Family Services, P.O. Box 7055, Tupelo, MS 38802, ATTN: Brenda. This $500 processing fee is non-refundable. Upon receiving your application, Reference Letters will be mailed to the References that you have listed on your Adoption Application. After all Reference Letters have been returned, the adoption committee will review your Adoption Application. If your application is approved, an approval letter will be mailed to you. If your application is declined, a letter explaining the reason will be mailed to you.
Home Study – NBICFS will arrange for a home study to be done for families residing in the state of Mississippi . For out-of-state families, NBICFS will offer referrals to agencies in the state of residency. We recommend National Christian Adoption Fellowship partners. A domestic home study is good for a period of one year in the state of Mississippi . If placement does not take place within a year of the date your home study was finalized, an update will be required before a placement can be made. An international home study is good for a period of two years in the state of Mississippi . An update may be necessary depending on the country of origin and processing time.

DOMESTIC ADOPTION PROCESS CONTINUED...

Adoption Waiting List - Once you have received your approval to adopt, your name will be added to the Adoption Waiting List. This list is in the date order that each application is approved. Although your name will be added to the Adoption Waiting List, your profile will not be shown to birth mothers until you have an approved home study on file.
Child Offered for Placement - When an appropriate child becomes available for adoption, the approved applicants will be contacted. If the applicants agree to accept the child offered, the balance of fees due will be payable at that time.
Placement/Court Date - NBICFS will coordinate the placement/court date with the adoptive family. You will then be required to make the necessary travel arrangements for placement of the child and a court appearance. Our attorney and a NBICFS staff member will appear before a Chancery Judge with the adoptive parents.
Finalization - You will not be required to return to Tupelo for issuance of the final decree of adoption. Our attorney will appear before the Judge after we have received the final post-placement report and finalization is recommended. At this time a final decree of adoption will be issued and a copy sent to you. Then you will receive the corrected birth certificate, usually within six weeks. We strive to keep our fees as low and reasonable as possible and invite you to compare these fees and our process with other legitimate, licensed child-placing agencies. Prior to a child being placed with you for adoption, the only funds you will pay are the Domestic Adoption Application processing fee ($500) and your home study fee. Our fees are ALL INCLUSIVE and include processing the Domestic Adoption Application, maternity care center program fee, the home study fee* and legal fees if the adoption is completed in Tupelo, Mississippi. *NBICFS staff will complete your home study if you reside in Mississippi . If you reside outside of Mississippi a licensed professional, working with a licensed adoption agency, and who meets your state’s guidelines must do your home study. The “all inclusive” fee will be reduced by $1,000 if you live outside of Mississippi , because you pay your home study fee in your home state.
Thank you for understanding that the birth mothers we work with have high expectations for adoptive parents and we strive to honor their expectations.

INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION PROCESS CONTINUED...

The remainder of the process will vary depending on country. Upon approval of your Adoption Application, you will receive an approval letter and a country-specific manual detailing the process for the country that you are adopting from.
Universal Components of the International Adoption Process
I-600A/I-600 process (for Non-Hague Convention countries)
I-800A/I-800 process (for Hague Convention countries)
Referral
Travel
Visa(s)
Re-Adoption