Catholic Family Services of the Diocese of Sioux Falls works each day to help families successfully adopt children in the area.
Established as a non-profit organization in 1961, the agency is staffed by qualified professionals and licensed by the State of South Dakota.
CFS offers pregnancy counseling and adoption services as well as, counseling to adults, children, families and couples.
CFS’ main office is in Sioux Falls, but it also has full-time outreach offices in Aberdeen, Mitchell, Pierre and Watertown and 11 part-time offices in other communities.
Catholic Family Services has seen many changes in the adoption process. Until 10 years ago, all adoptions were confidential. Confidential adoptions allow both birth and adoptive families to protect their identities and remain anonymous with regard to one another. No identifying information is shared between the birth parents and adoptive parents.
That changed in the early 1990’s when CFS began offering semi-open adoptions. Semi-open adoptions allow the birth parents to choose the adoptive couple, share pictures and letters with the adoption agency as a go-between, and even meet face to face on a first name only basis. Any correspondence is facilitated through the agency.
As semi-open adoptions became more popular the request for total openness grew.
Open adoptions also allow the birth parents to choose the adoptive parents. They meet, exchange names, addresses and phone numbers and continue contact throughout the child’s life.
Today, Catholic Family Services offers all types of adoptions, confidential, semi-open and open adoptions.
CFS requires the following of adoptive parents: that they reside in the Sioux Falls Diocese, usually are married at least three years, have a valid marriage recognized by the Catholic Church and intend to raise the child as a Catholic.
CFS also requires that at least one partner is a practicing Catholic, registered in a Catholic Parish, is at least 21 years of age and not over 45 at the time of application. The couple must also be in good physical and mental health,
The prospective adopting couple must be unable to conceive and bear children or have medical problems that may be complicated by a pregnancy. It is expected the couple would have consulted a physician regarding their fertility problems prior to formal application.
Special exceptions are made by CFS for special needs children.
Couples who meet the above criteria may call Catholic Family Services at 605-988-3775 or outside of Sioux Falls 1-800-700-7867 and speak with the Adoption coordinator.
In the course of the process, potential adoptive couples first complete a home study. It is a written report summarizing a couple’s background, marriage, infertility, employment, religion, lifestyle, parenting and screening information.
Catholic Family Services also provides home study services to couples pursuing an international adoption. International adoptions involve different requirements than those already listed.
Catholic Family Services provides free, confidential counseling and assistance to the mother and father of the adopted baby.
CFS also does not limit its pregnancy counseling, adoption education and parenting education services just to Catholics. People from all church denominations are welcome.
An adoption counselor is available to meet either in one of our offices or travel to any town in eastern South Dakota. The counselor is also available to meet with members of your extended families for free.
Catholic Family Services also is available to help women cope with an unplanned pregnancy. That process begins by helping a woman take control of her own situation. That can happen if the woman has honest information to make wise decisions.
CFS’ free pregnancy counseling involves supporting a woman in her decision to respect life. Counselors will explore both parenting and adoption options for the client and her baby.
Community prenatal care information and financial assistance services are explored and appropriate referrals are made as the process moves along.
Catholic Family Services offers financial support to pregnant women through the Mother Teresa Endowment Fund.
If after exploring the personal, emotional, financial, family support, and other resources available and the woman chooses to parent her child, Catholic Family Services will assist in locating appropriate services in the community.
If the woman chooses to place her baby for adoption, CFS will help her choose the degree of involvement that is best for the woman, for her child and for the adoptive family.
If a woman is unsure of what to do after having her baby, she may place the child in temporary foster care until making a permanent decision. Catholic Family Services currently has licensed foster homes that are available at any time to provide a loving temporary home for the woman’s baby.
Choosing to place your baby for adoption may be one of the most difficult decisions a parent can make. It is very important to work with a professional that you trust and who will talk about your options.
Catholic Family Services is focused on helping you meet your needs and assist you in making a fully informed decision. Choosing adoption means you choose to give life to a child.