Welcome to our Informational Meeting
ABOUT ACI OVERVIEW
-Established in 1986 -Multiple Locations Green Bay Madison Milwaukee Central -Types of Adoption International Embryo Domestic Interstate Infant Relative Birth Parent Counseling Stepparent Out of State Foster Care
1
HOW CAN ACI ASSIST YOU?
Exploring Options
2
Completing Home Study Process
Referrals for education including offering State required in-person training
Post Placement Services
Waiting Families Support Group
WHAT SETS US APART?
1 Flexible
2 No waiting Lists to begin home study
3 No religious Affiliation/nondiscriminatory
4 Accessibility of counselors
5
6
Knowledgeable staff with years of experience and personal connections to adoption
Supportive and by your side each step of the way
3
PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE ADOPTION
HOME STUDY PROCESS
Required by WI law Minimum of 3 visits Typically 8-12 weeks Valid for 1 year (15-18 months internationally) Intensive and personal Update completed when home study expires Valid home study needed through finalization Home study can be used for one adoption. A subsequent adoption will require a new home study
4
BARS FOR ADOPTION
1 Medical Issues such as Cancer
5
2 Bankruptcy History in Past 5 years
3 Certain Criminal Charges
4 Median age of 45 years
5 Married for 1 year is preferred
EDUCATION
Per state requirement, first time adopting parents must complete 25 hours of adoption education; 6 of these hours to be in-person WI Core Competencies Must be completed before home study is approved Must be in the required format: in person, webinar, etc.
6
DOMESTIC VS. INTERNATIONAL
Want to adopt a child as young as possible Comfortable with openness In WI birth parents have until TPR goes through to decide to parent Can sometimes be less costly, length of wait times varies, unable to choose gender 7
Want to adopt a toddler up to a teenage child Prefers closed adoption or little contact with birth mother Parental rights have already been terminated or deemed orphan Can choose a race, gender, country, lack of background and medical care
AGENCY INFANT ADOPTION Birth parents and adoptive parents are connected through the agency Home Study required Will create a profile that birth parents review (shown in all locations) Birth parent counseling provided *** Risks include: Legal risk period; agency & attorney expenses incurred, birth parent living expenses
8
INDEPENDENT ADOPTION Birth parents and adoptive parents meet apart from the agency Some control over the process Can be less expensive Birth parent counseling still required *** Risks: The same as agency adoption risks.
9
OUT OF STATE ADOPTION Adoptive families and birth parents live in different states Connect through a variety of ways ICPC required due to transporting child across state lines Need to follow requirements in both states *** Risks can be the same, travel expenses, sometimes fees required up front, may not meet in person until birth of child
10
OUT OF STATE AGENCIES
Please refer to a complete listing in your folder. 11
THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT DOMESTIC ADOPTION Leans towards open adoption Unable to choose gender of child with most agencies Competing against other families Legal risk placement Can experience a failed match/placement before completing a successful adoption
12
TERMINATION OF RIGHTS PROCESS
1 Court hearing typically occurs in WI within 30 days of the petition being filed
13
2 Appeal only on basis of legal error
3 Contact after TPR
4 Grandparents rights
OUT OF STATE FOSTER CARE ***Risk: Children usually come from hard places and have multiple needs
Child adopted from foster care system of another state. Child identified online Travel out of state-typically more than once
***Benefits: Children are available for adoption, shorter wait times, extensive background history, little to no cost, subsidies available 14
EMBRYO ADOPTION -Not an option for all families -Adoption Choice can conduct a home study -Genetic info available on biological parents Nightlight Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Adoption Choice, Inc. works with this Program in an effort to offer families another adoption option. www.snowflakes.org National Embryo Donation Center Adoption Choice, Inc. also provides embryo home studies for families who are looking to work with NEDC to grow their family. NEDC is located in Knoxville, TN, but works with families of all races, faiths, and backgrounds in all states. For information, visit their website: www.embryodonation.org
15
BIRTH PARENTS When do they come to the agency? Why do they place for adoption? I am not ready to parent the child the way they deserve I want my child to have the best possible life right now I want my child to have the security of a two-parent family or have a more stable life than I can give
16
Referral Sources Birthfathers How often do they change their minds? When can they change their mind?
OPENÂ VS. CLOSED Open: share info/have contact Level of openness depends on what the birthparent and adoptive family are comfortable with Most common type of plan-what we encourage and what most adoptions are leaning towards Mostly letters, photos, sometimes formal updates annually 17
Closed: no contact Rarely requested by birthparents **** Research shows that an open adoption is healthier for all parties involved***
FINALIZATION
Post-placement visits every 30 days
Child has been in the adoptive home for 6 months or more (usually)
Name Change
No attorney needed, in most cases in Wisconsin
18
COSTS & FINANCING YOUR ADOPTION Fees usually broken down by service Our fees Birth parent expenses Adoption Tax Credit Grants Military Benefits Funds from employers Resources4adoption.com
19
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION OVERVIEW -We don’t have our own International program but we have connections with many placing agencies -We can help you adopt from most any country that allows adoption **Benefits: -Not competing with other families -Usually a ballpark timeframe for referral -Referral can be evaluated by a specialist **Risks -Incomplete/inaccurate child info -Delays outside of our control -Changes in countries -Varying costs/requirements by country
20
TYPES OF CHILDREN AVAILABLE Healthier children or children with no identified needs are available- longer wait time Very young children are typically not available-youngest is usually 12 months Children that have known medical, emotional, or developmental issues are also available Special needs and waiting children-have needs outside the ordinary, older age, correctible medical conditions. Can also be non-correctible physical/medical condition, missing limbs, vision/hearing (you can specify the type of special need you are open to, if any)
21
CHOOSING A COUNTRY/INTL AGENCY Agency program list Restricting criteria Travel times and children available Sometimes a country will choose you Age of a child when they arrive home depends on the adoption laws in the country of origin
22
FINDING AN INTERNATIONAL AGENCY We are the HS agency and work with international placing agency in another state Will work with Intl placing agency and home study agency concurrently Like to look at an agency that has at least 2 programs that you are interested in/eligible for Agency fees vary and country fees vary Can look for Hague accredited/JCICS agencies
23
WHAT IS HAGUE? International Agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions Serves to protect children Standardize International adoptions Best interests of the child Not all countries are Hague ***Adoption.state.gov-travel warnings, country restrictions, updates ***Jointcouncil.org-advocacy, education, resources 24
THE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION PROCESS
25
Chose agency/country, apply to international agency Complete Home Study Apply to USCIS Work on Dossier Once receive referral can have it looked at by a specialist Determine if you would like to move forward The country begins the process of connecting you with your child and wait to travel Meet with child and complete adoption in the country Appointment at the embassy to issue a visa for the child Post-adoption-requirements differ by country, can be months or years Meet state, agency, and country requirements for post-adoption visits Counselor visits the home and creates reports to send back to the country Finalize or re-adopt in WI
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF/ THINGS TO CONSIDER Am I ready to parent a child of another culture and race? What age am I comfortable with? How long am I willing to wait for a referral? Am I comfortable accepting a child with minor or major medical, developmental, or emotional issues? How much time am I willing to spend in that country? How much time am I willing to stay home after placement? Am I willing to reach out to professionals for resources after my return? Am I willing to celebrate children’s culture (intl or domestic) and help the child maintain traditions? Need to be flexible with all the challenges and uncertainties that can arise. Do I have realistic expectations for a child coming from a institutionalized care setting?
26
Follow us for daily updates! Visit our website @ adoptionchoiceinc.org or Visit our offices in Milwaukee, Green Bay, & Madison for more information
This info-book is the property of Adoption Choice, Inc. Please return this Info-book to one of our adoptive counselors at the end of your info session. Thank you!