"We find parents for children…not children for parents. The guiding force behind all adoption services focuses on the child's best interest. Every effort is made to match the special needs of the child to the parenting potential of the family." quote from an adoption counselor

Adoption services can be defined as the recruitment and retention of adoptive families that are appropriate for special needs children and the provision of placement and post adoption services to children and families. A special needs child is one for whom an adoptive placement is considered difficult due to the child's age (eight years or older), physical, emotional, or developmental disabilities, racial heritage, or who is part of a sibling group of at least two children that should be placed together.

Children are referred to the adoption program once their parental rights have been terminated and adoption is the plan. When the agency has determined the child's current foster home or relative caregiver will not commit to permanency, the adoption counselor lists the child on the adoption exchange and develops presentation information.

Adoptive parents must complete MAPP training (Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) and complete a home study to be considered for the placement of the child. Background screening requirements must also be met. It is estimated that the training and approval process will take approximately six months.

When multiple families are interested in the same child, CBKN will hold a "match staffing" to determine which of the candiates can best meet the needs of the child. Efforts are made to keep siblings together whenever possible. In some circumstances subsidies are availabe to assist the parent in caring for the child.

CBKN's primary goal is to ensure that each adoption gives the child a permanent, loving home.