Adoption Resources works with families in Massachusetts to complete the state adoption requirements and to comply with the requirements for a specific country and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. To complete an international adoption, we work closely with agencies throughout the country that have program ties to specific countries. We are a partnering agency of Children's Home Society of Minnesota, which has more than a dozen programs in Europe, Asia and South America. We are also pleased to offer strong links to agencies working specifically in Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Russia, Romania and China. In many of these countries, there is a very short wait after receipt of your documents until a child is assigned.

OUR PROGRAM COMPONENTS

There are several components to the Adoption Resources International Program.

Introductory Meeting
We strongly encourage all pre-adoptive parents to attend our monthly orientation program on the first Tuesday of each month. This meeting will introduce you to all of our programs and we can answer many of the questions that you might have about the adoption process and your options.

Homestudy
An adoptive parent assessment must be completed by a social worker. Each adoptive applicant must be interviewed individually at least once, and as often as necessary. Generally there are two joint interviews with a couple and one individual interview with each spouse. A minimum of one interview must take place in the applicants' home. The homestudy document will also become part of the official documents forwarded to the country of your adoption and to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Training
Adoption Resources offers and requires that pre-adoptive parents attend our one-session international educational program. This program focuses on issues facing children who have begun life in orphanages and starts to prepare you for the many challenges that you will have as parents.

INS
Adopting a child from another country requires the approval of the INS. To receive the necessary I-600A and I-600 forms, applicants should contact the INS forms line at 1-800-870-3676. Adoption Resources works with families to complete all necessary INS forms. Upon approval of your homestudy and completion of the educational program, the agency will forward your homestudy to INS.

Interagency Coordination
Adoption Resources will work closely with you and the agency facilitating your adoption to complete the necessary paperwork for an international adoption. In addition, we will assist you in navigating the many decisions that you may need to make during this process.

Post Placement
After adopting a child from a foreign country, most families choose to complete post placement services. The normal post placement period includes three visits with an agency worker in the course of six months. In addition to using these visits to meet the requirements to refinalize an adoption, adoptive families are also encouraged to utilize our services as they make adjustments as a new adoptive family. If the country or placement resource for your child has a different policy or schedule, we will adjust these visits and applicable fees to meet their requirements.

Refinalization
Many adoptive families choose to refinalize their adoption in the Massachusetts' courts. In addition, some countries will require a U.S. finalization after the post placement period.