|
How long is your “list?”
How long is the wait?
Do we have to prove our infertility?
Must we work with you exclusively?
Do you only place infants?
May I choose the gender of the child I adopt?
May I choose the race of the child I will adopt?
Must I find my own birth mother?
Must I meet my birth mother?
Must I share pictures and letters with my birth mother?
Do you work with single parents who want to adopt?
How do I afford to adopt?
How do we get started?
In all cases, our adoption plans include the following:
Plan 1: Domestic Adoption - Caucasian or Caucasian Blends
Plan 2: International Adoption
Plan 3: Domestic Adoption - Full or Biracial African American
Plan 1 - We don't have a list. We have an active file of adoptive couples with ASC-approved home studies.
We average 25-45 active couples at any given time.
Plan 2 - There is no list. Adoptive couples are processed through their home study and their foreign program
of choice as fast as they sign on.
Plan 3 - We don't have a list. We average 10-25 active couples and singles at any given time.
Plan 1 - We are proud of our time frames at Adoption Support Center. Our goal is to create
your family in 12 months. Nine to ten months is our average. Adoptive couples where one or both of you are over 40 yrs old
and/or already have a child, may take an average of 18 months.
Plan 2 - Placements range between 12 and 36 months.
Plan 3 - Our goal is to create your family in 9 months. 0-6 months is our average.
No. We ask that you go on hold if you participate in a fertility program. We require that you tell us as soon as you know that become pregnant.
We will work with you toward a plan to ensure all children are appropriately spaced apart, as we do not believe in “artificial twinning”
(placing two genetically unrelated babies together when they are less than nine months apart). Interrupting the birth order is an
exception to the norm and you are required to attend an office interview where we will discuss the concept at length.
They are approved on a limited, case-by-case, basis.
Plans 1 and 3 - Yes. We require that you be honest about your leads with another agency or attorney
so we do not mislead our birthmothers. Also, a home study is only good for one placement, and you will
not be able to use our home study toward the purpose of artificial twinning or disrupting birth order through another resource.
Plan 2 - No. We are happy to provide á la carte home studies for international adoption programs not listed on our referral sheet.
Plans 1 and 3 - Primarily, yes. We still ask that you give us the age ranges you would consider with a child
or sibling group (as unique situations arise). We occasionally place a toddler or sibling group, and welcome couples who will embrace
those ages. These exceptions are more common in Plan 3.
Plan 2 - You may adopt infants age 10-12 months, toddlers, or older children.
| May I choose the gender of the child I adopt? |
Back to Top |
Plans 1 and 3 - No. You are bonding with a special birth mother and she is counting on you.
She cannot predict the gender, and ultrasound results can be inconclusive or incorrect.
Plan 2 - Yes, you may choose the gender and the age-range of the adopted child. Few countries have gender choice restrictions.
| May I choose the race of the child I will adopt? |
Back to Top |
Plan 1 - Yes, you may tell us if there is a particular full-race situation you would not consider. All of our couples
are expected to embrace a child of Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian or American-Indian blends.
Plan 2 - Yes, the country and ethnicity is part of your choice.
Plan 3 - Yes, you may choose full African-American and biracial African-American children.
However, there are too few placements per-year of biracial-only children to allow that as an option.
Plans 1 and 3 - No. We find, and are contacted by, birth mothers through classified ads, yellow page ads, outreach programs,
networking, and the Featured Families on our website. You do not need a special 800 number. We answer phones
for birth mothers 24-hours/day, 365-days a year.
Plan 2 - No, babies and children are waiting in orphanages and foster care.
Plans 1 and 3 - Most likely, yes. You will probably meet your birth mom during her pregnancy,
initially in a non-identifying way. Depending upon her desires, you may be asked to share pictures and letters, emails, texts, etc.
with her after placement. We are available as a liaison, if needed. Most birth mothers want visits before and after placements,
some want open adoption, some want closed. You will only be shown to birth mothers who desire the same level of communication.
Plan 2 - No. You may have the opportunity to meet your child's foster care family.
| Must I share pictures and letters with my birth mother? |
Back to Top |
Plan 1 and 3 - Yes, most birth mothers want pictures, letters and visits after placement.
Most of our families send birthmom correspondence on a bi-annual or annual basis (some want more, some want less.) Correspondence
comes through the agency first. This provides confidentiality for both parties. many birth mothers request visits after placement.
Plan 2 - No.
| Do you work with single parents who want to adopt? |
Back to Top |
Plan 1 - No.
Plan 2 - Yes. In fact, this is your best opportunity for a healthy baby as young as 6-months-old.
Plan 3 - Yes, this is a fairly simple and quick route for you.
The Federal Tax Credit is $13,170 (2011 tax figures). Ask your tax professional for details and check our Financing
page. We offer MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express, and information on low-interest
adoption loans, adoption grants, and more. You can absolutely set up an adoption loan thru them with affordable monthly payments.
Download and complete our Adoption Intake Form (PDF) and email, mail or fax it back to
Adoption Support Center. We will determine if you need to attend one of our Wednesday Information Seminars,
or if you may proceed to an international home study.
You could be parents in less than a year!
|
|
|
