Adoption Center for Family Building (ACFB)
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Contact Information
8645 Connecticut
Merrillville, IN 46410
United States
Online Contact Form
Merrillville, IN 46410
United States
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Adoption Center for Family Building (ACFB) is a private, nonprofit open adoption agency licensed in Illinois and Indiana. We provide a full range of adoption counseling and placement services to birth parents and adoptive parents. Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping our clients get the guidance and support they need throughout their adoption journey.
The agency was founded in 1996 by Tobi Ehrenpreis and Maggie Gill Benz. Both licensed social workers and adoptive mothers, Tobi and Maggie combined their administrative and clinical expertise to establish the agency. ACFB was conceived to be a progressive alternative to traditional, faith-based adoption agencies.
While going through the adoption process themselves, both women encountered barriers along the way. They were committed to creating a more transparent and flexible agency to better meet the needs of everyone.
Services and information
- Adoption
- Other
Requirements to become a foster parent
Foster parents in Indiana have access to a variety of services and support. These services include:
Support Payments
As a foster parent, you will receive a daily payment from DCS to help cover the costs of caring for a foster child. The amount varies depending on the age and needs of the child, but payments start at $18.88/day.
Foster parents are also eligible for an initial clothing expense payment of up to $200.00 and an Annual Personal Allowance of up to $300.00 per child per year. This payment becomes available when the child has been in placement for at least eight days.
Additionally, DCS provides a Special Occasion Allowance of up to $50.00 on
child’s birthday and during the December holidays.
Medical and Dental Coverage
In Indiana, children in foster care are entitled to receive Medicaid coverage for their medical and dental needs.
However, it is the responsibility of the foster parents to schedule and attend all medical and dental appointments for the child. This means that foster parents must make sure that the child receives proper medical care and attends all necessary appointments to maintain their health and well-being.
Training and Support Groups
Foster parents have access to ongoing training and support groups to help them navigate the challenges of fostering. Support groups provide a space for foster parents to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of fostering.
Indiana Foster Care Statistics and Outcomes
Understanding the statistics and outcomes of foster care in Indiana can help you better understand the need for foster parents in the state.
As of 2021, there were over 13,000 children in foster care in Indiana. However, there are only 6,200 licensed foster parents. Most children in Indiana foster care are between ages 8 and 16. On average, they stayed an average of 14.3 months in foster care.
Sadly, children who exit foster care have a higher likelihood of experiencing homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration than their peers who did not experience foster care.
As a foster parent, you can help break this cycle. You could inspire troubled child to excel and reach their true potential.
Ratings and Reviews
Average user rating
5.0 / 5| 5 | |
| 4 | |
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| 1 |
Jun 07, 2016
Used their services from the IL office twice both for International (home study) and Domestic adoptions. Wonderful experience both times. Very helpful through the whole process and always ready to help accommodate for special circumstances
Jun 07, 2016
I have worked with other adoption agencies, but ACFB really was my best experience. They had a true commitment to the success of everyone in the process from the birth parents to the children and their adoptive families.
As a single adoptive mom, I thought ACFB was really thoughtful about how to help me through the adoption process. I also thought their overall methodology worked better for my situation than others had and that they were more compassionate all around. The adoption counselor, who was a birthmother herself was amazing throughout my fall through and then eventual successful placement.
I now have my two beautiful boys and my family is complete. I couldn't be happier with the services of ACFB and would definitely recommend them!
Jun 06, 2016
The staff with ACFB has been wonderful to work with throughout this whole process. From our very first meeting, we were welcomed in with open arms and excitement to start this journey of our domestic adoption. The counselors that we dealt with personally in assisting in the home study completion and those that worked directly with our birth mother were exceptionally great. Having that support gave us the peace of mind for a process that can become very hard and stressful at times. Any family would be lucky to work with ACFB.
May 25, 2016
ACFB is staffed with wonderful, friendly professionals. They ushered us through the adoption process with just the right mix of support and expertise. I could not recommend them strongly enough.