Catholic Social Services Adoption

If you're a married couple looking to adopt a baby, Catholic Social Services may be something for you to consider.
As we continue to highlight National Adoption Awareness Month, you meet a Wilmer couple who says C-S-S found them the perfect addition to their family.

Four month old Lauren Elizabeth "Lizzy" works her passie, and loves her mom and dad, James and Anna Sunderland.
"She'll look at you and grin. She'll tell you just with her eyes and with her smile and just by the way she reacts to you..that she loves you", says Anna.

Before placing Lizzy in their home, Martha Coaker, a social worker with Catholic Social Services spent a lot of time getting to know The Sunderlands. Having the birth parents' social, genetic, and medical history, she knew Lizzy would be the right fit.
"They would be able to love her unconditionally. They were open to a biracial baby so this baby was perfect for them. They were the perfect parents for her. They are the perfect parents for her", says Coaker.

Another plus for adoptive parents, Coaker says catholic social services provides infant foster care for newborns until the legal risk period for the birth parents to change their minds has passed. The Sunderlands brought Lizzy home at 16 days old.
"I was amazed at how fast it went. I was told it would take with other adoptions it would take longer..I really did not expect it to be this quick", says Anna.
The adoption process took them less than a year.

Coaker says matching families is a huge responsibility, "But, it's such a joy when I come to the conclusion that this family is about to be parents. They are about to become parents and they don't even know it yet".
"She's brought so much joy and laughter..I mean, a lot of responsibility too. But, it's almost like second nature to us now", says Anna".
"Gorgeous, couldn't have asked for anything better", says James.

The birth parents of all the babies placed through Catholic Social Services have voluntarily relinquished their parental rights.
Coaker says C-S-S makes adoption affordable for every family.

The placement fee is 10 percent of a couple's adjusted gross income for the year before...up to 15 thousand dollars.
For more information, you can contact Martha Coaker at 251.434.1550.