Post Placement Services
Domestic Adoption- A Child's Waiting can provide post-placement supervision for the adoptive parents from the date of placement through the date of finalization. A family is not permitted to finalize an adoption prior to six months after placement. In a two-parent Ohio family both parents must be present at 2 of the 7 visits, particularly the pre-finalization report visit. Some visits will be in your home while others will be in the office. These visits are required to insure the child is being well cared for, and the adoptive family is adjusting to their new parenting roles. Special permission is required to have another agency complete post-placement visits within the state Ohio for a custodial child of ACW or if ACW received your interstate. Families not using ACW post-placement services must notify A Child's Waiting of whom will be completing services and receive written permission to do so from ACW. A post placement maintenance fee of $125 a month until your adoption finalizes if ACW does not supervise the placement in Ohio. Out-of-state families are required to complete post-placement visits in their own state. The number of visits required will be determined by the sending agency or dictated by adoption law within the receiving state. For ACW custodial children being placed out of state, there will be a post placement maintenance fee of $125 a month until your adoption finalizes. This is billed up-front at placement.
A family must petition to adopt within 3-4 months of placement. A Child's Waiting will refer adoptive families to an attorney experienced in adoption in the counties in which we practice. In the event that a family wishes to finalize outside of one of our counties, or wish to use an attorney of their choice, they must discuss this possibility with one of the Executive Directors.
International Adoption- Requirements vary by country. Each post placement visit will be $175 a visit. The cost of authentication seals, if required, is additional.
Post-Finalization Services
Families in Programs III through V are required to provide to A Child's Waiting letters to the birth parents and photographs of the child for 3 years after placement according to the schedule set in the picture contract (Quarterly the 1st year, bi-annually the 2nd year and bi-annually the 3rd year) . After the third year, yearly pictures are required either around the child's birthday or the winter holiday seasons. After that time, "good faith" agreements between the birth parents and adoptive couples should be upheld. Families who do not comply with photo agreements will not be permitted to complete additional adoptions through our program. If a family attempts to transfer their file to another agency lack of compliance with the photo contract will be noted.
A Child's Waiting shall remain available to birthparents, adoptive families and adoptees to provide counseling, education and support after the finalization occurs. In the event that A Child's Waiting is unable to provide the necessary service they will be referred to agencies and/or service better equipt to manage their needs. A maximum of $750 in counseling/psychiatric expenses per birthparent may be billed to the adoptive family after placement (this only occurs in private adoptions, not for birthparents of children coming from foster care). A Child's Waiting will continue to facilitate communication between birthparents and adoptive parents, as applicable.
A Child's Waiting offers numerous adoption programs. There can be varying fees for each program and at times it can be confusing as to which may apply to your family. Please call A Child's Waiting if you have any questions at all.
