Adoption Process - Week 1 8/13/2004
We are now one week into the process of adopting and it’s already been quite a whirlwind. We had to send out applications (along with application fees) to each of the two agencies we are working with. One is an Arizona-based agency that will assist us with completing our Home Study Certification, which is required by the state as well as by the Ukrainian government in order for an adoption to take place. The Home Study Certification is the process by which we are evaluated for our acceptability as parents. Next week they said they would call to begin scheduling the home visits, of which I believe there will be two.
The other agency is assisting us with all the documents that have to be prepared for a Ukraine adoption. This collection of documents is commonly called a dossier. This agency will also be assisting us with the in-country part of our process. Most of the stages they will be involved with will come in a bit later on, but some of it will get going sooner.
Both agencies are critical to a successful adoption, and we hope (and trust) that we have chosen well.
Other things we did this week included getting our fingerprints taken for a state level clearance and starting the paperwork for the Home Study. The largest portion of the Home Study paperwork is a lengthy autobiography and boy do they want details! In any case, we hope to trudge through the remainder of the autobiography this weekend. The other thing we did this week was to call our doctors and schedule the physical exams that are required - again by both the state and the Ukrainian government. The exams aren’t for several weeks, so it’s good we scheduled them now. Bloodwork will be required as well.
I think that is about everything we did as far as “requirements” go. We also enjoyed talking a little about boy names that we like, we ordered some books on adoption from amazon.com, shared our news with family and some friends, and generally starting adapting to the reality that our lives are about to change very dramatically.
Hmm, no wonder we’re both exhausted!
“Home Study Certification” - Is that like a home-schooling thing?
No, the Home Study is the process of evaluating prospective adoptive or foster parents for acceptability. It is done at the state level. They do in-depth background checks, criminal record checks, fingerprint clearances, financial overviews, home inspections, and so forth. Before you can adopt or be a foster parent in the U.S (regardless of the source of the child), this evaluation process is required.
As far as I know, none of that is required to home-school. However, if you want to run a child-care program out of your home, you go through something similar to have your home and kitchen approved as a safe environment for child-care services.
Hope that is helpful.
Try to work with “The Stork” once you get to Ukraine - Ukraine does not recognize foreign adoption agencies, all the agencies “sub-contract” to local, Ukrainian facilitators. I found the staff at The Stork absolutely competent and efficient - they know how the system works (and doesn’t). Many agencies use them.
And check out the Eastern European Adoption Coalition - they have a listserv that I found invaluable both pre- and post-adoption. To sign up: http://www.eeadopt.net/site/eeac/section.php?id=49
Finally, because agencies can not operate in Ukraine, independent adoption is a possibility - about $10k less expensive than using an agency, which I did not find out until I got back with my daughter.
Good luck. This is an incredible journey.
Thanks! I should clarify that the “Agency” we are working with for the Ukraine portion is charging us only $1000 more than it would cost to adopt independently. They are primarily in the business of assisting with the dossier, but they have tons of experience with independent Ukraine adoptions. I didn’t go into that detail here because folks not familiar with the uniqueness of Ukraine’s system may get confused and since we are using their “services” I felt it best to keep it simple.
Oh, and I’ve already joined the EEAC. It was one of the first things our “Agency” recommended we do.
Thanks again!
I am so excited for you guys! It is SO appropriate that you are considering a Ukranian child… and Jodi, I remember years ago, you wondering what the whole Ukraine/Russia thing was all about, whether you’d ever go back (this was in your apt. in Chesapeake)… well, maybe it is all making sense now!
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Jodi, you’re about 6 weeks ahead of us in the process. We live in Goodyear AZ and will be watching your progress. Thanks for all the relevant information.