Choosing a Home Study/ Post Placement Agency

WHFC works with families throughout the United States. Families who live outside WHFC's full service areas are served by our Placement Services team, in collaboration with one of WHFC's partner agencies in their state. WHFC will be the Placement Agency in your adoption – giving you access to multiple country programs and ultimately the children in need of families. As a Placement Services family, you will need to identify an agency in your home state that can provide home study and post-placement services. Due to recent legislation and the pending U.S. ratification of the Hague Treaty, Wide Horizons For Children can only accept home studies written by specific partner agencies or agencies willing to become a WHFC partner. The following questions and answers will help you choose a local agency.

Can we choose any agency in our state?
WHFC works with select partner agencies and can provide you with names and contact information of agencies in your area with whom we have worked before. All agencies are licensed, private organizations that have experience with international adoption. All have signed an extensive agreement with Wide Horizons defining our roles in the adoption process.

Will every partner agency be right for me?
In most states, WHFC has more than one partner agency. This allows families to have some choice in which agency they use. Different clients have unique preferences – making some agencies a better fit for some clients than others. It is important to feel positively about the agency providing your home study and post-placement services as they will be a support in your adoption journey. We encourage you to review and consider a couple of agencies to find the right fit.

What if WHFC does not have a partner agency in my area?
We are building new relationships with agencies all of the time. Many of the agencies we currently know are partners because they were highly recommended by a family familiar with their services. If we do not have a partner agency in your area, please contact our Director of Placement Services, Maryanne Ludwig, at 781.419.0345. She can discuss options for you so that you can continue your work with WHFC. In most cases, it will be as simple as WHFC talking with your home study agency about their willingness to be a partner agency and to sign our agreements.

What if I already have a home study agency and it is not a WHFC partner?
If this is the case, please see the answer to the above question and contact our Director of Placement Services. We will make every effort for you to continue your adoption process with your home study agency and WHFC.

Does the U.S. ratification of the Hague Treaty impact agency selection?
Yes. The Hague Treaty provides detailed expectations regarding the relationships between agencies who are working together on an adoption case. WHFC partner relationships meet these criteria and are Hague compliant.

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