Adoption Overview

We are proud to have been an accredited agency by the Council on Accreditation since 1997. We are an agency that adheres the highest standards of practice and ethics in our field. We have worked with over 6000 families and have been in operation since 1984. We are committed to helping children find permanent families, and to helping children in foreign countries with humanitarian aid.

We are now in an ever changing world of adoption. Becoming an adoptive family is amazing and worth the many challenges now facing us.

It was once thought that the big challenge was passing a home study. We know that most people "pass" their home studies with ease, and actually enjoy the process and confess to really learning something new and relevant. Domestic adoption continues to change with more and more open adoption thanks to those who spoke out about their adoption and led us to be more humane in moving into a world with openness. Families enter with fear and move on with such great joy in having the opportunity for future information, contact, and recognizing that this is in their child's best interest. How refreshing to know where the focus needs to be.

International adoption has taken a turn...I am not sure what that direction is, but I do know that for the time being, it brings challenges. Many countries are closing, rewriting laws and policies, some are restricting placements, and others are still figuring out what direction to take. This leaves families with fewer options and waivering hope. In this new year, we must make resolutions to hang on, have faith, and approach this process with love. We need to remember the waiting children and know that our desires to welcome them home will happen, just not in the same way as years before. Learning patience in this process is esssential, treating people on your path with respect is also critical. Stay focused but step back so that the process brings pleasure, with the joy of having your child join you in due time. That day will arrive. Then you can enjoy the celebration.  So, what does this mean and what does it look like...

Every family entering the adoption process needs a Adoption Home Study. The study is a process that helps a family review their motivation to adopt, their interest in parenting, and the strengths of their relationship. Individual histories are taken by the social worker. The study includes discussing topics of financial stability, current health status, criminal histories, family support, understanding of adoption (domestic or international), your commitments to helping your child understand their histories, and your specific request for a child.

Submitting documents in support of the above topics is a requirement of the California Department of Social Services.

Families also participate in an educational program designed for the type of adoption that you are completing. For international adoptions you will be covering 10 hours and 11 topics that will give you a thorough understanding of international adoption process, child backgrounds, child development, transracial and transcultural issues, creating attachment, family adjustment and many more issues. Domestic educational programs focus on relationships with birth mothers, future contact agreements, attachment and an optional transracial piece.

A final approval is then given in the completion of the Adoption Home Study document. This final document is what you need to begin your process.

Once you have decided on the type of adoption you want, and the country from which you want to adopt you must to find professionals to help you. There are Home Study agencies who are licensed to conduct international or domestic homestudies. We are licensed for both.

There are Placement agencies, who are the ones who identify a child for you. They may be the same agency or you may work with different agencies or organizations. We are both.

1. You must meet the requirements of the State of California which is done through Adopt International through your Home Study.
   
2. You must also meet the requirements of another agency or organization if you are working with them for the identification and placement of your child. If this agency is in another state, you may need to meet any requirements of that state. If completing and international adoption you must meet the requirements of the Department of Homeland Security, which is done by making an application to CIS, Citizenship and Immigration Services.
3. And finally, you must meet the requirements of the Foreign Country from where you are adopting or the requirements of the birthmother. The Foreign Country requires a "Dossier" which is comprised of many documents. Often these documents overlap those collected for the homestudy. Domestically families typically create a picture book to present themselves to pregnant woman considering adoption.

That sounds like so much to do. With some organizational skills, it is manageable, and more importantly, it will bring you to the joys of having a child.