We assist potential adoptive couples throughout the Madison Diocese in both independent and interstate adoptions.

Our program studies and licenses homes, provides training, places the infant, supervises the placement and assists with the legalization process. We serve people of all faiths and beliefs. Both spouses at least 21 years of age and at least one spouse younger than 45 years old.

The prospective adoptive parents must:

• Be residents of one of the following Wisconsin counties:  Columbia, Dane, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Marquette, Rock or Sauk.
• Be married a minimum of 2 years.
• Meet age requirements.
• Have no more than one child already in the home.
• Provide medical verification of infertility (unexplained infertility is acceptable).
• Provide for the spiritual development of a child.
• Be able to provide a safe and stable home for a child: Be financially, physically, emotionally and mentally stable.
• Be willing and able to adhere to agency/state policies and laws regarding adoption of a child.
• Not have a current home study with another child placing agency.
• Once placed with an infant, at least one parent must stay home with the infant for the first 12 weeks (Family and Medical Leave Act) of placement. This time period can be split between both parents, if need be.
• If completing a second adoption, any other child (birth or adoptive) in your home must have been in the home at least one year before submitting an application for a second adoption.

Training requirements for adoptive parents:

• Attend Catholic Charities Adoption Orientation meeting. Must be completed before submitting application.
• 16 hours of education for first time adoptive parents based on the State of Wisconsin’s adoption core competencies (see Adoptive Parent Training information). Must be completed before completion of home study.

The following training requirements must be completed before a child is placed in their adoptive home:

• Certified/Infant CPR training (certification must be current at time of placement).
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome training.
• Shaken Baby Syndrome training.