The Process

Beginning the adoption process is a little like learning a new language. Many things are likely to feel strange. Be assured, however, that the adoption process has predictable steps and that with the guiding hand of your social worker and other experienced staff, we will work to make things run as smoothly as possible. There will be unexpected twists - that's not unusual in adoption.

The adoption process will include the following steps:

• Registration
• Application
• The home study
• Selecting a program
• Preparing your dossier
• U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service (CIS) Petition (for international adoptions only)
• Your child's referral
• Bringing your child home
• Post-placement visits
• Finalization

Registration

Begin by registering online or completing and returning our Registration form with the registration fee. If you have adopted with Wide Horizons before, return the completed form only, the fee is waived.

Application

You will receive an application packet following your registration with the agency. The application step involves providing us with detailed personal and financial information. You will also be asked to review and sign documents related to the adoption process. Once we receive the documents needed to begin and the required fee, we will contact you to discuss the home study and program selection process.

The Home Study

All states require families to complete a home study as part of the adoption process. Your home study will be conducted by a WHFC social worker or one affiliated with one of our partner agencies, depending on your state of residence. It is important not to feel intimidated by the process! The goal is to learn more about you, discuss the adoption choices open to your family, and exchange ideas and concerns about parenting. On average, your social worker will meet with you three times, including one visit to your home.

Your home study will take a few months to complete, and you will be asked to gather additional documentation, including civil documents (birth, marriage, and/or divorce certificates), medical statements, criminal background checks, and letters of reference as part of this process. Should new information arise after the home study is completed, the report can be amended.

All applicants must complete 10 hours of pre-adopt education requirements. First-time applicants to WHFC are also asked to attend a pre-adopt group in their area. Issues discussed include short- and long-term adjustment, acceptance of your child by family and community, and medical and legal concerns. For more information on the home study, read the article What Your Homestudy Can Do For You by Lisa Lovett, LCSW.

Program Selection

Some prospective parents come to us with a clear preference for one of our programs (countries in which we work). For others, the decision may take several months or longer. It is possible to begin your home study without selecting an adoption program - in fact, we encourage families to apply to more than one program. WHFC does not charge additional fees to applicants who choose this option. Eligibility requirements, set by adoption officials in each country, will also help you identify which programs are viable choices for your family.

There are many ways to gather information about program choices. Your social worker is an excellent sounding board for this discussion. Our program staff is also available to review each program with you in depth. In addition, you are welcome to contact other families who have adopted to discuss their experiences. You may even want to consider viewing our online webinars, participating in teleconferences we host, or attending a WHFC cultural event, where you will meet many of our adoptive families. For more information, read the article Making a Program Choice: What to Consider, by Janice Hoffman.

U.S. Immigration Filing

If you are pursuing an international adoption, you will need to submit a completed I-600A or I-800A form to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) as soon as you receive written instructions from WHFC. Forms are available from a USCIS office or can be downloaded at www.uscis.gov. You will then receive an appointment for fingerprinting, required for FBI clearance, within 3-6 weeks. Fingerprint clearance and USCIS approval take 3-6 months on average, although the wait may be shorter in some states. USCIS requires a final home study report before approval is granted.

Dossier Preparation

Once you have selected your program(s), our program coordinators will guide you through the process of preparing your dossier, the documents required by adoption officials in your child's birth country. The documents you will be asked to collect will vary depending on the program selected. In many cases, these documents must be originals, and will be the same or very similar to those you have gathered for your application and home study.

Your Child's Referral

Once we receive your child's referral information, we will contact you. We advise you to review the information with a physician or international adoption clinic familiar with the health and adjustment issues of children adopted from your child's birth country as soon as possible before notifying WHFC of your decision to accept or turn down the referral. In general, if you are adopting from the U.S., you will be chosen by the birth parents before your baby is born.

Your Child's Arrival Home

For international adoptions, you will either travel to pick up your child or have your child escorted to the United States, depending on the program you select. You must make appropriate passport and visa arrangements for your child. We will provide you with detailed instructions about this process. It is important to contact your social worker within 24-48 hours of your child's arrival in the U.S. If you are adopting from the U.S., your child will be placed with you directly from the hospital or within 1-2 weeks of birth, depending on the wishes of the birth parents.

Post-Placement Requirements

Post-placement reporting is an important part of the adoption process. On average, you can expect to meet with your social worker 3 times within the first 6 months of your child's arrival home, although post-placement requirements vary by state and/or birth country. You will also need to provide brief written reports and photos at regular intervals. For more information on this topic, refer to "Answering the Post Placement Service Question: Why Are We Doing This?" by Laura Stevens, MSW, PhD.

Finalization

For international adoptions, we encourage you to legalize the adoption in your state of residence, even if your child's adoption was finalized overseas. This gives both you and your child the added protection of U.S. law. In fact, adoptions from some countries MUST be finalized through your state court system following the child's arrival in the United States. All children are granted U.S. citizenship after their adoptions are full and final.