Are there special requirements
or age limits?
Is it necessary to travel in all
international adoptions?
How long does it take?
How much does it cost?
What is a homestudy?
Is it possible to adopt more than
one child at a time?
Are the children healthy?
Are health records available?
Are international adoptions successful?
Do we/I
have to be Catholic to adopt through Catholic Charities?
Members of any faith or denomination are welcome to adopt through Catholic
Charities. We require only that prospective parent(s) have a sense of
spirituality and be active participants in some organized religion. Catholic
Charities believes that the healthy development of children requires
attention to their physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional and
spiritual growth.
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Does Catholic
Charities do international adoptions?
Yes. Catholic Charities provides homestudies for individuals and
couples who have chosen to pursue an international adoption. During the
homestudy process, Catholic Charities assists the individual/couple to
identify a placing agency with a program in the country of their choice
and then works conjointly with that agency to complete the adoption.
We also have our own international adoption program in Poland.
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Why
work with Catholic Charities and a child-placing program?
Your Catholic Charities social worker provides education
and support to you throughout the entire adoption process. We
help you to understand the requirements different countries have
for adoptive parents and to identify an appropriate placing agency
with a program in the country of your choice. Catholic Charities
has worked with an extensive number of agencies from across the
country and can assist you with your decision. We perform the
required homestudy and provide it to your placing agency. After
you have returned home with your child, Catholic Charities provides
services and support, including any post-placement supervision reports,
updates and pictures, as required by the country of your child’s
birth.
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Does Catholic
Charities have its own international program?
No. Our Catholic Charities Adoption Program, however, has excellent professional
relationships with dozens of international programs throughout the United
States.
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Are there
special requirements or age limits?
Each country has its own requirements in regard to age, marital status,
previous marriages, other children, travel, and stay. Your Catholic Charities
social worker will discuss these requirements with you. In addition,
all families adopting iinternationally must file with USCIS (United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services) to gain approval for a foreign
born child to legally enter the U.S.
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Is it necessary to
travel in all international adoptions?
Most countries require you travel there at least once. You may choose
to stay the entire length of time necessary to complete the adoption
or you may prefer to travel twice. If you choose to have your child(ren)
escorted by someone else, then the adoption must be finalized in the
United States.
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How long does it take?
As with all adoptions, it is impossible to accurately predict the
length of time it will take. The average time is one to two years to
complete an international adoption.
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How much does it cost?
The cost of international adoption depends on the fee of the placing
agency/resource you have chosen. Fees usually range between $15,000
and $30,000 depending on the country, length of stay, and the time
of year you are travelling. The fee for a homestudy by Catholic Charities
is $1,800. Fees for post-placement visits and reports are $200 per
child for an office visit and $250 per child for a visit in the home.
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What is a homestudy?
A homestudy is an important first step in the adoption process, and it
is required by law. The homestudy is a report on the adoptive parent(s)/family
and is compiled after a series of interviews both in the offices of
Catholic Charities and in the home of the adoptive family. The homestudy
process is generally completed within a few months. Many topics are
discussed during the homestudy, including your family history, education,
parenting skills, and relationships. Your social worker also addresses
your thoughts about adopting a child from a different culture, as well
your questions, concerns and expectations.
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Is it possible
to adopt more than one child at a time?
In some cases yes, especially if they are part of a sibling group. In
some countries you are able to adopt from the same orphanage or two different
orphanages.
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Are the children
healthy?
People considering international adoption need to be aware of the possibility
of developmental delays and adjustment issues with children from other
countries. There are resources available to assist you in assessing and
addressing the present and future needs of your adopted child.
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Are
health records available?
In most cases you receive minimal medical history and/or medical/social
information at the time of referral of a child for your home.
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Are international
adoptions successful?
Yes. There are an ever-increasing number of successful international
adoptions. Catholic Charities can help you to network with others who
have adopted internationally and with excellent support groups and resources
within your area.
International Adoption
Step-by-Step Guide
to International Adoption
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