Adoption is less about getting a child for your family and more about giving your family for a child.

Fill out the application on the link below or forward us a copy of the application you have filled out for another agency. The application fee is $150.00 and can be paid via the donate button above, by check or cash. Your full application will then be reviewed, and we will contact you in a timely manner to move forward. We co-operate with the Guam Department of Health and Social Services; however, they maintain their own separate files for prospective adoptive families. Therefore, if you have applied through their offices, you will need to send us a copy of everything for us to keep with our files. We do not facilitate international adoptions.

A Letter of Introduction, Family Profile, Home Study, and Background Criminal Investigation will be needed to have your file approved and complete for viewing by an expectant mother. Instructions for fingerprinting and documents for the Home Study are included in the links below. We can help guide you through these processes, as they can sometimes be confusing.

You will need to be patient during this time, as you will be waiting for an expectant mother to choose you to place her child with. We will provide your Letter of Introduction and Family Profile for expectant mothers to consider. Guam families are our primary focus for placement, however any file of a family in the United States or US Territories will always be made available for review. You may have more than one mother contact you to meet or talk before a decision is made. It is important for both parts of this ‘family’ to feel good about the match. At the time of family matching, one half of the Ohala’ Adoptions fee is due.

This time in the process is when you meet your child and legal papers are signed, giving you physical custody. If the child is a newborn, this generally will happen when the baby is about to leave the hospital and the birth mother has signed papers to relinquish her guardianship. Attorney’s fees are due when documentation and court proceedings begin. The remaining balance of the Ohala’ Adoptions fee is due at the time of placement.

After a child has been placed with you, it is an important time to continue a relationship with the birth mother, if desired by you both. Pictures and letters are generally very helpful to a birth mom as she copes with any feelings of loss and thoughts of her child’s future. You can expect contact by and follow up visits from a social worker to ensure the well-being of the child and your family. During these visits, they will be able to provide counsel and guidance with any questions or concerns.

This is when the child becomes legally yours. You will need to go before a judge in Guam to have documents finalized. This generally happens one year after placement. After the finalization, you can count on the services of Ohala’ Adoptions to continue as a support network, finding necessary resources, and continued education. We are available in person, by phone, or through email.