I Had A Dream!

I had a dream the other night that we adopted 3 kids. Not sure where that came from.

On another note, Scott used to say that he wanted two sisters. Now more recently he's been saying that he wants two sisters and two brothers.

Questions for prospective adoption agencies

[some more info I dug up from the yahoo group on Ghana Adoption. I have yet to read through these questions but will hopefully do that soon]

Orphanage operations:

1. How are children supported by the home?
2. Does the agency give a large donation "per child" to an orphanage that "gives" a child for adoption? Or does the agency give support to the orphanage that is not based on the adoption of a child?
3. Do you know what your kids are eating each day? (Some homes have kids eating 5 times per day, others only once per day)
4. What medical testing is done for each child?
5. Does EVERY child in the home get the same care as those who are referred? How do the kids come to the orphanage?
6. Does the Ghana staff know what age/gender/types of children that adoptive parents are waiting for? If so, it may turn into a scenario where Ghanaian folks start "looking" for kids according to which families are waiting.

Referring the child:

1. How does the orphanage/agency determine which family gets which waiting child?
   Does the agency do a medical and THEN determine if the child will be referable through their program?
2. What is required for me to receive a referral (home study, application, USCIS approval, or just money)?
3. Regarding splitting siblings, has the agency PROVEN to you that they are committed to placing siblings together whenever possible?
4. Do they place HIV+ and Hep B+ kids with the same enthusiasm as healthy kids?
   In the case of a baby, what has the agency done to insure that there is no other option but international adoption for that baby? Did they see if social welfare could place the baby domestically?
5. When can I expect to see the medical testing of a child I am interested in adopting?
   What makes a child eligible to be referred to a family? For instance, what documentation is necessary to refer a child to a family?
6. If you are offered a Ghanaian infant under 2 years old ... find out "why? " (It used to be that infants weren't available, because "there are Ghanaian families that want to adopt the younger children." Now, however, I hear of more and more babies being available. Could it be that the families are being offered financial incentives?)

Biological families:

1. How do you, as the agency, counsel biological families when they say they want to give a child for adoption?
2. Will you give a child back to their biological family if they change their minds? Is there any point in the process where your answer would change (for instance, after court)?
3. Is the orphanage/agency providing financially for the families that are releasing their children for adoption? (While it seems "nice", it can also be construed as "buying children". When other families hear about the $ being given, they may also decide to "sell" their child to the orphanage.)
4. Does the orphanage/agency require or suggest that the adopting family give financially to the releasing family? (Again ... could be construed as "buying babies".)
5. Is the orphanage/agency making "deals" with families ... "you give me the child and I'll do ___ for you." ? ($ to start a business, etc.)

Agency details:

1. Is the agency a recognized non-profit, with 501C3 status?
2. Are they directed by licensed adoption professionals?
3. Are they Hague Accredited (whether or not the sending country has ratified the Hague agreement)?
4. Are they accessible throughout the "agency shopping" process?
5. Are they willing to spend time working with you to ensure that you understand *their* particular process (every agency functions differently)?
6. Are they willing to send you a sample copy of their placement contract for review? If so, will they review it with you and explain it to you?
7. Does it have any blanket disclosure clauses? Is their refund policy clearly spelled out? Are there any *gag clauses* in the contract (if so, is this ok with you?)
8. Will they provide references of past RECENT clients?
9. How long have they been working in each of their countries?
10. Is the program you are considering a pilot program? If so, is this spelled out clearly?
11. Do they have the proper in-country credentials, or partner with an agency who has them
12. If they partner with another agency - are they transparent about this?
13. If your adoption stalls, who is responsible, your agency or the partner agency? Is this in your contract? What are their ground support policies?
14. How many Ghana adoptions has your program completed?
15. When the agency makes a mistake, do they admit it?
16. Do they respond to your phone calls and e-mails rapidly and professionally?

Agency operations:

1. Does the agency give ANY funds to a judge in order to say "thank you" for a court judgment?
2. Does the agency "create" siblings?
3. Does the orphanage/agency change the children's ages? This would also be known as falsifying legal documents. (This is done in order to make the children "more adoptable", but it is justified by saying that the children will "fit in better in America, since they are behind academically".)
4. How many in-country staff does your agency have?
5. Are the in-country staff employees, or independent contractors/facilitators that can work with several agencies?
6. Do you, as the agency, take part in investigating the backgrounds of each child you refer, or do you trust an outside source to do this (orphanage director, facilitator, etc.)?
7. In the history of your program, what is the median age of the children referred/adopted? Why do you think the age is higher/lower than ______ program that I’ve also talked to?
8. How did you come to hire your staff in Ghana? What are their qualifications?
9. How does the agency prepare the children for adoption?
10. Are you given open access to your referred child when you travel to Ghana to visit? Is the agency secretive about what you may or may not do when you are around the children in the home?
11. How many country staff are supporting the program you have chosen? Is it one guy doing it on a part time basis or is it a team of people dedicated full-time to your agency's work?
12. If something goes wrong on the Ghana side, who takes responsibility? Will it be your agency or will they blame their country facilitator and then wash their hands of it?

General advice:

1. Have you put an "all call" out on the adoption groups (and I would specify, NON-adoption agency owned) asking for references, good/bad/ugly, for specific agencies? Don't just consider the latest cases, go back a few years. Don't just consider the old cases. Consider how the agency will treat you when things go bad.
2. If one agency has different children available than another agency- ask WHY that is.
3. Choose an agency that spells out their fees CLEARLY. You are committing to an expensive process – ASK what is included in the agency fees. Some agencies appear very expensive, or inexpensive, ON PAPER. However, the expensive agency might include such services as drivers and translators in their fees, while the inexpensive one does not. Know exactly what you are paying for.
4. Interview your placement agency!
5. What would you say is an area you would like to improve on in your program?
   · What would you say is a reason someone might NOT choose your program?
   What makes your program unique to the other Ghana programs available?

Ghana Dossier Checklist:

As of February 2009 (subject to change)

· Approved International Homestudy (notarized)
· Original Certified Copy of Birth Certificates
· Original Certified Copy of Marriage Certificates (if any)
· Original Certified Copy of Divorce Decrees (if any)
· Power of Attorney (notarized)
· Photocopy of USCIS I-171h (no notarization required) NOTE – this is an agency requirement NOT a department of Social Welfare requirement. You may submit your dossier without the I171h.

The following are Forms purchased from the Department of Social Welfare. They cannot be photocopied from another adoptive parent. Check with your agency for specific instructions regarding the completion of the forms.
· Department of Social Welfare Children’s Act 560’ 98 – Formal Application for a Child (no notarization required). For those not affiliated with an agency - fill out the original, DON’T SIGN, make four photocopies, then sign each one.
· Department of Social Welfare Adoption Act 1962 – Medical Report on Prospective Adopter (one completed for each parent). Does not need to be notarized. If the doctor’s office has a stamp with their name and address, ask them to use this.
· Medical Certificate as to Health of Applicant (1/3 page medical – one completed for each parent). Again, try to have the doctor’s office use a stamp with their practice and address.

Not required but recommended:
· Photocopy of Passport Photo Page (no signatures required)
· Family Photo Page (no signatures required)
· Letter of Intent – this is a letter to the Dept of Social Welfare about your family. You might also include your intentions regarding the care of the adopted child(ren), and the
· Employment letter

The Ghana Adoption Process:

[taken from the yahoo groups site on ghana adoption]

Phase I: Collecting Paperwork!

· Family decides they would like to adopt from Ghana and contacts social worker to begin working on the homestudy.
· Family applies to and contracts with Ghana placement agency.
· Family files form I-600a with their local USCIS office.
· Family receives approved homestudy and sends it to local CIS office to complete I-600a file.
· Family receives approval of form I-600a (usually numbered I-171h)
· Prepare the Dossier for Ghana with your placement agency’s assistance.

Phase II: The Adoption Process

· Dossier is sent to Ghana.
· Dossier documents are prepared for court.
· Child referral is given to family (anytime after you receive I-600a approval)!
· Social Welfare conducts a medical and social investigation on the child to be adopted. This is when the child becomes legally (rather than informally) available for adoption.
· Dossier is filed in court and court date is requested.
· Court date! Either final adoption decree (usually) or 2 year interim adoption (very rarely) is ruled.
· With an adoption decree, your referred child now has your last name as his/her own!

Phase III: Before you can Travel

· Team in Ghana applies for your child’s new birth certificate.
· Team in Ghana applies for your child’s Ghanaian Passport.
· Form I-600 and supporting documents are filed with the US Embassy in Ghana by a representative.
· USCIS in Ghana determines whether or not a “field investigation” needs to be done in order to gain I-600 approval (this process could go as quickly as 1 week or take as long as 6 months).
· I-600 approval is awarded and the Embassy invites you to travel to Ghana for the visa interview!

Phase IV: Travel!

· Travel to Ghana to receive your child!
· Attend the Immigrant Visa Interview early in the week.
· Pick up your child’s Immigrant Visa (IR-4) on Friday.
· Travel home with your newest addition!

Phase V: Post-Adoption

· Complete 3 required post placement visits (6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months)
· Because your adoption was completed by proxy (you weren’t at the court date) you will need to readopt your child in your state of residence.
· File to receive your child’s US Passport and/or Certificate of Citizenship, and Social Security Number.
· Consider sending yearly reports to your child’s orphanage so that the staff and any living birth family can follow the progress of your child’s development.

Passport

This whole passport deal has been a fun little game. Back in February, I went to renew my passport but didn't have enough cash. I was in no hurry because we weren't travelling anytime soon considering we didn't even have an agency picked yet. Yesterday I read that your updated passport is part of your application for internation adoption. Yikes, I better get right on the passport update!

Contract

For a while now I've had the contract for AAC. I read it in its entirety but I'm not familiar with what it should look like let alone comparing it to anything else. I asked 3 people to give me their opinion on it:

Friend who adopted recently thought it was similar to theirs.
Social worker friend who does adoptions was not impressed with the typos. Likewise, she was not impressed that AAC doesn't own up to the care provided for the orphans which is likely due to the fact that AAC doesn't have their own care facility established.
Lawyer Aunt who sits on the board of a big name agency will be chatting with me tonight about her review of the agreement. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time.

Ryan has yet to read the contract. But I'm sure he'll do so before too long...

Money Matters

Maybe I've mentioned it before, maybe not. On our already very tight budget, I saw no room for saving for anything, let alone an adoption. I asked Ryan to stop investing in my Roth IRA to save for the adoption. He set up a seperate savings account for that. I was so excited and encouraged when I checked the account balance yesterday. Now I know that $700 doesn't go far in the world of adoption, but I didn't care about that, I was thrilled to see us investing in adoption beyond our paperwork and prayers.