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Being informed of what to expect during the adoption process is very important. The following steps will give an overview of the process Beacon House follows.

1. Step 1: Initial Information
   A family needs to acquire information from agencies they are considering and make a decision on what will work best for them. To do this, just click on the link for Free Information on our site and submit the required information. You will be immediately contacted by a professional case manager, who will not only provide you with written information on our programs and fees, she will follow up with you via phone and email to determine if you have any questions the materials did not answer.
2. Step 2: Meeting or conference with Domestic Adoption Coordinator
   After reviewing all the written information and speaking with the case manager, the family will be placed in contact with the Domestic Adoption Coordinator for Beacon House. This can be in person or on the phone, depending on the familys location. All the details of the program the family is interested in will be discussed and explained. The family may at that time discuss any special circumstances that they may have and the Domestic Adoption Coordinator will reassure them about any lagging concerns.
3. Step 3: Application
   After a family has completed their research phase and spoken to the Domestic Adoption Coordinator, they will submit their application for adoption services. This can be done online from the Beacon House website, and the application fee can be paid via PayPal.
4. Step 4: Receipt and review of application
   A member of the domestic adoption staff will review the application within 24 hours of its receipt. If there are any questions or concerns, the family will be contacted.
5. Step 5: Contract for services
   The family is sent a contract for adoption services. Beacon House sends these via Federal Express and tracks delivery. We do this so that our staff can contact the family after receipt of the contract to determine if there are any questions about the content of the contracts. The contract is intended to spell out the rights of the family as well as the agency, and assist in understanding the process they are about to enter. Family signs and returns contract with initial fees.
6. Step 6: Home Study
   Family will begin their home study either with Beacon House in Louisiana, Mississippi or Florida. If family resides in another state, Beacon House will assist the family in identifying a home study agency near them.
7. Step 7 : Profile
   The domestic staff will assist the family is making a profile to be presented to potential birth mothers for consideration. Beacon House asks that family submits several copies of the profile to the Baton Rouge office to retain.
8. Step 8: Birth Mother match!
   Once matched with a birth mother, Beacon House offers regularly scheduled classes devoted to parents in this situation: Parents in Progress and Help! I am Adopting are hosted by Denise Hoppenhauer. In addition, regular updates on the birth mother will be provided by the domestic staff.
9. Step 9: Placement/Finalization
   Upon the birth of the infant, family takes physical custody after adoptions consents completed by biological parents. Finalization can take place no earlier than 6 months later.