Family
Evaluation

What Is A Snowflakes Family Evaluation?

The Snowflakes Family Evaluation (SFE) allows families pursuing embryo adoption, regardless of the state or country in which they reside, the option of receiving their required pre-adoption evaluation directly from Nightlight rather than through a third-party adoption agency. You receive the benefit of having the services coordinated and completed by a provider who is a Nightlight employee educated in embryo adoption, often at a lower cost than a traditional adoption home study.

Nightlight Christian Adoptions is committed to providing you with excellent educational resources and guidance to prepare you to be knowledgeable and supportive adoptive parents. Our intent is to help prepare you to parent a child who is not biologically related to you. The SFE will be different for each family, as everyone has different histories and experiences they bring into the adoption process.

Topics that will be assessed and discussed with your family during the SFE process include:

Residence

Nightlight can perform Snowflakes Family Evaluations for families who live anywhere in the United States, as well as internationally. We assign providers based on geographic location and availability.

Religion

Applicants must be committed to providing their child with a constructive, wholesome and spiritual home environment.

Health

Adoptive applicants must give evidence of good health, both physical and mental, which will be verified during the application process by medical examinations and other evaluations as needed.

Family Communications

Relationship building between matched families:

As a best practice of adoption, Snowflakes encourages direct communication between families: phone, email, Zoom, Facebook, Instagram, personal visits, etc. Two sets of adults are agreeing to an adoption for the benefit of the children involved. The opportunity to build relationships is often seen as an exciting time. Some relationships develop quickly, while some take a slower path. How to communicate is a mutual decision between parties.
AdoptConnect is an online service that Snowflakes has begun using to help our families on the slower path communicate with one another. AdoptConnect allows families to have some privacy until both are prepared to take your relationship to the next level. The first year cost for AdoptConnect is paid for you by the Snowflakes program and subsequent years are paid by the adopting family.

Open adoption helps the child to have access to their story without secrecy. We have many educational resources on the subject of open adoption and how it benefits everyone involved in the adoption triad.

Marriage

The SFE provider will spend time with you and your spouse seeking to understand the stability of your marriage relationship. As needed, we will provide information to help you create a stable and loving home for an adopted child.

Education

A formal educational component pertaining to parenting skills, adoption issues, and embryo adoption issues is required for adopting parents and will be included in the Snowflakes Family Evaluation. Our goal is to prepare you to be the best parents possible for your child.

Finances

Adopting parents must be able to provide a financially stable home, demonstrated by solid credit history and ability to live within their means.

Family Building

We are happy to answer any further questions you may have about the Snowflakes Family Evaluation. Call our Director of Snowflakes Family Evaluation Services, Jenna Baker, at 970-578-9700.

Getting Started with Your Snowflakes Family Evaluation

Please note that the Snowflakes Family Evaluation is only applicable to embryo adoption programs and is non-transferable to a domestic, international, or foster adoption program. The fees associated with the evaluation cannot be applied to other licensed home study services provided by Nightlight.

Fee Schedule

Snowflakes Family Evaluation: $1,500.00 (If you are a non-Snowflakes program client the application fee of $600 is also assessed)

Social Worker Travel Expenses: Average $400-$600.00 (Actual cost for travel to your home will vary depending upon your location. A cost estimate will be provided prior to travel and fees will be assessed after your home visit.)

Background Checks: $50.00 – $150.00 for two adults (Actual costs vary by state and by the number of people over the age of 18 living in the home. Each must have a background check.)

The process for a Snowflakes Family Evaluation is as follows:

1. Complete your application with Snowflakes – the application is the starting signal for any Nightlight service/program. The application fee is $600.00. Once your application is accepted, the first phase of the family evaluation begins. A fee of $1,000.00 is due at this time and is separate from the Snowflakes program fees. You will receive instructions regarding the required paperwork, background checks, and other documentation, which must be completed before the SFE provider visit is scheduled.

2. Once your Snowflakes Family Evaluation documentation has been completed, a provider will be assigned to meet with you in person and write the SFE report. That person will contact you to coordinate a mutually agreeable time for a home visit. The second fee of $500 is due prior to the home visit. Any travel expenses incurred will be invoiced after your home visit. The travel expense portion of your SFE fee must be received before the SFE report can be released to the Snowflakes program team.

Are you ready to start your embryo adoption journey through Snowflakes? After reading the Snowflakes Information Packet and FAQs , please contact Wisline, one of our Snowflakes Inquiry Specialists, at 970-578-9700 and she will help you get started on your Snowflakes Embryo Adoption journey.

Adoption Process