Southaven Adoption & Foster Care Resources

As a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, Southaven has access to adoption resources in both Tennessee and Mississippi, many of which you can reach out to during your adoption journey. If you are pursuing adoption, either as a pregnant mother or adopting family, the following collection of resources will help you through the process in Southaven, Mississippi.

Adoption Agencies and Professionals in Southaven

There are multiple kinds of adoption professionals you can consult if you are considering adoption, including facilitators, law firms, and law centers. Adoption agencies, whether they are national or local, are beneficial to expecting mothers and adoptive families because they provide all of the services you need in one place. If you would like to find an adoption agency or other professional in Southaven, follow some of the links below:

• Heidi S. Milam
• Bosserman Law
• Law Office of Giles W. King

You can also find adoption professionals in the Memphis area who are also licensed in Mississippi. Visit our Adoption in Tennessee and Memphis adoption resource pages for more information.

Southaven Foster Care Resources

Parents looking to pursue foster care in Southaven should become familiar with the requirements in Mississippi, which are described in detail at Adopt US Kids. To learn more about foster parenting in Southaven or to inquire about available children, contact one of your nearby foster care professionals:

• Youth Villages
• Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services 

Home Study Providers

Consisting of personal interviews, background checks, a home evaluation and more, the Mississippi home study is one of the most important parts of every adoption and foster care process. It is important to choose the right professional to complete your adoption home study and ensure it complies with all state laws and requirements. To get started, contact a home study provider in your area:

• New Beginnings 662-842-6752 New Beginnings is a Mississippi adoption agency that provides state-compliant home studies for families anywhere in the state.

• Lifeline Children’s Services 205-967-0811 A licensed child-placing agency, Lifeline has licensed social workers in Mississippi and all of the states where they complete adoptions.

Visit 1800HomeStudy.com to learn more about Mississippi home study providers.

Hospitals near Southaven

If you are a pregnant mother and pursuing adoption, you will want to work with your adoption specialist and healthcare provider to plan your hospital stay. By creating a hospital plan, you can let those involved in your adoption know how you want the big day to proceed and who you want to be there with you. To get started or find more information, you can contact a nearby hospital:

• Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto 7601 Southcrest Parkway Southaven, MS 38671 662-772-4000

• Choices: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health 1726 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 901-274-3550

Mississippi Adoption Laws and Requirements

Expectant and adopting parents in Southaven must abide by Mississippi law when they are pursuing their adoption plans. To learn more about the process and legal procedures, visit our page on How to Adopt in Mississippi. For a brief overview of laws pertaining to birth parents and adoptive families, read the sections below. Birth Parents: In order for a child to be adopted, the birth mother and father must both give consent or have their parental rights otherwise terminated. In Mississippi, birth mothers must wait 72 hours before they can legally consent to an adoption. In some cases, the explicit consent of the birth father is not needed. If the father of the child is not present, cannot be contacted, or does not consent to the adoption for another reason, speak to your adoption professional about what measures you need to take. For more information on consent laws and your parental rights, visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Adoptive Families: Each state has a unique set of basic requirements that families must meet before they can pursue adoption. Adoptive parents in Mississippi must be a resident of the state for at least 6 months to become eligible to adopt. Additionally, you must meet the requirements put in place by your adoption professional. Adoption agencies and other professionals may have more stringent eligibility criteria, so make sure to take this into account when choosing who to work with in your adoption.

County Court Information

Adoptions are finalized in court after a number of post-placement visits by a social worker. Your adoption specialist will inform you of what you need to do when it is time to finalize your adoption. If you would like information on the courts near you, you can visit the DeDoto County Court page.

Things to Do in Southaven

If you are adopting a child from the Southaven area, you may find yourself spending some time in the city, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for ICPC clearances. Here are some fun local attractions to visit if you are looking for ways to spend your time in Southaven:

• Southaven Towne Center
• Landers Center
• Tanger Outlet Mall