The names of forms that prospective adoptive parents fill out during an adoption can create confusion! The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services requires several documents through out the adoption process. The adoption agency that prospective parents are working with will provide assistance with filling out and filing these documents. However, it is important to know the purpose of each document.

I-600: Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative

Purpose: This document is a petition that is filed by a U.S. citizen who is adopting a child or children. This is a petition to classify an orphan who is or will be adopted by a U.S citizen as an immediate relative. This form will allow the child to enter into the United States.

Length: This petition is currently six pages in length.

Edition Date: The most recent 1-600 was published on 10/26/05. Prior versions are accepted, however, obtaining the most recent edition is recommended.

Where to File: United States citizen should file this petition with the local USCIS office that has jurisdiction over the petitioner’s place of residence. If a U.S citizen is residing outside of the United States this petition may be filed at the nearest American consulate or embassy.

Cost: There is a filing fee of $545.00 for this petition. In addition, to this fee a $70.00 charge for biometrics is required per person in the household. If a fee was paid when prospective parent filed an I-600A the fee is NOT required again.

If more than one petition is being submitted, for a petitioner who is adopting siblings, only one fee is required for the petitions and fingerprints. If the orphans are not siblings then there are separate fees for both fingerprinting and the petition.

The I-600 may be downloaded off of the USCIS website or by clicking:
Download I-600 (171KB PDF)

I-600A: Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

Purpose: USCIS uses this form to adjudicate the qualifications of the applicant or applicants as the prospective adoptive parents. A benefit of filing this form is that it may speed up the part of the processing relating to the qualifications of the prospective adoptive parent or parents.

Length: This form is currently six pages in length.

Edition Date: The most recent edition of this form was created on 10/25/06. Prior versions are accepted, however, obtaining the most recent form is recommended.

Where to File: United States citizen should file this petition with the local USCIS office that has jurisdiction over the petitioner’s place of residence. If a U.S citizen is residing outside of the United States this petition may be filed at the nearest American consulate or embassy.

Cost: There is a filing fee of $545.00 for this form. In addition, to this fee a $70.00 charge for biometrics is required per person in the household age 18 or older. This fee is not required for the I-600 if it has been paid with the I-600A.

If more than one petition is being submitted, for a petitioner who is adopting siblings, only one fee is required for the petitions and fingerprints. If the orphans are not siblings then there are separate fees for both fingerprinting and the petition.

The I-600A may be downloaded off of the USCIS website or by clicking:
Download I-600A (146KB PDF)

I-171: Notice of Approval of Relative Immigrant Visa Petition

This form is sent to prospective adoptive parents upon approval from USCIS. This form is issued after approval of either the I-600A or the I-600 and declares an adoptive parent to be able to care properly for a child, whether the child is a legal orphan, and determines that all other legal requirements have been met. Many adoption agencies and home study agencies require that this form be on file with them. Upon receiving this form prospective parents should contact their adoption agency and inform them.

I-824: Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition

Purpose: This form is used to request a duplicate approval notice, to request an approval notice to another U.S. consulate, and to request notice to a U.S. consulate for derivative visas to family members.

Length: Currently, this form is two pages in length.

Edition Date: The most recent I-824 was released on 10/26/05. Although prior versions are accepted it is recommended that the most recent form is filed.

Where to File: This form should be filed with the same USCIS office that approved the original application or petition.

Filing Fee: There is a fee of $200 to file this form.

This form may be obtained by going to the USCIS website or by clicking here:
Download I-824 (789KB PDF)

The USCIS website is user friendly and provides a large amount of up to date information regarding the immigration process and requirements necessary for an international adoption. In addition to the website USCIS has created an Adoption Book that is a useful tool for prospective adoptive parents. This resource may be found on the USCIS website:

Informational Seminars

Many adoption agencies will host informational meetings for people considering adoption. The seminars are a good way for prospective parents to learn about the entire process of adoption. Staff are often available to answer question as well. These informational meetings are generally a free service, but the agency may require reservations. There are adoption agencies which host informational meetings over the internet and by way of phone conference for families out of state.

Adoption Education

Each state has different adoption requirements, even for those adopting internationally. Some states and adoption agencies require that adoptive families have several hours of adoption education. The agency completing the adoption homestudy will know the state requirements. Prospective adoptive parents should ask if their adoption agency provides adoption education and the cost of this. A alternative is for prospective adoptive parents to use an online resource. Adoption Learning Partners provides adoption education through interactive and very well produced online courses. Many of the courses are free of charge and all of them are informative, thoughtful, and good educational tools for those involved in an adoption. Adoption Learning Partners charges a fee ($30.00) for a certificate of completion, which many states will accept toward required educational credits.

Post-Adoptive Services

Post Placement Visits

When adopting internationally, prospective parents find that many countries require at least three post-placement visits. These visits are typically done by the same agency that provided the adoption homestudy. The visits will check the child’s adjustment within the family and will serve to provide support to the family unit. Most frequently, there is a one month, three month and six month post placement visit. When paying the fee for a homestudy it is important to ask if the fee includes the post-placement visits. Often, a higher homestudy fee will include these visits and may be cheaper in the long run.

Adoption Support Services

Families with adoptive children may need support from adoption experts at various times. Support can be offered for children and families in times of crisis, but also simply as a preventative and intentional step towards keeping a healthy family unit. There are both private and public adoption support services available in each state. The type of support available depends on the state programs and private agencies. They include, but generally are not limited to, counseling, therapy, support groups, respite care, and post-adoption classes.

Adoption Reunions and Celebrations

Families who work with the same adoption agency and experience the process together benefit from one another’s stories and advise. This is one reason for adoption agencies to have adoption reunions and celebrations. The second reason for adoption reunions and celebrations, hosted by the agency, is that many of the children have come from the same orphanage. This is particularly important for older children who had friends in the orphanage they were placed in prior to their adoption. Reunions and celebrations are a great opportunity for the children to reconnect with each other. Parents are able to have conversation with other adoptive parents who have, most likely, had experiences similar to them. Just think of the stories that could be shared among this adoptive community. In addition, this is a time when the family unit is surrounded by other families that resemble their own. Children can experience a sense of normalcy in being one of many multi-cultural families at the reunion or celebration. People interested in this post-adoption service should simply contact their adoption agency as inquire about reunions and celebrations.

Abuse – harm inflicted on a person through physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual means; may cause victim to develop emotional or behavioral problems, some of which may not appear until later in life. Help from an experienced counselor or therapist may be needed to work through abuse issues.

Acting-out behaviors – in abused children, behaviors that reflect abuse they have experienced or witnessed. For instance, physically abused children may be more inclined to hit and hurt other children, and sexually abused children may try to engage other children or adults in sexual activity.

Adoption assistance – federal (Title IV-E) or state payments and other benefits designed to offset the short- and long-term costs of adopting eligible children who have special needs.

Adoption benefits – benefits, such as financial assistance or monetary reimbursement for the expenses of adopting a child, available to workers through some employer-sponsored programs.

Adoption exchange – a state, regional, or national organization with information about children who are waiting for adoption within the state, region, or nation.

Adoption petition – the legal document through which prospective parents request the court’s permission to adopt a specific child.

Adoption tax credit – effective tax years 2002 through 2010, a tax benefit that allows parents who adopt to subtract up to $10,000 from taxes owed.

Agency adoption – an adoption completed with assistance from an organization of licensed, trained adoption professionals.

Attachment disorder – a condition signaled by an inability to develop significant emotional connections with others. Abused and neglected infants and children may find it difficult to form significant ties. Signs of attachment disorder include difficulty maintaining eye contact, lying, and not responding to affection.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – a lifelong developmental disorder that involves problems with attention span, impulse control, and activity level. Typical behaviors include: fidgeting; difficulty remaining seated; distractibility; difficulty waiting for turns; difficulty staying on task; difficulty playing quietly; excessive talking; inattention; forgetting supplies for tasks or activities; having trouble following directions; and engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering the consequences.

Behavioral disorders – disorders, influenced by heredity, brain disorders, diet, stress, and family functioning, that cause symptoms like hyperactivity, aggression, withdrawal from social interactions, self-injurious behavior, immaturity, learning problems, excessive anxiety, or abnormal mood swings.

Bipolar disorder – a mental illness characterized by cycles of mania and depression. During manic periods, individuals may seem very happy and be hyperactive, wakeful, and distracted. In severe episodes, psychotic symptoms may also be present.

Birth family – those who share a child’s genetic heritage; blood relations; extended family members.
Birth parent – a child’s biological mother or father.

Closed adoption – an adoption in which birth and adoptive families have no contact and know only non-identifying information about each other.

Cocaine-exposed – infants with prenatal exposure to cocaine are often premature, have low birth weight, and are at risk for developmental delays. Newborn withdrawal symptoms include unrelieved crying, shaking, body tension, and irritability. Many drug-exposed children have problems with language development and attention deficits.

Cognitive delays – delays in the customary development of a person’s ability to process information or think logically or analytically.

Conduct disorder – a condition signaled by a strong unwillingness to meet societal norms or expectations. A child with conduct disorder may bully or threaten others; initiate fights; stay out late without permission; use weapons that could cause serious harm; be physically aggressive or cruel to animals or humans; force someone into sexual activity; or steal, lie, or break promises to obtain goods or to avoid debts or obligations.

Developmental delays – delays in a child’s developmental progress as measured against other children’s mastering of skills (such as sitting up, walking, toilet training, talking, etc.) at the same age.

Developmental disabilities – any conditions or disorders of the body, mind, or emotions that interfere with a child’s normal development.

Disruption – when an adoption is discontinued or annulled through a decision by the adoptive parents, the child, or a legal authority, before or after finalization.

Dissociative disorder – a condition, often sparked by trauma, in which people disconnect from a full awareness of self, time, or external circumstances as a defense against unpleasant realities or memories.

Emotional disturbances or disabilities – conditions that are often evidenced by a lack of respect for authority, school problems, an inability to handle changes, and problems with other children. Other characteristics include sleep disturbances, mood swings, and a tendency to act impulsively without considering consequences. Therapy is recommended throughout childhood and adolescence.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) – a range of birth defects and serious lifelong mental and emotional difficulties that result from a child’s prenatal exposure to alcohol. Symptoms may include learning and behavioral disorders (including attention deficits and hyperactivity), poor social judgment, and impulsive behaviors.

Finalization – the last legal step in the adoption process, involving a court hearing where an adoptive parent becomes a child’s legal parent.

Foster children – children placed in the state’s legal custody because their birth parents were deemed abusive, neglectful, or otherwise unable to care for them. While under state care, such children often live with foster parents or in group homes.

Foster parents – state-licensed adults who provide a temporary home for children in state custody whose birth parents are unable to care for them.

Group home – a facility staffed by social workers and counselors that houses groups of children, typically those over the age of five, including teens and sibling groups, who need emergency temporary shelter or a long-term living arrangement.

Home study – a process through which prospective adopters are educated about adoption and evaluated to determine their suitability to adopt.

Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) – a 1978 federal law that protects the rights of Native American children, families, and tribes. ICWA states that when placing a Native American child for adoption, preference should be given to extended family, tribe members, a Native American foster or adoptive family, or a Native American institution. The tribe has the right to make decisions regarding the Native American child’s placement, and non-Native American families are considered for placement as a last resort. ICWA adoption provisions do not, however, apply to every Native American child in foster care—especially in cases where the children’s Native American birth parents are not registered tribe members, or the tribes have given up their claim to the children.

Individualized education plan (IEP) – a plan drawn up by a child’s special education teacher and other concerned parties that outlines specific skills the child needs to develop as well as learning activities that build on the child’s strengths.

Inutero – (See also Prenatal exposure.) – in the womb; before birth.

Learning disabilities – a condition that makes it hard for a person to take in, sort, and store information; not a sign of below-average intelligence.

Legally free – a child whose birth parents’ rights have been legally terminated or relinquished so that the child is free to be adopted by another family.

Legal-risk adoption – placement of a child in an adoptive home when birth parents’ rights have not yet been voluntarily or involuntarily terminated.

Loss and grief issues – unresolved emotional distress that can result from being removed from one’s family, experiencing a parent’s death, moving from one placement to another, or having one’s parents’ parental rights terminated. Because children have a hard time expressing and dealing with feelings about losses and separations, these issues can cause depression and acting-out behaviors.

Medicaid – a federally funded program that provides medical care for low-income families and individuals.

Methamphetamine – a highly potent and addictive stimulant drug (also known as meth, crank, chalk, speed, chrystal, and ice) that, since the late 1990s, has been increasingly associated with child abuse and neglect.

Neurological disorder/problems – emotional or mental disorders or problems that appear in the form of anxieties, obsessions, phobias, etc., but are not typically so severe that the person loses touch with daily realities.

Non-identifying information – information about a person that gives a general sense of what the person is like, but does not reveal specific personal details such as the person’s name, address, phone number, or social security number.

Open adoption – an adoption that involves some amount of direct contact between the birth and adoptive families, ranging from exchanging names to sending letters and scheduling visits.

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) – a disorder characterized by behavior such as frequent loss of temper, a tendency to argue with adults, refusal to obey adult requests, deliberate behaviors to annoy others, spiteful and vindictive behavior, use of obscene language, and a tendency to blame others for mistakes.

Photolisting – a publication or website with photos and descriptions of children who are available for adoption.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD – a syndrome, sparked by traumatic events, that causes a person to emotionally re-live past traumas and become withdrawn from current events. Symptoms may include sleeping problems, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and difficulty with concentration.

Prenatal exposure – exposure to a certain substance or influence while inside the womb.

Psychotherapy – a general term that refers to the treatment of mental disorders by intellectual and verbal means such as suggestion, analysis, and persuasion; often used in conjunction with other treatment courses like medication.

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) – a condition, resulting from an early lack of consistent care, characterized by a child’s inability to make appropriate social contact with others. Symptoms include developmental delays, lack of eye contact, feeding disturbances, hyper-sensitivity to touch and sound, failure to initiate or respond to social interaction, indiscriminate sociability, self-stimulation, and susceptibility to infection.

Relinquishment – (See also Surrender papers.) – the legal process by which birth parents voluntarily surrender rights to parent their children. After relinquishment, birth parents have no legal right to further contact with the children.

Residential care/treatment – a structured 24-hour care facility with staff that provide psychological therapy to help severely troubled children overcome behavioral problems that adversely affect family interactions, school achievement, and peer relationships. Residential treatment tends to be the last resort when a child is in danger of hurting himself or others.

Respite care – childcare and other services designed to give parents temporary relief from their responsibilities as caregivers.

Ritalin – a commonly prescribed methylphenidate drug that helps to control some symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It has a calming effect on some children and helps them to concentrate.

Semi-open adoption – an adoption in which a child’s birth parents and pre-adoptive parents exchange largely non-identifying information. After the child is placed in the adoptive home, contact with the birth family may involve letters or pictures or other communications sent through an intermediary or the adoption agency.

Separation anxiety – excessive and persistent anxiety about being separated from one’s home or parents that interferes with normal activities.

Sexual abuse symptomology – symptoms which indicate that a child may have been sexually abused, including excessive masturbation, sexual interaction with peers, sexual aggression toward younger and more naive children, seductive behavior, and promiscuity.

Special needs – conditions that make some children harder to place for adoption, including: emotional or physical disorders, age, race, being in a sibling group, a history of abuse, or other factors. Guidelines for classifying a child as having special needs vary by state. Common special needs conditions and diagnoses include attachment disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental delays or disabilities, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), learning disabilities, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

Subsidies – See Adoption assistance.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – a federally funded needs-based disability program for adults and children that provides monthly cash benefits and, in most states, automatic Medicaid eligibility.

Surrender papers – legal documents that a child’s birth parents, legal guardian, next of kin, or court-appointed friend can voluntarily sign to give up or relinquish their parental rights to the child.

Termination of parental rights (TPR) – the court process through which a birth parent’s legal claim to his or her child is permanently removed. TPR actions are brought when birth parents whom the court deems unfit to parent will not voluntarily give up their rights.

Therapeutic foster home – a foster home where the parent or parents have received special training in dealing with a wide variety of children, including those who are retarded, moderately or severely disturbed, delinquent, or medically fragile. Parents in therapeutic homes are also supervised and assisted more than parents in regular foster homes.

Waiting children – children in the public child welfare system (foster children) who cannot return to their birth homes and need permanent, loving families to help them grow up safe and secure. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau estimates that there are approximately 126,000 waiting children in our country.

Permission to reprint this information was granted by The North American Counsel On Adoptable Children. Please visit their website at www.nacac.org for more reliable adoption information.

This is a general guide to adoption. Each country and state has their own set of regulations and requirements. In addition, this information may change at any time. For more information on specific adoption how to’s please contact an adoption agency.

Let’s face the facts, just thinking about adopting can be a daunting task! Fortunately, with a little planning, knowledge, organization and support the process of adoption is very doable.

Getting Started

1. Locate Good Information
   When considering and beginning an adoption the first thing that can be of great help is basic research on the topic. Prospective adoptive parents, thanks to modern day web technology, have easy access to a wide variety of adoption related resources. At this part of the process consider:
   • Reading adoption related magazines and books
   • Speaking to other adoptive parents
   • Attending an adoption conference
   • Joining one of many online adoption forums
   • Requesting information packets from as many adoption agencies as needed.

   Begin the entire process with organization in mind. It will be helpful to establish a file folder system of information and documents for this portion of the process as well as later when the papers are flying in from all over! This is also the time to ask questions of potential agencies. This will not only help you choose an agency to work with, but also provide clarification and a greater understanding of the entire process. It is completely acceptable to call an agency and ask specific questions about their timetables, costs, ethical principles on adoption, special programs, and services.

2. Choosing a Country
   There are many questions to ask regarding choosing the country and program to adopt from. Considering the fact that adoption is an act of parenthood the questions to ask are both practical and introspective.
   Prospective parents should ask themselves:
   • Which country has fees that I can afford?
   • Which country do I meet the parental requirements for?
   • Does is matter to me if my child resembles me or not?
   • Do I have reservations about caring for a child of a different race and ethnicity?
   • Is my community going to be a safe haven for my child to live? If not, am I willing to relocate for the healthy upbringing of my child and our family?
   • Is there a country I have lived in, visited, or simply have a special affinity for?

   Most importantly, what is your gut feeling about the country you are choosing to adopt from? After all, you are the parent to be. You are making this commitment and here is the first opportunity to make a wise informed decision in the best interest of your child!

3. Choosing an Adoption Agency
   Working along side a good adoption agency will make a tremendous difference in your adoption experience. Even in the face of difficult times that can arise during an adoption a good agency will be able to effectively inform, guide, and advocate for you and your child to be. After receiving information packets from a variety of agencies that work within the country you desire to adopt from there are several questions to ask. Finding the answers to these questions will increase the likelihood of finding a great agency for your adoption.
   1. Which agency answered your questions in a timely and informative manner?
   2. Which agency made you feel comfortable and supported in the start of this process?

   After narrowing down agencies based on the above it is good to follow the guide created by adoption author Myra Alperson.
   A good adoption agency has/is:

   • A Complete Infrastructure
   • Experts to Guide You
   • Will Communicate Services Clearly
   • A Good Track Record
   • Licensed
   • Accredited (or rapidly working towards accreditation)
   • Upfront in regard to fees and program costs
   • Payment Plan
   • Support
   • Pre Placement Services
   • Post Placement Services
   • Organized
   • Offer Lists of Required Paperwork
   • Sensitive to the Special Needs of You and Your Family
   • The Foundation of Their Organization Based on Ethical Adoption Principles

   Be aware of agencies that require payment for the adoption upfront, badmouth other agencies, and refuse to offer up information about their agency infrastructure and processes. Agencies that treat you like a nuisance during your research phase should not be used. Adoption agencies are busy places, but the good ones do make time to teach and inform prospective parents. Although there are many new adoption agencies often begun by adoptive parents with a heart for children keep in mind that the more experience an agency has within a particular country the more likely the process will be a smooth one.

4. The Paperwork Begins
   Once you have chosen an adoption agency to work with the agency will guide you though each step of the process. This typically begins with filling out an application for adoption and submitting an application fee. This fee, in general, ranges from $50-$350 and is non refundable. Once an application is accepted the adoption agency has officially taken you and your family on as prospective parents. Although over the next few months you will fill out, copy and send more paperwork than ever before the task can be an exciting one. Consider the home study, the dossier and the INS requirements your paperwork pregnancy!

   The INS Requirements

   INS stands for U.S Immigration and Naturalization Services. United States citizens must open an adoption file with the INS in order to complete an adoption. This is done through the filing of forms and then waiting for their approval. The first form that prospective parents fill out is the 1-600A or the I-600. Both forms should be available through your adoption agency or you can contact INS directly and receive the forms. The 1-600A is the form used for prospective parents that do not have a specific child in mind at the start of the adoption process. The official name for the I-600A is the Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. This form informs that government that you are adopting and will need a variety of forms available to you when the adoption takes place. The I-600 is the form used for prospective parents that have chosen a child, through a photo listing, for example. This form is officially called the Petition to Classify An Orphan as An Immediate Relative. Both of these forms require a processing fee and additional paper work attached with them. When preparing these forms call your adoption agency if questions arise, as the forms can be confusing. In addition, the check included for the processing fee should be a certified check- not a personal check.

   After receiving these forms the INS will conduct a FBI background check on the prospective parents. As this takes several weeks to months it is wise to fill the appropriate form out at the very start of the adoption process.

   The Home Study

   The adoption home study is a must and a critical part of the adoption process. Many adoption agencies have social workers within the agency to complete the home study for families using an agency within their state. Prospective parents using an agency out of state, which is very common, must work with an additional agency or social worker to perform the home study. Choosing this agency is similar to the guidelines for choosing an adoption agency. Prospective parents should feel comfortable with the agency and receive requested information regarding service and fees.
   The home study itself is nothing more than packets of paper work and several interviews. The purpose of a home study is for a professional to acknowledge and recommend prospective parents as suitable people to adopt. In order to do this the home study worker must have a variety of documents in which to base a portion of the assessment on. These documents are, but not limited to:

   • Birth Certificates
   • Marriage License
   • Divorce/Death Certificates (if applicable)
   • Recent Payment Stub
   • Portion of Most Recent 1040 Tax Return
   • Notarized letters From Your Bank and Employer
   • Most Recent Physical Records/Letter from Physician
   • Letter From Your Veterinarian

   In addition to the above documents a home study agency generally sends a packet of questions for prospective parents to answer. The questions basically ask for the life story, family experience, and values of the prospective adoptive parents. The questionnaire can be long, but a great opportunity to be introspective and even learn more about your spouse and yourself! Either in the process of filing out paper work or afterwards the interviews will take place. By law a portion of the interviews must be completed in the home environment of the prospective parents. A home study interviewer is not looking for perfection in marriage, home, and finances. They are, however, looking for stable and healthy families that will provide a child with a loving and permanent home. A home study will take several months to complete. The cost varies from several hundred to several thousands of dollars. If a home study cost over a thousand dollars there should be post placement services offered as a part of this fee.

   Following the completion of the paperwork and interviews the worker will write the actual home study. A copy of this should be sent to prospective parents for review. A notarized copy will then be sent to the adoption agency to be included in the dossier packet.

   The Dossier

   Not all countries require a dossier to be compiled. More detailed information on the specific steps for adoption can be located by contacting an adoption agency and inquiring about a particular country program.

   The dossier is a large packet of documents that the adoption agency must submit to the country in which prospective parents are adopting from. The agency will provide prospective parents with a list of the documents that they need. Many of these are similar to the documents needed in the home study. The adoption agency will guide families in the specific way to word letters and documents so that they are suitable and diplomatic. These papers are submitted to various countries and therefor are often written slightly different so that they are in accordance with the guidelines and political correctness of the country.

   Adoptive parents should make a copy of every document they receive and every document they send out. All documents should be organized in a file folder or another reliable system. When mailing the dossier and homes study the packets should be securely sealed and be sent through certified mail.

5. The Waiting
   Once prospective parents have turned in all required documents and they have been approved the adoption agency submits the dossier to the chosen country. It is at this time the waiting really begins for many families.
   • First, prospective parents await the return of the form I-171H. This form is sent from INS when the file for adoption is complete. The form establishes that prospective parents are official candidates for adoption. Upon receiving this form prospective parents should notify the adoption agency and home study agency.
   • Secondly, prospective parents await the arrival of the referral. Depending on which country prospective parents are adopting from the wait time will vary greatly. The other factor that affects the referral wait time is the age and needs of the child being adopted. Prospective parents that adopt older children, siblings, and children with special needs have a significantly shorter wait time that those adopting healthy infants. Countries have referral wait time from 0 months to over 2 years. This information can be discussed with your adoption agency at the beginning of the adoption process. Receiving the referral means that prospective parents have been matched with a child in need of adoption. The referral usually comes at first via a phone call from the adoption agency followed by all known information about the child and a photograph. Receiving the referral is a time of high excitement and a major milestone in the process.
6. Court, Travel, and Together
   The adoption agency will be the liaison between the prospective parents and the country adoption authority and court system. Once a court date is set, which may take weeks to months, the necessary information is presented and the adoption is completed. It is at this time that prospective parents become adoptive parents. Each country has a specific way of completing a international adoption. In addition, the state in which the family resides may have specific requirements as well. For more information on how the adoption is actually completed contact an adoption agency and inquire about a specific country program. Many countries requires post placements reports and visits after the child has come home before the adoption may be finalized.
   Parents may choose to travel or have their child escorted. There are several countries that require parents to travel and this will be disclosed through the adoption agency at the time of inquiry into adoption. Either way, through escort or travel, the union of parent and child occurs which begins the first day as a new family.

Sources:
The International Adoption Handbook
Myra Alperson

The Unofficial Guide to Adopting a Child
Andrea DellaVecchio

The Ultimate Insiders Guide to Adoption
Elizabeth Swire Falker

What is an adoption Home Study?
The goal of a home study is to help adoption agencies locate the best home for each child that they place. The adoption agency works to make a good match between parent and child to work towards a permanency for the family. The actual home study is an educational process that is designed to shed light onto the family unit that currently exists. The home study worker asks questions through paperwork and interviews that give insight into the motivation and commitment for adoption, and strengths of the marriage, finances, and general family environment of the prospective parents. In turn, prospective parents learn through the home study as well. Those participating in a home study can learn not only about the adoption process, but also gain insight into internal thoughts of themselves and other members of the family in regards to the adoption.

What paper work do I need for an adoption Home Study?
The home study worker and agency will provide prospective parents with a list of all the required paperwork. In general, the paper work takes several weeks to compile and requires errands to the bank, physician’s office, and local police department. This is a good time for prospective parents to create an organizational system of paperwork so that if needed again this documentation is ready and available.
Each state requires different paper work to complete a home study. The following are items that are commonly included:

• Autobiographies (often created by answering already established questions)
• Certified copies of birth certificates for each member of the household
• Certified copies of marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and death certificate of a former spouse (if applicable)
• Certified copies of adoption decrees for previous adopted children
• All child abuse and criminal record clearance
• Notarized statements from the local police office stating prospective adoptive parents are free from felony convictions
• Verification of Income such as tax returns, W-2 forms, and notarized letter confirming checking and savings accounts
• A statement of health from a physician
• Letters of reference from friends and family

How long does a home study take?
Each agency may proceed with adoption home studies in different ways. In general, when prospective parents quickly comply with the necessary paperwork requirements the adoption home study will take 1 to 4 months. A tip for increasing the speed of a home study is to organize a to-do list that is time sensitive. For example, knowing that one needs to receive a medical exam from a physician it is wise to schedule this at the start of the home study process as often it takes several weeks or months before an appointment.

How much does a home study cost?
A home study, like many other parts of an adoption, will have fees that vary depending on the state and agency. In general a home study costs from several hundred dollars to several thousand. If a home study costs in the thousands it should most likely include some pre and post placement services in this fee.

FINDING THE RIGHT AGENCY

WRITE OR PHONE AS MANY AGENCIES AS YOU CAN LOCATE through your state social service department, the yellow pages, other adoptive parents, and the resources mentioned later in this article. Some agencies may be two or three hours away but may still serve your area.

WHEN YOU FIRST INQUIRE, don’t be surprised if the intake worker or receptionist suggests sending you introductory literature to answer your initial questions. Often agencies are unable to spend much time on your first phone call, since they receive many inquiries that are not followed through, and since most have age or marriage requirements for adoptive parents that disqualify some potential applicants. Restrictions and policies will be explained fully in each agency’s introductory written material or at its orientation meeting for prospective applicants.

TRY TO ATTEND ORIENTATION MEETINGS at more than one agency before making your choice. Don’t rule out an agency simply because you feel that you got a brusque reception on your first call; the adoption worker who eventually will be assigned to you will give you a great deal of his or her time and answer your many questions at length.

TALK TO AS MANY ADOPTIVE PARENTS AS YOU CAN before selecting an agency. The negative experience of one couple may be counteracted by the positive experience of others who went through the same agency. No agency is perfect, and some social workers may seem more sensitive and efficient than others. We like to think we are all concerned and caring, but the power we have over others can sometimes make us seem threatening. (Much as I liked my own adoption worker, I was never completely at ease with her.)

DON’T BE DISCOURAGED if the first agencies you contact have restrictions that rule out your family because of age, length of marriage, prior divorces, marital status, or some other seemingly arbitrary requirement. Often these restrictions are imposed by the particular foreign governments or orphanages with which your local agency is working. Keep trying! Another agency in your area may be dealing with other sources, within the same country or in another country, with fewer restrictions–or none–on age and marital status.

CHOOSING A SOURCE

A source is an agency, orphanage, or attorney–often in another state or country–that has children available for adoption. For some adoptions, choosing a source is separate from finding a local home study agency.

Some local agencies offer only American infants, often with a wait of five or more years, but others deal with one or more foreign or domestic sources that have an estimated waiting period of only six to eighteen months from time of application. Most local home study agencies have very few American babies released to them. Many work primarily with foreign sources that place Asian or Latin-American children from infancy up, or out-of-state or in-state sources that place school-age or handicapped (“special needs”) American children.

If your home study agencies have no foreign or out-of-state sources of their own, you can agree to take full responsibility for locating your child through a more distant agency if the local agency will provide you with the home study required by law. Even if your local agency generally confines itself to a few placements of American babies a year and has a long waiting list for those infants, it may be happy to provide you with a priority home study if your research has uncovered a specific source able to place a foreign-born infant or American special-needs child with you.

Local home study agencies inexperienced in foreign or interstate adoption may be reluctant to take on this responsibility; for fear they will be blamed if something goes wrong. But if there is no other option for you than to go through such an agency for your home study, you can contact the adoption supervisor, explain that you know of children who are available through another source, and offer to sign an agreement that would exempt the agency from liability if you have problems obtaining a child through your chosen source. Even very traditional agencies are generally made up of compassionate individuals who are eager to help place children from anywhere in the world–if they don’t have to worry about their liability.

While making inquiries, you may be told by someone that “there are very few children available for adoption right now.” This is certainly not the case, and anyone who tells you this is simply not aware of the thousands of children available world-wide, and how to go about finding them. So don’t be discouraged by what others may tell you; just keep making inquiries.

There is an agency somewhere that will welcome your application, even if you are over 50, previously divorced, married only a year or two, single, an atheist, handicapped, on a tight budget, the parents of six children, and/or living in an isolated rural area!

The agencies that work with overseas sources, or that have special-needs children to place, are generally not nearly as restrictive as those who have a small number of white American infants. These more flexible agencies try their best to dispense with arbitrary requirements in order to find loving. committed parents for all their children. In reality, most agencies would like to be more flexible, but even those who work overseas may be limited by the requirements of the particular governments or sources with which they work.

UNDERSTANDING THE HOMESTUDY

The home study process can be intimidating, since there is always the possibility of being turned down. But it’s remote one; agencies are much more interested in bringing families together than in keeping them apart. Naturally, they will ask many routine questions and do police checks to protect children against the one couple among dozens that might abuse a child or provide a less-that-adequate home. But unless you have a criminal record, unstable marriage, life-threatening medical condition, history of mental illness, or current chemical dependency, you are very likely to be approved if you meet the up-front eligibility requirements.

Agencies prefer to do most of their applicant screening at the very beginning, before clients have spent much time or money; the home study can then focus on preparation for adoptive parenthood–something much more enjoyable, for both the social worker and the applicants! Adoption workers are ordinarily very nice people anxious to be perceived as non-threatening and helpful. I wish we could change the term “home study” to something that would clarify that this required series of interviews focuses on preparing families for a new experience and on helping them evaluate their own readiness for adoption.

Although each home study agency is different, you can expect the application forms and interviews to cover something about your family of origin, your thoughts on child-rearing and discipline, your marriage and other relationships, your home and finances, your feelings about infertility and adoption, and the type of child you feel is best suited to your family. Local agencies need this information not only to insure–and help you insure–that adoption is right for you at this time, but also to prove this to the source. Responsible child-placing agencies or orphanages in any country will look for a favorable detailed home study report so that they can feel confident that their children are going to good homes. Once your home study is approved, you can generally count on a report that will present you in a very favorable light.

When people are eager to become parents, it is hard to wait for a home study to begin and, later on, for the adoption to be processed. These waiting periods are to in part to staff limitations, the number of parents who apply, and the sheer amount of paper work that agencies must handle.

In some cases the checklist in the couple’s file lists 20 or more documents that the homestudy agency must prepare for its state authorities and the foreign source or obtain from doctors, references, parents, and the placement agency. For every hour spent face-to-face with the applicants, there may be 10 or more hours of paper work and telephone time for the social worker and administrative staff.

A large part of the adoptive parent’s service fee goes to help pay the cost of operating the agency, since many adoption agencies have no endowment of United Way funding. This helps explain why agency fees sometimes seem very high to adoptive parents in relation to the number of hours that they actually spend in contact with the social worker.

COPING WITH DELAYS AND TENSION

After the home study is completed, parents may face a wait of many months before a child is found for them, particularly if they are requesting an infant. Sources have no way of knowing the ages and characteristics of the children who will be released for adoption in the near future. They try to build an adequate pool of parents open to various kinds of children, so that parents will wait a moderate length of time, in preference to children waiting for families.

This system does not always work smoothly, and parents may have a wait that is much longer than was originally estimated. This is especially true when a foreign government changes its regulations, or there are unexpected delays in the courts, or a large number of adoptive parents apply at the same time. The source may have the same problems with formidable paper work and time-consuming government regulations that the stateside agency has. Dedicated orphanage workers may have to postpone their paper work at times to care for their children and to meet their basic needs.

It is hard to be patient with delays, especially when you have learned of a specific child and have his or her picture. But delays are generally beyond anyone’s control. Keep in mind that agency workers, as well as adoptive parents, experience feelings of powerlessness and anxiety at such times; this can ease the tensions that may develop over delays.

Adoption workers would like you to see them as friends and partners in furthering your shared goal of a loving home for every child. There are usually good reasons for whatever agency policy or procedure may be making you feel frustrated, angry, or subjected to unfair scrutiny. Agencies will generally explain their reasons if you ask, and it will make you feel better to clear the air if there is a problem or misunderstanding.

Your worker may not fully understand your tensions and vulnerabilities. When you can bring yourself to be open about your feelings, despite the power your agency has in your life, the result is often a fruitful dialogue that can lead to constructive change in the worker-client relationship.

By Deborah McCurdy
Reprinted with permission from REPORT ON INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION,1995.

The entire report may be ordered from International
Concerns Committee for Children, 911 Cypress Drive,
Boulder, Co., 80303. Cost of the report is $20.00.

Getting Started

1. Locate Good Information

When considering and beginning an adoption the first thing that can be of great help is basic research on the topic. Prospective adoptive parents, thanks to modern day web technology, have easy access to a wide variety of adoption related resources. At this part of the process consider:

• Reading adoption related magazines and books
• Speaking to other adoptive parents
• Attending an adoption conference
• Joining one of many online adoption forums
• Requesting information packets from as many adoption agencies as needed.

Begin the entire process with organization in mind. It will be helpful to establish a file folder system of information and documents for this portion of the process as well as later when the papers are flying in from all over! This is also the time to ask questions of potential agencies. This will not only help you choose an agency to work with, but also provide clarification and a greater understanding of the entire process. It is completely acceptable to call an agency and ask specific questions about their timetables, costs, ethical principles on adoption, special programs, and services.

2. Choosing a Country

There are many questions to ask regarding choosing the country and program to adopt from. Considering the fact that adoption is an act of parenthood the questions to ask are both practical and introspective.
Prospective parents should ask themselves:

• Which country has fees that I can afford?
• Which country do I meet the parental requirements for?
• Does is matter to me if my child resembles me or not?
  • Do I have reservations about caring for a child of a different race and ethnicity?
  • Is my community going to be a safe haven for my child to live? If not, am I willing to relocate for the healthy upbringing of my child and our family?
  • Is there a country I have lived in, visited, or simply have a special affinity for?

Most importantly, what is your gut feeling about the country you are choosing to adopt from? After all, you are the parent to be. You are making this commitment and here is the first opportunity to make a wise informed decision in the best interest of your child!

3. Choosing an Adoption Agency

Working a long side a good adoption agency will make tremendous difference in your adoption experience. Even in the face of difficult times that can arise during an adoption a good agency will be able to effectively inform, guide, and advocate for you and your child to be. After receiving information packets from a variety of agencies that work within the country you desire to adopt from there are several questions to ask. Finding the answers to these questions will increase the likelihood of finding a great agency for your adoption.

1. Which agency answered your questions in a timely and informative manner?
2. Which agency made you feel comfortable and supported in the start of this process?

After narrowing down agencies based on the above it is good to follow the guide created by adoption author Myra Alperson.

A good adoption agency has/is:
• Complete Infrastructure
• Experts to Guide You
• Communicate Services Clearly
• Good Track Record
• Licensed
• Accredited (or rapidly working towards accreditation)
• Upfront in regard to fees and program costs
• Have a Payment Plan
• Offer Support
• Offer Pre Placement Services
• Offer Post Placement Services
• Be Organized
• Offer Lists of Required Paperwork
• Be Sensitive to the Special Needs of You and Your Family
• Foundation of Their Organization Based on Ethical Adoption Principles

Be aware of agencies that require payment for the adoption upfront, badmouth other agencies, and refuse to offer up information about their agency infrastructure and processes. Agencies that treat you like a nuisance during your research phase should not be used. Adoption agencies are busy places, but the good ones do make time to teach and inform prospective parents. Although there are many new adoption agencies often begun by adoptive parents with a heart for children keep in mind that the more experience an agency has within a particular country the more likely the process will be a smooth one.

4. The Paperwork Begins

Once you have chosen an adoption agency to work with the agency will guide you though each step of the process. This typically begins with filling out an application for adoption and submitting an application fee. This fee, in general, ranges from $50-$350 and is non refundable. Once an application is accepted the adoption agency has officially taken you and your family on as prospective parents. Although over the next few months you will fill out, copy and send more paperwork than ever before the task can be an exciting one. Consider the home study, the dossier and the INS requirements your paperwork pregnancy!

The INS Requirements

INS stands for U.S Immigration and Naturalization Services. United States citizens must open an adoption file with the INS in order to complete an adoption. This is done through the filing of forms and then waiting for their approval. The first form that prospective parents fill out is the 1-600A or the I-600. Both forms should be available through your adoption agency or you can contact INS directly and receive the forms. The 1-600A is the form used for prospective parents that do not have a specific child in mind at the start of the adoption process. The official name for the I-600A is the Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. This form informs that government that you are adopting and will need a variety of forms available to you when the adoption takes place. The I-600 is the form used for prospective parents that have chosen a child, through a photo listing, for example. This form is officially called the Petition to Classify An Orphan as An Immediate Relative. Both of these forms require a processing fee and additional paper work attached with them. When preparing these forms call your adoption agency if questions arise, as the forms can be confusing. In addition, the check included for the processing fee should be a certified check- not a personal check.
After receiving these forms the INS will conduct a FBI background check on the prospective parents. As this takes several weeks to months it is wise to fill the appropriate form out at the very start of the adoption process.

The Home Study

The adoption home study is a must and a critical part of the adoption process. Many adoption agencies have social workers within the agency to complete the home study for families using an agency within their state. Prospective parents using an agency out of state, which is very common, must work with an additional agency or social worker to perform the home study. Choosing this agency is similar to the guidelines for choosing an adoption agency. Prospective parents should feel comfortable with the agency and receive requested information regarding service and fees.

The home study itself is nothing more than packets of paper work and several interviews. The purpose of a home study is for a professional to acknowledge and recommend prospective parents as suitable people to adopt. In order to do this the home study worker must have a variety of documents in which to base a portion of the assessment on. These documents are, but not limited to:

• Birth Certificates
• Marriage License
• Divorce/Death Certificates (if applicable)
• Recent Payment Stub
• Portion of Most Recent 1040 Tax Return
• Notarized letters From Your Bank and Employer
• Most Recent Physical Records/Letter from Physician
• Letter From Your Veterinarian

In addition to the above documents a home study agency generally sends a packet of questions for prospective parents to answer. The questions basically ask for the life story, family experience, and values of the prospective adoptive parents. The questionnaire can be long, but a great opportunity to be introspective and even learn more about your spouse and yourself! Either in the process of filing out paper work or afterwards the interviews will take place. By law a portion of the interviews must be completed in the home environment of the prospective parents. A home study interviewer is not looking for perfection in marriage, home, and finances. They are, however, looking for stable and healthy families that will provide a child with a loving and permanent home. A home study will take several months to complete. The cost varies from several hundred to several thousands of dollars. If a home study cost over a thousand dollars there should be post placement services offered as a part of this fee.

Following the completion of the paperwork and interviews the worker will write the actual home study. A copy of this should be sent to prospective parents for review. A notarized copy will then be sent to the adoption agency to be included in the dossier packet.

The Dossier

The dossier is a large packet of documents that the adoption agency must submit to the country in which prospective parents are adopting from. The agency will provide prospective parents with a list of the documents that they need. Many of these are similar to the documents needed in the home study. The adoption agency will guide families in the specific way to word letters and documents so that they are suitable and diplomatic. These papers are submitted to various countries and there for are often written slightly different so that they are in accordance with the guidelines and political correctness of the country.

Adoptive parents should make a copy of every document they receive and every document they send out. All documents should be organized in a file folder or another reliable system. When mailing the dossier and homes study the packets should be securely sealed and be sent through certified mail.

5. The Waiting

Once prospective parents have turned in all required documents and they have been approved and adoption agency submits the dossier to the chosen country. It is at this time the waiting really begins.

• First, prospective parents await the return of the form I-171H. This form is sent from INS when the file for adoption is complete. The form establishes that prospective parents are official candidates for adoption. Upon receiving this form prospective parents should notify the adoption agency and home study agency.
• Secondly, prospective parents await the arrival of the referral. Depending on which country prospective parents are adopting from the wait time will vary greatly. The other factor that affects the referral wait time is the age and needs of the child being adopted. Prospective parents that adopt older children, siblings, and children with special needs have a significantly shorter wait time that those adopting healthy infants. Countries have referral wait time from 0 months to over 2 years. This information can be discussed with your adoption agency at the beginning of the adoption process. Receiving the referral means that prospective parents have been matched with a child in need of adoption. The referral usually comes at first via a phone call from the adoption agency followed by all known information about the child and a photograph. Receiving the referral is a time of high excitement and a major milestone in the process.

6. Court, Travel, and Together

The adoption agency will be the liaison between the prospective parents and the country adoption authority and court system. Once a court date is set, which may take weeks to months, the necessary information is presented and the adoption is completed. It is at this time that prospective parents become adoptive parents.

Parents may choose to travel or have their child escorted. There are several countries that require parents to travel and this will be disclosed through the adoption agency at the time of inquiry into adoption. Either way, through escort or travel, the union of parent and child occurs which ends the adoption process and begins the first day as a new family.

Sources:

The International Adoption Handbook

Myra Alperson

The Unofficial Guide to Adopting a Child
Andrea DellaVecchio

The Ultimate Insiders Guide to Adoption
Elizabeth Swire Falker

When our children are standing in the toy section of a store and their little
eyes are widening with each step closer and closer to the multi-colored, action
packed, plastic piece of well advertised joy they look up at us and ask, “Can I
have this?”. I find myself smiling as I now have the opportunity for a
teaching moment on impulses, desires, patience, and instilling into these
children the ability to gauge and recognize their own personal motivation for
the things that they want. If I may dialog with you for a moment you will be
able to understand better how an adoption home study works.

Adorable loved child: Can I have this?
Me: Oh, Wow. That is really cool! I can see why you would want that.
Adorable loved child: Yea! So, can I have it?
Me: Can you afford it?
Adorable loved child (now looking at feet): Well, no.
Me: Is it worth working really hard to buy it and saving your money for a long
time? Is it worth not being able to buy any other toys for a while? Is this the
toy that you really want to have? Why do you think you want this toy? How will
you take care of this toy since you will have to work so hard to buy it? Do you
think you are ready for that kind of responsibility? Where you will keep it? And
so on……

Now, the adorable loved child has to answer some questions for himself. He has
to discover if the toy is worth the work he will have to put into attaining it.
He will have to discover his own motivations for wanting the toy. Not to long
ago I was in a toy store with a child that came across a toy that made him gasp
with joy. He picked it up and said he was going to buy this toy with great
enthusiasm. When I asked him why he wanted it he thought for a minute and said,
“Well, because it reminds me off this cute cat I saw on a movie once.” He
thought for a minute more and then said, “You know, I really do not like cats.
I think I will buy a smoothie machine instead.” He saved his money for a
smoothie machine, bought it several weeks later, and has used it to make all
sorts of frozen creations for us ever since. His ability to gauge his own
motivation for things helped him to make an informed and wise purchase.

Adopting a child is not equal to purchasing a smoothie machine. Obviously,
adopting a child is permanent and life changing decisions that must be made
with more forethought and insight that the story above. However, having the
ability to understand your motivation for adopting a child and your
expectations for life with that child are the same. It is the adoption
home study, which in a casual and welcoming way, will urge you to question your
motivation for the adoption and your readiness to take on a life as your own
child.

Most countries require a completed home study as a part of the dossier before
they will send a referral to you. Adoption agencies and private practice social
workers United States wide offer home study services in their own unique ways.
Although there is not a exact framework for how each home study has to be
executed there is commonly a similar format to the home study process and
procedures.

How to Start:

Many times the organization a prospective parent is working with to adopt a
child will be able to complete the home study. In cases, which is very common,
where prospective parents live outside of the state of their adopting agency
the home study must be done through a local agency in their home area. You will
need to set forth some time to find and compare home study programs in your
area. This can be done using the resources such as the internet to locate
agencies that do domestic or international home studies in your area. Important
questions to ask as you are comparing programs are these:

1. Will I have to pay for gas money for the social worker to drive to my home?
   This is common if you live just outside the agencies service area.
2. Do you include any post-placement visits in the price of the home study?
3. Do you provide any form of adoptive parent training or education as a part of
   the home study?
4. What is the average time frame it takes to complete a home study through your
   agency?
5. What is the payment schedule?
6. Is there a higher charge if I am adopting a child with special needs?
7. Will I be refunded my money if you close your agency prior to my home study
   being completed?

Asking these questions will be useful as you determine which agency you are most
comfortable working with. Also important is the way that an agency presents
itself to you on the phone. You will need to feel safe and supported sharing
information about your history and life with the agency so it does matter how
the persons you speak with treat you and answer your questions! This is a very
rewarding and important process and it should be treated as such from both
sides. A cheaper program does not always signify a better experience and should
not be the only factor in your decision to contract with a particular agency.

If you choose an agency different from that which you are adopting through often
there will be an interagency contract needed. This is something that will be
handled by the home study agency and the adoption agency. It is simply and
agreement between them that they will work together to facilitate the necessary
steps towards your adoption.

Your home study agency may ask you to send in an application and an application
fee which in most cases is included in the entire cost of the home study. Upon
receiving your application they will send the home study packet. No doubt,
prospective parents tackle the home study packet in unique ways depending on
their own work and organization styles. A suggestion would be to make a to-do
list based on time sensitive papers. Things that must be mailed away for
processing should be the first things accomplished as this will speed up the
process the sooner they are completed. An example of time sensitive documents
are the I-600A form and letters of reference.

Make appointments for physicals and with your veterinarian early on so that you
and your family will be able to get the required forms completed from these
offices in a timely manner. In general, take some time together as family and
work on your autobiography, discuss the papers you are all signing your names
to, and enjoy the process because it not only brings you one step closer to
your adopted child- it can bring you closer as a family. Any opportunity to get
to know the opinions and thoughts of your spouse, your children, and revisit
your own ideas is a good and healthy thing!

Each home study may vary from agency to agency with particular forms and formats
they require to complete the home study. In general, home studies will need very
similar type of documents. Below is a basic guide for what one may expect
during a home study.

Autobiography

The autobiography is a large packet of questions that help to guide
prospective parents through their own family history and current family
situation. The autobiography is a tool for gauging a families readiness to
adopt. Furthermore, it helps families to ask questions that are necessary for
the preparation process in bringing home a child that may be from a different
country and have a whole life experience different from that of your family. A
home study social worker is not looking for perfection in the autobiography. No
family is going to honestly have the answers to every possible situation that
may arise while rearing and loving their adoptive child. The home study social
workers is looking for families who have learned from their families of origin
and have established a peaceful, secure and loving environment through a
committed marriage and close knit family unit. The social worker does not need
to hear technical perspectives on parenting as much as the need to firmly
believe that your family will actively work to provide the best possible care
for an adopted child. Fear not the autobiography! A suggestion is to sit down
as a family and answer the questions together including discussion in a
environment that embraces the honest thoughts of each family member.

Police Clearance

Your home study will provide you with fingerprint cards so that you may go to
your local FBI or police station and be fingerprinted. As easy as this sound
there are complications in this process that may arrive. Often, police stations
do not do fingerprinting for international adoptions. The solution is to call
around to police stations in nearby towns and more than likely you will find a
station that will provide this service. To save some of time it may be wise to
contact the State Police Department and ask them to assist you in finding a
nearby police facility that will do the type of fingerprinting you need.

Physicians Report

Make an appointment for a physical early on for each member of the family. In
general, the home study agency is looking for basic health information to prove
that the condition of your health will allow you to care for a child. If health
concerns are present in the adults or children of the home this will not make an
adoption impossible. Prospective parents will need to demonstrate that they have
the resources to provide for the adoptive child in addition to the financial
burden of the health condition. A friendly suggestion is to contact your
home study agency and adoption agency and get all of the paperwork needed for
your physicians together this way it may be completed at the same appointment.

References

Each agencies requires a different amount of references from friends and
family. Choose people who have seen the beauty and commitment of your marriage,
your tenderness and desire for children, and people who are witness to your
integrity, responsibility, and character. It is important to make certain that
these individuals understand the importance of getting the references turned in
with a timely manner. To be helpful to your friends and family include a stamped
envelop with the address of where the reference is to be sent. Often, you will
need to use these same references for several different stages of the adoption
such as in the dossier or if you have to apply for a foster care license prior
to the adoption. Ask your references to save a copy of the letter that they
write in case you need to use it again.

Home Study Agreements and an Affirmation Statement

These are all the forms that lay out the financial responsibility that you and
your spouse will have as a part of contracting with the agency. Furthermore,
they lay our your responsibility to your adoptive child and they seek to make
certain that prospective parents understand the commitment that they are
entering. Similar to the covenant of marriage the commitment that parents make
to their adoptive child is unbreakable and sacred. The Home Study agency puts
trusts in the adoptive parents to fulfill their promise to be honest and
forthcoming with information that will be important to the adoption process and
later the care of the child.

Personal Financial Statement

These forms are often informal in nature and may be done in a variety of
formats.

Parents will need to gather financial information such as annual income,
monthly expenses, and assets and liabilities. You will not be discriminated
against for not being rich. Most adoptive parents are not rich and struggle
with the concept of affording an adoptive. Honestly discussing finances with
the home study agency will lead to opportunities to discover better money
management and possible grants available for families that need financial
assistance adopting. It is likely that the agency will ask for copies of bank
records and particular bills. It is wise to make certain that your filing
cabinet is in order to ease the process of locating documents you may need at
this point.

Verification of Employment

You will need to get proof that you are employed where you claim employment.

This is often a letter on company letterhead explaining your position, salary,
benefits, and tenure. The home study agency is looking to confirm that you have a
secure employment. Often, this exact document is needed for the dossier packet.
It would be wise to request two letters and have them notarized.

CANTS

The CANTS is a clearance form which is provided through the Department of
Child and Family Services. This form is simple to fill out and will basically
act as a background check for you and members in your household. The CANTS
clearance certifies that you and members of your household have not been
indicated in physical abuse, neglect and sexual abuse of a child.

Copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decree, and tax
forms.

There will be several times that you will need to have copies of the above
documents. In order to be organized and complete your paperwork in a timely
manner it may be wise to make duplicate copies of each. Often, they will need
to be notarized to show authenticity. Taking these forms to be notarized and
then filing them will allow you to have them available as needed. Some examples
of times you will need these forms are during the home study, while sending away
your I600-A form, and included in the dossier.

Guardianship Statement

You will need to discuss with your spouse and family who you would choose as a
guardian for your child in the even of death. The Guardianship statement is a
form that lists information about the person or couple that you choose as
Guardian for you child. This may be changed after the adoption is completed or
as events in your family change. It is important to consider placing your child
in a home that will honor and respect the value of the child, cherish their
cultural background, and uphold the religious truths that you have instilled in
your child. Make sure that you have discussed at length this decision with the
prospective guardians before filling out this form.

Veterinarian Check Letter

Pets in a home do not make an adoptive more difficult as long as the pets are
child friendly and well cared for. A home study agency will need validation that
all the pets in your home have received their immunizations, vaccinations, and
are in good health because of your care. As you will be very busy during the
home study process it would be wise to make this appointment early on with your
Veterinarian if you do not already have copies of your records.

Firearms Registration

Different states have varies laws on ownership of firearms. You must be in
compliance with these laws and be able to provide verification of registration
and licensing. It is always of utmost importance to consider the dangers of
having firearms in the home. Parents that choose to have firearm in the home
are responsible for making certain that the weapons are out of reach of
children and that ammunition is stored locked away from the firearms. Always
keep firearms locked securely and teach your children about the weapons as they
are developmentally able to understand the risk and responsibilities that come
with firearm ownership. Children should never have unsupervised access to
firearms.

Certificate of Online Education

Many home study agencies will require a that prospective parents take some
adoption related course. These are offered through seminars, conferences,
meetings at the agency, and online. The courses are informative and
educational. From them comes discussion on adoption related issues that
families need to have a basic understanding of before completing an adoption.
There are issues related to the adoption of children of all ages that can be
processed prior to the adoption through this education. Often, the courses
themselves are free of charge but you must pay for the certificate that you
have indeed participated in the course. Please refer to the Precious
Interactive Learning Link for more information on trusted adoption education
resources.

Home Study Interviews

During a home study you and your family (spouse and children) will participate
in several interviews with the home study social worker. The goal is to present
your family as the wonderful people that they are and not strive to make your
spouse look perfect and your children like little angles. The social workers
has been trained to see what is and not what is being presented. When the
social worker comes to your house it is important to have it clean, but you do
not need to have Martha Stewart come in and make your house appear like
something out of magazine. The social worker is more concerned with seeing that
your home is a safe place for children and that the home environment your family
has created is nurturing. The questions that social workers ask will vary. Each
question is more like a friendly discussion rather than an interrogation
process. Coming prepared to the interviews with knowledge of your family
history and your thoughts about parenting, marriage, family life, and adoption
will be all that you need to participate in the interview. In most cases,
families are interviewed together and separately. The social worker will ask
you why you want to adopt a child and why you want to adopt a child from a
specific country if you are doing an international adoption. This can be a
difficult question to put into words, but with thought and insight into the
desires to expand your family through adoption it can be answered.

Home study and The Toy Isle

When you adopt a child you are not paying for the child with the money that it
costs to adopt. You are paying for services that make the adoption possible.
The home study is one of those necessary services that will lead you one step
closer to bringing your child home. Adoption can not be done the same way a
child stands in a toy isle and impulsively grabs at toys. It must be done with
the forethought, prayer, and wisdom; similar to that of a parent that is
teaching their child how to make wiser choices with their resources. Being an
adoptive parent makes one a steward of that which has been placed into their
possession and entrusted to their care. The home study process and the guidance
of the social worker at this point in the process acts as a parent questioning
the motives and preparation of a child desiring to buy a toy with all their
heart. The fundamental difference is that the toy is the life a human being
that was born with worth and value given from the Lord. The difference is that
this toy can not be discarded, it can not be placed on a shelf as trophy, and
it must be protected and loved always.

Remember the smoothie machine? It broke recently . Remember the dearly loved
child? He is still dearly loved and saving his money for another smooth
machine. Remember to honestly participate in the home study process and when you
discover yourself in the toy isle teaching your child about impulses, patients,
motivation, and planning think to yourself about how every step you went through
to bring him home was more than worth it for the teaching moment you are about
to participate in.