Getting Started

Prospective adoptive parents networking through The Cradle pay a placement fee of $3,500, which is due upon placement. These fees help to defray some of the costs The Cradle incurs in providing birthparent services, including outreach, medical expenses, counseling, and nursery care.

If you are interested in becoming a special needs networking family, your next steps are as follows:

1. Obtain an adoption home study from a licensed agency in your state of residence. To locate a licensed professional in your area, you can find a directory on the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse website or Adoption.com's state-by-state directory.
   
   
   
2. If you are adopting transracially, you must complete the Adoption Learning Partners online education course Conspicuous Families: Race, Culture and Adoption. Each parent must complete the course individually. You will need to send a certificate of completion (for each parent) to The Cradle.
   
   
   
3. Create a family profile to introduce your family to potential birthparents. Please download the download the profile template that will instruct you on how to write your profile. You can find examples of profiles on our web site by clicking here. Your local adoption agency should also be able to help you with creating a profile.
   
   
   
4. Send the following items to The Cradle
   Download a checklist for items required
   A. One copy of your home study
   B. 2 copies of your family profile
   C. The $75 processing fee (check payable to The Cradle)
   D. A copy of your home study agency's license
   E. A signed copy of the Certificate of Preparation
   F. If adopting transracially, an Adoption Learning Partners Certificate of Completion for the online course, "Conspicuous Families" (each parent must send a certificate)
   
   
   Send all materials and fee to:
   Marc Arneson
   The Cradle
   2049 Ridge Ave
   Evanston, IL 60201
   
   
   
5. We will contact you or your agency���s counselor when your materials have been reviewed. Upon acceptance, you will need to send the $125 Family Album Fee (payable to The Cradle, sent to the attention of Marc Arneson), before your profile is included in our Networking Family Album.
   
   
6. We will contact you prior to showing your profile to birthparents.

Please know that we can offer no guaranteed timeline or placement.