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INTERIM CARE

Spence-Chapin provides individualized support and counseling for pregnant women and families preparing for adoption. We understand that you may need time and space to decide about the future of your family, especially after the recent birth of a child.  
 
Our Interim Care Providers are here to help. They play an essential role in the work of our organization, by providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for a child while biological parents plan for the future.
 
If you’re interested in applying for Interim Care for your child or in becoming an Interim Care Provider for countless children, please see how to get started below.  
Ready to take the next step? Contact us now!
What is Interim Care?
Do you need Interim Care?
Do you want to become an Interim Care Provider?

What is interim care?

Volunteer Interim Care Providers care for a newborn baby in their own homes under the guidance and supervision of Spence-Chapin staff. Each Provider family is screened and certified by the organization. A baby may remain in care for several days or several weeks. The Provider is a person who is dependable, nurturing, committed to making a difference in the life of a child and believes in the mission and values of the organization.

Interim Care Providers are Required to: 

  • Provide a safe and nurturing family atmosphere 
  • Give each infant the attention and care that they need, to promote healthy development and attachment
  • Document milestones by taking pictures and writing down observations
  • Attend trainings quarterly
  • Participate, if requested by Spence-Chapin, in any scheduled visitation with birth parents or adoptive parents
  • Attend all well-baby visits and medical appointments

Do you need interim care?

Interested in interim care for your baby? Placing your newborn in Interim Care allows biological parents to continue counseling to fully explore your options while knowing your baby is being cared for by a nurturing caregiver in a loving home.  

Who is Interim Care for? 

  • Are you pregnant and think you might need more time to consider your options, including parenting and adoption?
  • Have you recently given birth and need more time to consider adoption for your baby?
  • Do you need more time while receiving counseling and guidance from Spence-Chapin?
  • Are you a recent parent feeling overwhelmed and needing time to speak to a counselor about your options?

Request more information by clicking below or calling us at 1-800-321-5683 (LOVE)

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Do you want to be an interim care provider?

Interim Care Providers are respectful, non-judgmental, and compassionate volunteers who provide excellent loving care to children from all backgrounds. Applicants will have the opportunity to interview with Spence-Chapin staff, and receive training on newborn care, roles and expectations, and other needs of the children. All types of households can apply, including married or unmarried couples, single persons, LGBTQ persons, and parenting or empty-nest households.

Volunteer Guidelines: 
  • Reside in New York, New Jersey, or Arizona.
  • Be over the age of twenty-five.
  • All households are welcome. Married and unmarried couples, single persons, parents, and empty-nest households. Families with children under the age of two will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Experience with newborn care.
  • Successfully complete Spence-Chapin’s home assessment, on-going trainings, and licensing requirements throughout the program.
  • Have the ability to drive infants and children to various appointments.
  • Have the availability to make a one-year commitment to providing care once accepted into the program.
Apply Now
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FAQS

Spence-Chapin offers free and unbiased options counseling for biological parents around permanency options for their child. We understand that women and their partners need appropriate time and space to make a decision about the future of their family, especially after a recent birth. Placing their newborn in Interim Care allows biological parents to continue counseling to fully explore their options while knowing their baby is being cared for by a nurturing caregiver in a loving home. Birth parents retain their legal rights while the baby is in care and are encouraged to visit their baby. Our services are free for biological parents while they take the days or even a few weeks to make a decision.
The boys and girls are infants, from birth to 8 weeks old. New York City is a racially and ethnically diverse city and we work with expectant parents and their children from diverse ethnic, racial, and geographic backgrounds.

Interim Care families are able to provide 24/7 care to a newborn and often have one primary care giver who is retired, taking a break from their career, or not employed. All types of households can apply: married or unmarried couples, single persons, LGBTQ persons, and parenting or empty-nest households. One similarity among families is the desire to provide a safe and loving environment for a child before they find their permanent home. Families have open availability throughout the year, they are able to care for an infant when requested by Spence-Chapin staff.

The primary provider must be available around-the-clock with prior parenting or child care experience. Some providers have a background in the health care field. Most babies are healthy and require general newborn care and attention. Other babies require special attention because of neonatal conditions.

All families within the Spence-Chapin service area who are able to provide loving, safe, 24/7 care to a newborn are welcome to apply.

Interim Care Providers are required to travel with the baby within the NYC tri-state area. We serve families living within 100 miles of New York City, including Northern New Jersey, the Hudson Valley, Long Island, Connecticut, and New York City.
Spence-Chapin’s board certified pediatricians supervise the health care of the infants. They examine the baby after hospital discharge, perform periodic well-baby exams and a final exam before a child leaves Spence-Chapin’s care. The doctor is on call if a baby requires medical attention or evaluation before a scheduled visit. Infants with special needs are referred to specialists for evaluation. A comprehensive record of the baby’s development is kept. It is not possible for an interim care family to arrange their own medical care for a child in Spence-Chapin’s care.

Spence-Chapin provides all supplies for a baby’s care including clothing, diapers, formula etc. as well as reimbursing for transportation costs.

*Please note: Interim Care Providers cannot adopt any child temporarily placed in their home through this program. This is not a path to adoptive parenting.

Get To Know Interim Care Providers
Meaghan and Laura

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Waiting Children Profiles

Thank you for your interest in adopting through Spence-Chapin! We are able to share the profiles of children who are considered to be the most in need and are waiting internationally to be matched with an adoptive family. The children featured on this page have been waiting for the longest to find families and consist of children who are older, part of a sibling group, or children with a diagnosed medical condition. In order to respect the privacy of these children, this page has been password protected.

Spence-Chapin takes the privacy rights of the children that we are seeking to place very seriously, and share the profile with you under the following conditions:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PASSWORD ACCESS
That you acknowledge and understand that

1. Misuse of the content, and/or linking to any sites that reflect practices that involve the sale, abduction, exploitation, or trafficking of children is strictly prohibited.

2. You have been given limited access to confidential information in the form of images that you will not disclose to any person or in any manner that is inconsistent with applicable policies and procedures of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.

3. The confidentiality obligation shall continue indefinitely, including at all times after my association with Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.

4. You are not permitted to release, copy, distribute, or sell any of these images to third parties in any form.

5. Impermissible disclosure of the images may result in legal actions being taken against you, by or on behalf of that person.

6. You are doing this freely, voluntarily and with a full understanding of what you are agreeing to by entering/accessing this blog.

7. Thank you for your interest in providing a loving home for a waiting child! We look forward to connecting with you soon to continue discussing adoption paths at Spence-Chapin. We hope that you like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, and keep up with our families through our adoption blog!

Warm regards,
The Adoption Team at Spence-Chapin

Phone: 212-400-8150
Email: [email protected]

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