AdoptInternational is a licensed child-placing agency in the state of Florida, handling Kazakhstan adoption, Guatemala adoption, and placement of children from Liberia and Azerbaijan. We also provide home study and post-placement services. We work with families throughout the United States and the world. International adoption is a complex legal process involving U.S. state and federal law and foreign law. AdoptInternationals Executive Director, Candace O'Brien, unlike most adoption agency directors, is an attorney with many years of experience living and working abroad.
We believe in a personalized approach to international adoption. The Executive Director oversees each placement and works directly with each client. The Executive Director maintains constant communication with our foreign coordinators and attorneys and provides continual updates on the status of each case directly to clients. Our clients will never feel lost in the bureaucratic maze of their adoption agency. We believe in fully educating our clients about the adoption process and we take as much time as needed to address concerns and answer questions prior to the client's decision to work with us, during the adoption process, and after its completion.
AdoptInternational strives to provide the highest level of professional service in international adoption because we:
- Work directly with foreign country sources rather than networking through other U.S. adoption agencies
- Have developed a team of professionals in foreign countries with the right credentials and experience
- Maintain close communications with our team in each country
- Understand the adoption process completely and thoroughly both in the U.S. and the foreign country
- Adhere to the highest level of integrity and honesty
- Provide straightforward and continuous communication with our clients throughout the adoption process
AdoptInternational does not impose eligibility criteria beyond those required by U.S. immigration law and by the foreign country. We do not deny applications based on gender, age, marital status, religion, race, or ethnicity.
We handle our adoption cases in a sensitive, compassionate, and straightforward manner. We go the extra mile for our parents and for our kids, remaining committed to the adoption process. Our Executive Director is an attorney who has worked internationally for many years before pursuing adoption work. Our team is ethical, committed, passionate, and knowledgeable. Specifically:
- We explore all facets of each program to find the best fit.
- We provide home study and post-placement services for Florida residents.
- We advise and assist parents in completing U.S. immigration documents and all the necessary paperwork required by the foreign country.
- We provide legal representation before U.S. immigration authorities should the need arise.
- We provide parents with step-by-step assistance in the foreign process and provide continual status updates.
- We coordinate travel abroad.
- We keep abreast of current procedures in the foreign country and inform parents accordingly.
- We provide consultation on readoption, automatic U.S. citizenship, and application for a Certificate of Naturalization.
Things to consider.
International adoption is steadily growing. However, the process is still emotional, complex, expensive and uncertain. There are many issues over which agencies have no control. For example, adoption laws may change in the foreign country, sometimes unexpectedly, causing temporary or permanent shutdowns; political strife and civil unrest may cause delays; bureaucratic slowdowns may create delays; uncertainties exist with respect to health issues due to limited medical information, technology in the foreign country, and lacking medical histories. It is important to consider all of these issues and the risks involved before deciding to adopt internationally.
Once you decide.
Once you decide that you want adopt internationally, there are several decisions that must be made and some steps that can be taken to prepare you for whichever foreign program you choose i.e., choosing your home study agency, choosing your international adoption agency, gathering basic documents.
Choosing your Home Study Agency.
Choosing the right home study agency is important. You will be sharing personal details about your life and experiences so you want to be comfortable with your agency and social worker. This is also a critical step in the adoption process so you want to make sure your home study is completed accurately and efficiently. If possible, interview as many home study agencies as possible. The following questions may assist you in deciding which agency is best for you:
- How long does it take to complete a home study and receive the final report?
- How many home/office visits are required?
- Does the home agency require any special training or educational classes prior to home study approval?
- What is the fee?
- What forms and other background information are needed to complete a home study?
Choosing your country.
Deciding from which country you will adopt is going to be based on a number of factors, including:
- Age of children available for adoption
- Gender preferences
- Health issues
- Number of required trips
- Length of travel
- Length of process in the foreign country
- Race and ethnicity of the children
Take the time to explore, in detail, these and other issues with various agencies that you contact so that you find the best fit.
Choosing your international agency.
You may or may not use the same agency for both your home study and your international adoption. For example, you may not have a local agency that handles international adoption or you may just feel more comfortable with another agency, one that may not even be in your home state. Your international agency is responsible for handling all aspects of your foreign adoption so this is a critically important decision. Some issues to consider include the following:
- Does the agency work directly with the foreign country source or does the agency network through other agencies?
- Who will you be working with you on a daily basis while your adoption is in process?
- What is the background and experience of agency personnel with whom you will work, particularly those in charge of foreign programs
- Ask for references and determine from the references how well the agency handled problems? Did they communicate well?
Take the time to explore issues and concerns with your agency and make sure that your agency is willing and able to take the same time for you.
Adopt International420 Lincoln Road
, Suite 601
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Map305-604-9676
www.AdoptIntl.com
