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Adoption Answers |
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Adoption Answers |
| Question: What is Summit Adoption Home Studies process if I want to adopt internationally? |
Answer: 1. Contact Summit Adoption Home Studies for information and to make application for adoption services. 2. File your 1-600A by mail with the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services at 2901 Metro Drive, Suite 100 Bloomington, MN 55425. This can also be done before or during the home study process. 3. Prepare the documents required by your chosen country. 4. Wait for your referral. Receive your referral. Wait for your travel date. 5. Travel, stay in country based on country's requirements and obtain U.S. embassy visa for your child. 6. Come home with your child, contact your Summit Adoption Home Studies and begin post placement adoption process. |
| Question: Can Summit Adoption Home Studies help us with a designated, private adoption? |
Answer: Yes, Summit Adoption Home Studies can complete the adoptive parent home study. Birth and adoptive parents must independently work with an adoption attorney or agency to represent the birth parents, arrange for birth parent counseling or other services in accordance with the laws of Minnesota and the adoptive parents' state. Summit Adoption Home Studies can help you navigate the interstate compact arrangements if the child is born in another state. Summit Adoption Home Studies can refer you to adoption attorneys or other agencies to provide these services while we work with you to provide your adoptive home study. |
| Question: How do I find out more about children to adopt in other countries? |
Answer: There are many,many adoption services who represent children in many countries. The world wide web can be helpful, word of mouth, or references from Summit Adoption Home Studies can lead you to these programs. You are free to select the source that meets your needs if you choose us to do your home study. We always recommend you check references and the adoption agency licensing or business status of the services you are considering. |
| Question: How many children are adopted internationally? |
Answer: In 2003 fiscal year, over 21,616 children were adopted internationally to families in the U.S. |
| Question: How can I find out more about international adoption? |
Answer: The U.S. State DepartmentConsular Affairs issues foreign country information Consular Sheets for over 100 countries which includes adoption information. The world-wide web is very helpful in locating child referral services. Summit Adoption Home Studies can help you discuss how to choose a child referral service. |
| Question: What about international issues with medical health, travel? |
Answer: Travel:Most international countries require that adoptive parents travel and stay from 1 to 8 weeks. Adoption costs for travel are the responsibility of parents to pay directly. Medical: To help you review the medical information you do have on your referred child and to screen adopted children after their arrival, contact University of Minnesota International Adoption Clinic Dr. Dana Johnson 420 Delaware Street NE, Box 211 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 Tel: 612-626-2928/www.peds.umn.edu/iac |
| Question: What about the tax credit for adoption - what is this? |
Answer: The 2003 tax credit is up to $10,160 for qualifying expenses. See IRS for complete details (Publication 968 Tax Benefits for Adoption). |
| Question: I would like to learn more about the U.S. waiting children available - how do I begin this process? |
Answer: In 1994, Federal Legislation was signed for the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act to decrease the length of time that children wait to be adopted. An agency or entity that received federal financial assistance and is involved in adoption may not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin of the adoptive or foster parent or the child involved. Children who fall under the provision of the Indian Child Welfare Act are not covered by this legislation. Currently about 100,000 of the 450,000 children in foster care in the U.S. need adoptive homes. |
| Question: How can I find out more about which children are waiting in the U.S. for adoption? |
Answer: Children available are listed in photo listings both in hard copy books and on the world wide web for many U.S. states. Subsidies may be available for many children as well as reimbursement to a qualifying family for non recurring adoption expenses which can include agency adoption fees, agency supervision of the placement and other qualifying expenses. Links to this information can be found at Summit Adoption Home Studies web site: http:www.summitadoption.com |
| Question: Can I get references? |
Answer: Many references can be provided regarding home study and international child referral services. Many families have adopted with us more than once. Summit Adoption Home Studies is licensed in Minnesota under Rule 4 as a child placing adoption agency and you can verify the licensing status of all Minnesota adoption agencies through the Minnesota Department of Human Services at 651-296-7635. |
| Question: What should I expect from Summit Adoption Home Studies to support me through the process? |
Answer: Parenting: The most important reason you have started on the path to adoption. We give support and referrals for simple and complicated concerns about becoming a parent. Each family has different levels of needs for support and parenting education. This is handled based on your individual situation. Paperwork for U.S. and State. This must be done so we provide easy to follow, personal guidance to getting this done as quickly as possible from initial consultation to completion of your child's adoption into your family. Paperwork for your child: This is handled by the child referral service you use. We will support you to help you understand what is needed to complete this paperwork - whether it is an interstate compact for U.S. adoption or an international adoption or if you need a referral to an adoption agency. Perspective: Adoption bureaucracy, whether local or international, can be the most challenging, time consuming and often frustrating part of the path to parenting. We'll work to provide perspective to help you keep your adoption in sight despite the inevitable challenges that will occur along the path. Professionalism: Summit Adoption can fully support the adoption cycle of needs and has developed access to a wide variety of adoption resources for families. Passages: Becoming and being a parent through adoption or birth is a journey full of joys and challenges. On-going contact can be maintained with other adoptive parents through our waiting family meetings, agency gatherings, parent directory and newsletters. |
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