Lifeline supports families through the adoption and guardianship journey by equipping them with knowledge, resources, and sustainable community supports to help build a safe and stable home.
Since July 1, 2022, Lifeline Youth & Family Services is proud to be a partner of the Indiana Department of Child Services, in providing Adoption and Guardianship Support Services (AGSS) in the state of Indiana.
Services in all 92 Counties of Indiana include:
Lifeline provides families with support needs distinctive to adoption and guardianship, intending to finalize adoption or guardianship successfully. Lifeline works in collaboration with Child and Family Teams.
Eligibility:
DCS children with adoption or guardianship as a permanency plan where a pre-adoptive/guardianship home is identified.
The referral is made by FCM and filtered through the Regional Adoption Consultant.
The child(ren) is currently in DCS custody and has adoption or guardianship indicated in their permanency plan.
Services are mandatory for all referred children and families.
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training for parents and caregivers
Coordination of pre-placement visits between potential adoptive or guardianship families (if needed)
Creating a new or updating a current Lifebook for the child
Offer support and resources to include such topics as:
Explain the meaning of adoption or guardianship and the difference between adoption or guardianship and foster care
Reconstruct and interpret the child’s history
Assist the child in understanding their unique life experience
Address feelings of grief and loss associated with the loss of the child’s biological family or foster family
Discuss loyalty issues the child may be facing
Coordinate mental/behavioral health services for the child and family
Lifeline provides families with support needs unique to adoption and guardianship, intending to maintain or achieve stability to increase the preservation of adoption or guardianship family.
Eligibility:
Any Indiana family who has finalized Adoption or Guardianship
The family is interested in these voluntary services
The referral is made through the Regional Adoption Consultant.
Weekly visits by an adoption-competent Care Coordinator to provide such services as:
Community resource coordination
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training for parents and caregivers and other in-home coaching or training based on the family’s need
Collaborate with the family to help coordinate informal respite resources
Facilitate crisis intervention services to help restore a family’s safety and stability
Referrals are submitted to Lifeline by the DCS Adoption Consultant
Get the support you need
Lifeline has compiled a list of helpful resources for families involved in adoption or guardianship. Lifeline also hosts support groups for families to get the help they need. All Lifeline Youth & Family Services support groups (online and in-person) are for Resource families.
Click the buttons below to view Resources or Support Groups.
Join the Indiana Adoption Support Facebook Group
If you have any questions or want to get started, please email agssinfo@lifelineyouth.org.