About | Adoption|Foster Care|Treehouse

Adoption Program At Berkshire Children and Families

Have you ever thought about adopting a child? We'd love to hear from you!

Who are we?

The Adoption Program is one component of the Comprehensive Permanency Services Department of Berkshire Children and Families.

What do we do?

The Adoption Team finds permanent families for children who are not able to grow up in the families they were born into. We prepare families to become adoptive parents by providing group training and homestudies, both of which are required parts of the preparation/approval process to become a licensed, pre-adoptive family. Once a family has been licensed, we work with that family to help to identify a child/children who will be a good match for what that family has to offer. We also do child assessments and make recommendations regarding what steps should be taken to best accomplish legal permanency for a child. Casemanagement/permanency services include finding an appropriate "forever" home for a child, and supporting the child and his/her new family all the way through the adoption process.

Who are the Children?

Most of the children we work with are in the care of the MA Department of Children and Families. Though they may be between the ages of 0-18, most of the children we work with are younger than 12. Many have experienced a range of familial and personal challenges during their young lives.

What is the Role of the Adoptive Parent?

Adoptive Parents provide a child with a stable home, a consistent, caring environment in which to grow up, and permanent family connections which will support and guide the child as he/she moves through life's developmental stages.

What do services cost? What financial support is available?

There is no charge for the training and homestudy process required to become an adoptive family resource for a child in the care of the MA DCF. A small stipend is available for the family after a child is placed, and subsidy may continue after a child is adopted if the child has special needs.

What kind of families does the Adoption Program look for?

All kinds!

• Kinship Families
• Experienced Parents
• Inexperienced parents, but willing to learn!
• Single and two parent families
• Families with or without children of their own in the home
• Families with the ability to meet the needs of chidren not born to them
• Families with energy, a sense of humour, resilience, flexibility and a healthy respect for honoring differences
• Families with the room in their homes, their hearts and their schedules to welcome a child who needs everything they have to offer and then some!

So if you think you could be the kind of family described above, please let us know!

For more information contact:

Barbara Carulli
Director of Adoption Services
(413) 584-5690, ext. 116
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Or

Linda Dugas
Family Resource Coordinator
(413) 584-5690, ext. 117
Click for email