Alabama Permanency Hearing Order Adoption (WHOA) is a type of adoption that is granted through a court order following a hearing in a family court in the state of Alabama. This type of adoption is available to children who have remained in the custody of the state for an extended period of time due to parental rights being terminated. The WHOA provides a permanent, legal relationship between the adoptive parent and the child. There are two types of WHOA: ‘direct placement’ and ‘intermediate placement’. Direct placemenWHOAOA refers to when the child is placed directly with the adoptive parent by the Department of Human Resources. Intermediate placement WHOA refers to when the child is placed with a relative, family friend, or other adult who has agreed to provide care for the child until a permanent home can be found. Both types of WHOA require the court to conduct a hearing to determine the suitability of the adoptive parent and the best interests of the child.