Miscellaneous Information:
General Information on International Adoption and Children Available There are strict immigration requirements for adopting children from other countries, as well as substantial agency fees and transportation, legal, and medical costs. Many private agencies place children from foreign countries. It is important that you choose a licensed, knowledgeable organization, for the inter-country adoption process is lengthy and complex. Many children with special needs are available for adoption. These children may be older; have physical, emotional, or mental disabilities; or be brothers and sisters who should be adopted together. As a prospective parent, you should carefully consider the emotional and social implications of adopting a child of a different nationality. In this situation, you are adopting a culture as well as a child. Steps in Finding and Using an Adoption Agency There are several steps you must complete for any type of adoption through an agency. In addition to the four basic Procedures described below, other procedures may be necessary, depending upon your particular needs and those of the child and the birth parents. Select an Adoption Agency There are both private and public adoption agencies. A private adoption agency is supported by private funds and should be licensed or approved by the State in which it operates. A public agency is the local branch of your State social service agency. Most public agencies handle only special needs adoptions—not infant or inter-country adoptions. Below are descriptions of both types of agencies. Using a Private Agency (1) Finding an Agency To obtain the names of local private agency, look under "Social Services" or "Adoption Agencies" in the Yellow Pages. Also, ask adoptive parents and your public agency for their recommendations. The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC) can identify agencies in your area, or you can purchase the National Adoption Directory (NAD) from NAIC. You might want to check with your State adoption specialist or local adoptive parent support groups (all listed in NAD) for their recommendations of reputable agencies. Private agencies handle both domestic and inter-country adoptions. You will need to decide which kind of child you want to join your family. Fees charged by private adoption agencies range from $8,000 to more than $20,000 for both domestic and inter-country adoptions. Make sure you ask any agency you might work with what its fees are and what the schedule is for paying them. Most will allow you to pay fees in installments due at particular points during the adoption process. If the fee policy is clear from the beginning, misunderstandings about payment will be less likely. (2) Complete the Application and Pre-placement Inquiry When you contact an agency, you may be invited to attend an agency-sponsored group educational session. Here you and other applicants will learn about the agency's procedures and available children and receive the application forms. The agency will review your completed application to determine whether to accept you as a client. If accepted at a private agency, you will probably have to pay a registration fee at that time. The next step is the pre-placement inquiry, also known as the "home study." The home study is an evaluation of you as a prospective adoptive family and the physical and emotional environment into which the child would be placed. It is also a preparation for adoptive parenthood. It consists of a series of interviews with a social worker, including at least one interview in your home. During this process, you will, with the social worker's assistance, consider all aspects of adoptive parenthood and identify the type of child you wish to adopt. Some agencies use a group approach to the educational part of the adoption preparation process. Many of the questions asked in the home study are personal. This is necessary for the social worker's evaluation of you as a prospective parent. Some of the questions are about your income, assets, and health and the stability of the marriage (if married) and/or family relationships. Physical exams to ensure that you are healthy may also be required. A home study is usually completed in a few months, depending upon the agency's requirements and the number of other clients. (3) Be Prepared to Wait Adopting a child always requires a waiting period. If you want to adopt a Caucasian infant, you will probably have to wait at least I year from the time the home study is completed, and more frequently 2 to 5 years. African-American applicants wishing to adopt African- American infants will have a shorter wait, probably less than 6 months. If you want to adopt a child with special needs, you can begin to review photolistings immediately to identify appropriate children. Inter-country adoptions, on the other hand, may take a year or more. For any type of adoption, even after a child is found, you may have to wait weeks or months while final arrangements are made. (4) Complete the Legal Procedures After a child is placed with you, you must fulfill the legal requirements for adoption. Hiring an attorney may be necessary at this time, if you have not already retained one. For inter-country adoptions, finalization of the adoption depends on the type of visa the child has and the laws in your State. The actual adoption procedure is just one of a series of legal processes required for inter-country adoption. You must also fulfill the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service's requirements. How You Can Learn More About Adoption This factsheet gives a basic overview of the steps and issues involved with becoming an adoptive parent. For more in-depth information, you may want to request the related NAIC factsheets cited in the text or read adoption guidebooks that are available at your public library or book store. Some of these publications are listed below. Adoptive parent support groups also can be helpful. They are listed in the NAIC National Adoption Directory, along with other national organizations that can provide more information. Various organizations offer educational programs on adoption. Community colleges, adoption agencies, hospitals, some churches, local YMCAs and other organizations may offer such programs in your community. You can also call a local private or public adoption agency to find out about such Programs or to obtain informative publications produced by the agency. Almost any adoption, whether it is a public agency adoption, a private agency adoption, or an independent adoption arranged directly with the court, requires a pre-adoptive placement inquiry, usually referred to as an adoption home study. Individuals seeking to adopt often face that first visit by the home study social worker with tender egos and mounting anxiety. Hopefully, though, this article can help calm your fears and allay your anxiety. Armed with accurate information, you can face your home study experience with confidence and the excitement that should accompany the prospect of welcoming a child to your family. The Nuts and Bolts of an Adoption Home Study There is no set format that adoption agencies use to conduct their home studies. They must follow the general regulations of their State, but they have the freedom to develop their own application packet, policies, and procedures within those regulations. Some agencies will have you attend one or several group orientation sessions before you are invited to complete an application. Some will have their social worker see you individually either at the agency's office or at your home and ask that you attend educational meetings later on. Usually the agency staff is glad to answer your questions and guide you through the process. The following sections will describe typical information or activities that will be requested of you: Autobiographical Statement The autobiographical statement is essentially the story of your life. There will probably be guidelines that ask you to tell about your family origin. You may be asked to describe who reared you and their style of child rearing, how many brothers and sisters you have, and where you are in the birth order. Your statement may answer many questions. Were you close to your parents and siblings when you were a child, are you close now, how much contact do you have with them? What are some successes or failures that you have experienced? What educational level have you reached, do you plan to further your education, are you happy with your educational attainments, what to you think about education for a child? What is your employment status, your employment history, do you have plans to change employment, do you like your current job? If you are married, there will be questions about your marriage. These may cover how you met, how long you dated before you married, how long you have been married, what attracted you to each other, what your spouse's strengths and weaknesses are, and the issues on which you agree and disagree in your marriage. Others may inquire how you make decisions, solve problems, settle arguments, communicate, express feelings, and show affection. If you were married before, there will be questions about that marriage. you are single, there will be questions about your social life and how you anticipate integrating a child into it. You might need to provide a copy of your birth certificate, your marriage license or certificate, and your divorce decree, if applicable. In your statement you will probably describe your ordinary routines, such as your typical week day or weekend, your hobbies and interests, and your leisure time activities. You may also describe your plan for child care if you work outside the home. There will be questions that cover your experiences with children, relatives' children, neighbors, volunteer work, baby-sitting, teaching, or coaching. You might be asked some "What if" questions regarding discipline or other parenting issues. You will probably be asked about your neighborhood: How friendly you are with your neighbors; What kind of people live nearby; is it a safe area? Why did you pick this neighborhood? Are you located conveniently to community resources, such as medical facilities, recreational facilities, shopping areas, and religious facilities. And you will be asked about religion, your level of religious practice, and what kind of religious upbringing (if any) you will give the child. There may also be a section on specific adoption-related issues, including questions such as why do you want to adopt, what kind of child do you feel you can best parent and why, how will you tell the child he or she is adopted and when, what do you think of birth parents who make an adoption plan for their child, how will you handle relatives' and friends' questions about adoption, and can you really bond to a child not genetically related to you. You may not know all these answers right away! Hopefully, the worker guiding you through the home study process will offer advice on describing these various topics. Health Statements Most agencies require a physical exam of prospective adoptive parents, or at least a current tuberculosis test (X-ray or scratch test). Some agencies that only place infants with infertile couples require that the physician verify that you are infertile. Others just want to know that you are essentially healthy, have a normal life expectancy, and are able to physically and emotionally handle the care of a child. If you have a medical condition, but are under a doctor's care and it is under control (for instance, high blood pressure or diabetes that is controlled by diet and medication), you can probably still be approved as an adoptive family. A serious health problem that affects life expectancy may prevent approval. Child Abuse and Criminal Clearances Many States are requiring that criminal record and child abuse record clearances be conducted on all adoptive and foster parent applicants. This usually involves filling out a form with your name (in a woman's case, it would include her maiden name and former married names, if applicable), date of birth, and Social Security number, possibly getting the form notarized; and sending it to the State child welfare and police agencies for clearance. In some States it might involve being finger printed. The authorities would check to see if you have a child abuse or criminal charge on file. Misdemeanors committed long ago for which there is a believable explanation (for example, "I was young and foolish and did what the guys expected me to") usually are not held against you. A felony conviction, or any charge involving children or illegal substances, would most likely not be tolerated. Income Statement Usually you are asked to verify your income by providing a copy of your paycheck stub(s), a copy of a W-4 form, or an income tax form (1040 or 1040 EZ). You will be asked about your savings, insurance policies, and other investments and debts, including your monthly mortgage or rent payment, car and charge account payments, etc. This helps determine your general financial stability. You do not have to be wealthy to adopt, but the agency will want to know that the child will be coming to a family that manages its finances responsibly and adequately. References The agency will probably ask you for the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three or four individuals to serve as references for you. These might be close personal friends, an employer, a former teacher, a co-worker, a neighbor, or your pastor. The social worker will either write a letter to or talk to your references on the telephone, asking questions about you that you have already answered yourself. These would address such areas as your experience with children, the stability of your marriage, if applicable, and your motivation to adopt. References are generally used to get a complete picture of a family's application and an idea of their support network. Approval would rarely be denied on the grounds of a negative reference alone. However, if it were one of several negative factors, such as ill health, a questionable criminal record, and a poor work history, or if several of the references were negative, the agency may not approve the application. You should pick as references people who know you the best. If possible, they should be individuals who have known you for several years, who have seen you in various kinds of situations, who have visited in your home and know of your interest in children, and who are also able to comment on your lifestyle. For instance, they should know what some of your hobbies and interests are. These kinds of references are the most useful and compelling to the social worker completing the home study. Interviews There will probably be several interviews, perhaps one or two in the agency office and at least one in your home. you will discuss the topics addressed in your autobiographical statement, and the social worker will ask any questions to clarify what you have written. In the case of couples, some agency workers conduct all the interviews jointly, with husband and wife together. Others will conduct both joint and individual interviews. An important point: the worker is not visiting your home to conduct a white glove inspection! He or she simply needs to see if the child will be entering into a safe and healthy environment and whether you have thought ahead as to how you are going to accommodate the new family member. There may be a requirement that you have a working smoke alarm (which is a good idea anyway) and an evacuation plan in case of an emergency. The latter is not something many people have, so you might want to develop one ahead of time. The worker will want to see the child's bedroom and all the other areas of the house or apartment, including the basement or back yard. Some tips for the home visit: Do offer the worker a soft drink or a cup of coffee. That shows you are nurturing. Do have family photos around. That shows you are family oriented. Do not clean the whole place from top to bottom, unless that is the level of housekeeping you always maintain. A certain level of cleanliness is necessary, but "lived-in" family clutter is expected. Most social workers would worry that people living in a picture perfect home would have a difficult time adjusting to the clutter that a child brings to a household. It is natural to be nervous! But most often the worker wants to work with you and approve you if you have gotten to the point of the home study. You are not expected to reveal every intimate detail of your life, nor are you expected to be perfect! In fact, perfection would probably raise eyebrows. It is much more important to be honest, be yourself, and present a true picture f your family history and family functioning. If you had a difficult childhood, experienced financial problems, quit a job in anger, or have some other "skeleton" in your closet that you think might disqualify you, chances are if you discuss it openly with the social worker it will not present a problem. It would not be wise to be deceptive or dishonest or for the documents collected in the home study to expose an inconsistency in what you have presented about your family. This would betray the social worker's trust, which would harm your chances. If You Already Have Children If you already have children, either birth children, adopted children, or both, they will be included in the home study in some way. Older children may be invited to one or more of the educational sessions. They might also be asked to write a statement describing their feelings and preferences about having a new brother or sister. Younger children might be asked to draw a picture showing their thoughts on the subject. Children of all ages will probably be met and/or interviewed by the social worker at least once. The social worker may ask the children (and you too) how they do in school, what their interests and hobbies are, what their friends are like, and how they get rewarded or disciplined for good or not-so-good behavior. But the emphasis will more likely be on how they see a new child fitting into the family and whether they are prepared to share you with a new sibling. A new sibling means sharing time, attention, television channel selection, the bathroom, the prized seat at the kitchen table, and the many other elements of family life on a daily basis. Children's input is usually quite important in the overall assessment of a family's readiness to adopt a child. Their feelings need to be considered, and their reaction to the adoption needs to be generally positive. The social worker will want to make sure that a newly adopted child will be wanted and loved by everyone in the family from the start. Some End Notes Flexibility and a sense of humor are desperately needed characteristics when raising children in this day and age. It would be a good idea for you to demonstrate these in some way during the home study process. For instance, if you are willing to take off an hour early from your job to meet with the social worker or to modify your schedule in some other way to make the meeting arrangements flow smoothly, the effort will not go unnoticed. As a parent, many more of these accommodations are in your future; therefore the social worker often believes you might as well start getting used to them! A smile, a firm handshake, a joke, and a generally warm and friendly demeanor among your family and with the worker will go a long way. The duration of the home study will vary from agency to agency, depending on various factors, such as how many social workers are assigned to conduct home studies, what other duties they have, and how many other people applied to the agency at the same time as you. You can do a lot to expedite the process by filling out your paper work, scheduling your medical appointments, and gathering your documents. A home study can take 6 months to a year to complete, especially if delays arise. Illness, vacation, or waiting for documentation to arrive from another state can prolong the home study. An average of 2 to 3 months is usual, not counting the time allotted to the group meetings. The cost of the home study depends on which kind of agency or practitioner is conducting the study. A public agency (often your local Department of Social Services) does not usually charge a fee for a home study, since it is supported by Government funds. However, an occasional public agency may charge a modest home study fee. A private agency might charge from $500 to $2,000 for the home study, although it may charge no fees or charge lesser fees for home studies for children with special needs. For a non-special-needs child, the fee may cover an application fee and pre-placement services, but be sure to confirm this. For locating a specific child and providing follow-up or post-placement services, you will usually be charged a separate fee. These services could possibly be performed by a second agency. Fees for these additional services could range from $2,500 to $18,000. Many agencies allow the fee to be paid in installments. Again, be sure to discuss this thoroughly so that there are no misunderstandings. A certified social worker in private practice often conducts home studies for independent adoptions. Fees for these are probably in the same range as those for private agencies. Independent adoptions are not legal in all states. Remember, even though an adoption home study may seem invasive or lengthy, it is conducted to prepare you for adoption and help you decide whether adoption is really for you. The regulations serve to protect the best interest of the child and to ensure he or she is placed in a loving, caring, healthy, and safe environment. Once you accept that premise, it often becomes a lot easier to complete what is required of you. After all, the reward of withstanding a short period of inconvenience is great: many years of happiness and fulfillment raising a child to maturity. Good luck to you in your pursuit of a child through adoption and with your adoption home study. With perseverance and a good attitude, you are sure to leave your social worker with the feeling, "Yes, a child will be loved here; yes, a child is just what this home needs." National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, 1990. Return to the Top of Page
Immigration and Naturalization Service Offices (INS)The following is a list of addresses for some INS offices.Alaska…..620 East 10th Ave., Suite 102, Anchorage, AK 99501 Arizona…..2035 North Central Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004 California…..300 North Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 California...880 Front Street, Suite 2246, San Diego, CA 92101 California...630 Sansome Street, Room 232, San Francisco, CA 94111 Colorado…..4730 Paris Street, Denver, CO 80239 District of Columbia…..4422 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 Florida…..7880 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138 Hawaii…..595 Ala Moana Drive, Honolulu, HI 96813 Georgia…..MLK Federal Building, 77 Forsyth Street S.W., Room 117, Atlanta, GA 30303 Illinois…..10 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604 Louisiana…..Postal Service Building, 701 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113 Maine…..739 Warren Avenue, Room 316, Portland, ME 04103 Maryland…..Equitable Bank Center, 12th Floor, Tower One, 100 South Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201 Massachusetts…..JFK Federal Building, Government Center, Room 700, Boston, MA 02203 Michigan…..333 Mount Elliot Street, Federal Building, Detroit MI 48207 Minnesota…..2901 Metro Drive, Suite 100, Bloomington, MN 55425 Missouri…..9747 North Conant Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64153 Montana…..Federal Building, 301 South Park, Room 512, Helena, MT 59626 Nebraska…..3736 South 132nd Street, Omaha, NE 68144 New Jersey…..970 Broad Street, Federal Building, Newark, NJ 07102 New York….26 Federal Plaza, Room 14-102 New York, NY 10278 New York... 68 Court Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 Ohio…..A.J.C. Federal Building, 1240 East 9th Street, Room 1917, Cleveland, OH 44199 Oregon…..Federal Building, 511 N.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 92709 Texas…..700 East San Antonio, El Paso, TX 79901 Texas ....8101 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247 Texas.....509 North Belt, Houston, TX 77060 Texas....8940 Fourwinds Drive, San Antonio, TX 78239 Texas .....2102 Teege Road, Harlingen, TX 78550 Pennsylvania….1600 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130 Puerto Rico…..PO Box 365068, San Juan, PR 00936 Washington…..815 Airport Way South, Seattle, WA 98134 THE WHITE HOUSE For Immediate Release Memorandum For The Secretary of Health and Human Services The Director of the Office of Personnel Management Subject: Steps to Increase Adoptions and Alternate Permanent Placement for Waiting Children in the Public Child Welfare System During this Holiday Season, as we reflect on the importance of family in our own lives, let us remember the tens of thousands of our Nation's children in the public child welfare system who live without permanent and caring families. Foster care provides temporary shelter and relief for children who have been abused or neglected. I am committed to giving the children waiting in our Nation's foster care system what every child in America deserves Ò loving parents and a healthy, stable home. The goal for every child in our Nation's public welfare system is permanency in a safe and stable home, whether it be returning home, adoption, legal guardianship, or another permanent placement. While the great majority of children in foster care will return home, for about one in five, returning home is not an option, and they will need another home, one that is caring and safe. These children wait far too long Ò typically over 3 years, but for many children much longer Ò to be placed in permanent homes. Each year, State child welfare agencies secure homes for less than one-third of the children whose goal is adoption or an alternate permanent placement. I know we can do better. I believe we should increase the number of children who are adopted or permanently placed from the public foster care system each year toward the goal of at least doubling that number by the year 2002. Returning home is not an option for about 100,000 of the over 450,000 children in the Nations foster care system, yet only approximately 20,000 were adopted last year and approximately 7,000 were permanently placed in legal guardianships. While the number of adoptions each year has been constant for many years, I believe that by working with States to identify and break down barriers to permanent placements, setting annual numerical targets, rewarding successful performance, and raising public awareness, we can meet the target of at least 54,000 children adopted or permanently placed from the public foster care system by the year 2002. Today, therefore, I direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with State and civic leaders, to report to me within 60 days on actions to be taken to move children more rapidly from foster care to permanent homes and at least to double, by the year 2002, the number of children in foster care who are adopted or permanently placed out of the public foster care system. To increase the number of children who are adopted or permanently placed each year, this report should include, but should not necessarily be limited to, recommendations in the following areas: (a) Plans to work with States on setting and reaching State specific numerical targets, using the technical assistance of the Department of Health and Human Services National Resource Centers to make information on best practices available to States and to engage community leaders, parents, and the business and faith communities; (b) Proposals to provide per child financial incentives to States for increases in the number of adoptions from the public welfare system. Options considered should have little to no net costs, as increases in the number of adoptions from the public system will reduce foster care costs, thereby offsetting much if not all of the incentive payments; (c) A proposal to ensure continued aggressive implementation of the Multi- ethnic Placement Act, as amended by the Inter-ethnic Adoption Provision of the Small Business Job Protection Act; (d) Plans to compile and publish an annual State-by-State report on success in meeting the numerical targets; and (e) Plans to recognize successful States. II. To move children more rapidly from foster care to permanent homes, the report shall also recommend changes to Federal law and regulations and other actions needed to emphasize the importance of planning for permanency as soon as a child enters the foster care system. The Secretary's report should include, but should not necessarily be limited to, recommendations in the following areas: (a) Plans to provide States with funding to identify barriers to permanency and to develop targeted strategies to find permanent homes for children who have been in foster care a particularly long time; (b) Proposals to shorten the period of time between a child's placement in foster care and his or her initial hearing at which a permanency determination is made; (c) A proposal to clarify that the purpose of dispositional hearings is to plan for permanency and, as appropriate, to consider referrals for family mediation, termination of parental rights, adoption, legal guardianship, or other permanent placements; (d) A proposal to clarify the reasonable efforts requirement and other Federal policy as it relates to permanency and safety; (e) Plans to ensure that States give appropriate weight to permanency planning by establishing standards for securing permanency through adoption or guardianship, once a decision has been made that a child cannot be returned home; (f) Plans to examine alternative permanency arrangements, such as guardianship, when adoption is not possible. Last month, I signed a proclamation designating November as National Adoption Month Ò a time to increase awareness about the tens of thousands of children waiting for families and to encourage all Americans to consider the rewards and responsibilities of adoption. However, adoption must be a national concern throughout the year. Therefore, I direct: (a) The Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and lead a public awareness effort, including use of public service announcements, print materials, and the Internet; (b) The Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the Treasury in consultation with State, civic, and private sector leaders to develop and disseminate information about the new adoption tax credits and other adoption benefits; (c) The Secretaries of Labor and Commerce, in consultation with State and civic leaders, to identify and recognize companies in the private sector with model policies to encourage and ease adoption among employees; and (d) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management to direct all Federal agencies to provide information and support to Federal employees who are prospective adoptive parents. William J. Clinton The Clinton Administration Record on Adoption Our nation has no greater responsibility than to ensure that every child has the chance to live up to his or her God-given potential. We can help meet that challenge by identifying a permanent, loving family for every child waiting in the foster care system. -- President Clinton, National Adoption Month Proclamation, November 1996 President Clinton is committed to giving the over 450,000 children in foster care what every child in America deserves Ò loving parents and a healthy, stable home. The Clinton Administration has taken several important steps to encourage and increase adoptions and to support the families that choose to open their hearts and their homes to these children. The President has championed programs that find and assist adopting families, and has committed his Administration to breaking down barriers, including high adoption costs and complex regulations. Today the President announced a new directive to the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, Labor and Commerce and the Office of the Personnel Management to develop a plan to: increase the number of children who are adopted or permanently placed each year, move children more rapidly from foster care to permanent homes, and create a new public awareness campaign on the importance of adoption. These actions build on previous initiatives, including: Making Adoption Affordable For Families In August, President Clinton signed into law the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 which provides a $5000 tax credit to families adopting children, and a $6000 tax credit for families adopting children with special needs. This policy will alleviate a significant barrier to adoption, helping middle class families for whom adoption may be prohibitively expensive and making it easier for families to adopt children with special needs. Breaking Down Racial And Ethnic Barriers To Adoption Strengthening the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act which the President signed in 1994, the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 also ensures that the adoption process is free from discrimination and delays on the basis of race, culture and ethnicity. Providing Supports For Child Protection And Adoption In 1993, President Clinton signed into law the Family and Medical Leave Act which enables parents to take time off to adopt a child without losing their jobs or health insurance. In addition, the welfare reform bill that the President signed into law maintains the guarantee of child protection and adoption, and does not reduce funds for child welfare, child abuse, foster care and adoption services. Giving States Flexibility And Support The Clinton Administration has granted child protection waivers to Delaware, Illinois, North Carolina, and Oregon, giving the states more flexibility in tailoring services to meet the needs of children and families. Up to six more states will receive approval for waivers. In addition, this administration has provided states with enhanced technical support and helped improve court operations so they can focus on successful outcomes. To prevent children from entering foster care in the first place, in 1993 the Clinton Administration secured federal funding to work with states, local governments and service providers to develop effective programs to serve children and families at risk. Raising Public Awareness Through speeches, writings, events and public service announcements, the President and First Lady have promoted the importance and benefits of adoption. A Challenge To The Nation: Safe And Permanent Homes For All Children Today, President Clinton issued a challenge to the nation and signed a directive to members of his Cabinet to take new actions to move children more rapidly from foster care to safe, permanent homes. The goal of the President's ambitious new initiative is to at least double, by the year 2002, the number of children in foster care who are adopted or permanently placed each year. The directive focuses on securing homes for the tens of thousands of children in foster care who cannot return safely to their homes and for whom adoption is a goal. After consulting with Congressional, state and civic leaders, agencies will report back to the President within 60 days on steps to reach the directives goals, which include: I. Doubling the Number of Children Adopted or Permanently Placed by 2002: Create Incentives for States: To shift the focus from paperwork to successful outcomes, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will work with states to set specific targets for increases in the number of children adopted or found permanent placement. In return, the federal government will provide a new per child financial incentive to states to increase the number of adoptions from the public welfare system. This action should nearly pay for itself, as increasing the number of adoptions will reduce expenditures in the foster care system. Progress in meeting the numerical targets will be compiled and published in a state-by-state annual report. Successful states will be recognized for their accomplishments. Breakdown Racial and Ethnic Barriers to Adoption: HHS will continue to aggressively implement the laws signed by President Clinton in 1994 and 1996, which prohibit adoption agencies from denying or delaying placement of a waiting child based on race, color, or national origin, and encourage recruitment of adoptive parents. II. Moving Children More Rapidly From Foster Care to Permanent Homes: Decrease Procedural Delays: President Clinton is directing HHS to consult with Congress, states and civic leaders to propose changes to federal laws, policies and regulations and clarification of the reasonable effort requirement, to help states focus on finding permanent homes for children from the moment they enter the foster care system. Help States Identify and Address Barriers to Permanency: As part of his budget proposal in February, the President will propose financial assistance for states to identify barriers to permanency and to develop strategies for children who have been waiting for a particularly long time. The President's initiative also directs HHS to encourage alternative permanency arrangements, such as guardianship and kinship care, for children for whom adoption is not a viable option. III. Increasing Public Awareness: Call to American Families, Communities and Business: The Clinton Administration will launch a new campaign in partnership with state, civic and business leaders, to increase public awareness about children waiting for adoption and to encourage all Americans to consider the rewards and responsibilities of adoption Ò in new public service announcements, print materials, and on the Internet. Provide Information on the Benefits of Adoption: Federal agencies will form partnerships to inform people of the new adoption tax credits, the Family and Medical Leave Act benefits, and other supports for adoptive parents, as well as recognize private sector companies with model policies to encourage adoption. The Office of Personnel Management will provide support and information to federal employees who are interested in becoming adoptive parents. National Adoption Organizations: Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) Families Adopting Children Everywhere (FACE) International Concerns Committee for Children (ICCC) Joint Council on International Children's Services of North
America (JCICS) National Adoption Clearing House National Adoption Foundation National Council For Adoption (NCFA) North American Council on Adoptable Children(NACAC) Return to World Child Home Page |