Our Mission
To inform and educate pregnant women and prospective adoptive parents about the adoption process in order to build a foundation for making decisions that promote a safe, loving, and permanent family for each child.
Services
Birth Parents:
- Prenatal to Postpartum Counseling
- Support and Education for Pregnant Women
- Newborn Baby Supplies Provided
- Adoption Services
- Transitional Foster Care
- Post Placement Services
- Case Management
- Housing & Maternity Home Referrals
Adoptive Couples:
- Program Orientation
- Adoption Education
- Home Studies
- Home Study Updates
- Counseling
- Placement Support
- Post-Adoption Services
- Interstate Compact Services
Adoptive Parent Information
Our program is a private adoption agency within Catholic Charities and has been state-licensed since 1984. Over 400 infants have been placed for adoption since that time.
Catholic Charities has provided counseling services to pregnant woman since the early 1970s and continues to have a strong commitment to supporting birthparents in making informed decisions about their pregnancy.
Requirements for Couples
Requirements are based mainly on our pledge to meet the needs/desires of our birthparents seeking to place their infants for adoption
- Must be residents of San Diego or Imperial Counties.
- Must be married at least two years.
- Must have a faith or spirituality of practice, not necessarily Catholic.
- Catholic Charities is committed to openness in adoption, including meeting with birth parents and sending letters and pictures. Couples must be willing to embrace this open adoption policy.
- Catholic Charities serves children of a variety of ethnic backgrounds and seeks adoptive couples who value this diversity. Couples must be willing to accept a child who represents one half of any ethnicity that is not their own at a minimum.
- Total fee: 12% of gross annual combined income from past three years.
- Fee range: $7,000 -$15,000. This amount includes the application fee, seminar series, a full homestudy, waiting couples' support meetings, post-placement visits, pre- and post-birth parent counseling, termination of birth parents' rights, professional consultation for individual case issues, finalization services and all legal paperwork to complete the adoption. Note: You are not asked to pay any fee until you have been invited to attend the Adoption Seminar series.
- Age: The agency will not reject applicant couples based solely on age. However, please be advised that birth parents select adoptive couples based on a wide range of criteria that includes age, perceived marital and financial stability, perceived health and wellness, etc. Catholic Charities encourages couples over the age of 45 to truly reflect on these variables when considering the application process.
- Approximately ten to fifteen newborns become available for adoption each year through our agency.
- Average wait after approval: 6 months to 1 1/2 years.
Next Step
- If you are interested in learning more about our program and feel it may be a good fit for your desired adoption experience, please call our Unit Coordinator in Pregnancy and Adoption Services at 619-231-2828, Ext. 310 or toll free at 1-800-CARE-002 to determine when the next Orientation series is to begin and request a packet.
- Couples must then participate in Catholic Charities' Orientation I, Orientation II and, by invitation, a six-week series of seminar classes focused on adoption issues.
Birth Parent Information
Our program is a private adoption agency within Catholic Charities and has been state-licensed since 1984. Over 400 infants have been placed for adoption since that time.
Catholic Charities has provided counseling services to pregnant woman since the early 1970s and continues to have a strong commitment to supporting birthparents in making informed decisions about their pregnancy.
Services Offered
- Gentle, supportive and ethical counseling is provided at no cost to the pregnant woman throughout the decision-making process.
- Support is provided during labor and delivery if requested.
- Ongoing counseling and support is provided after the placement of the baby or if a mother decides to parent the child.
- Newborn baby items are available to women who choose to parent.
- Counseling and support is offered to birth fathers and extended family members.
The Adoption Process
- The birth mother selects an adoptive family from the pool of approved, certified waiting families. Catholic Charities conducts a thorough background check on all prospective adoptive couples.
- The birth mother can meet the adoptive couple before the birth of the baby.
- The birth mother can maintain an open relationship with the adoptive family according to her desire for openness.
- The baby is usually placed directly with the adoptive couple from the hospital.
Transitional Foster Care
- Catholic Charities is a Foster Family Agency that can provide brief transitional foster care for babies when new mothers are undecided about making an adoption plan.
- Foster care is provided by singles and couples certified specifically by Catholic Charities to foster babies. Catholic Charities conducts a thorough background check on all foster parents.
Next Step
- Please call our Unit Coordinator in Pregnancy and Adoption Services at 619-231-2828, ext 310 or 1-800-CARE-002 to make an appointment to meet with a counselor.
- Appointments can be arranged Monday through Friday at Catholic Charities or at a location convenient to you.
How to Contact
349 Cedar Street
San Diego, CA 92101
619-231-2828, ext 310 or 800-CARE-002
Spanish-speaking staff available
