Dear

Thank you for your interest in Adoptions Together. Our mission is to build healthy families and to keep them strong. Founded in 1990, Adoptions Together is a non-profit child placement agency, licensed in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. We welcome every child in need of a family regardless of race, health or special need, and are honored to have helped nearly 3,000 children join loving adoptive families. We offer the following programs:

Domestic Infant Adoption: Adoptions Together welcomes all children in need of an adoptive family. While we primarily place African American infants, adopters seeking children of other races can complete their home study with Adoptions Together and receive guidance and support in exploring options outside of our traditional

placement program. AdoptionWorks: We identify children who are waiting in State foster care for a

permanent family and match them with prospective parents. Many of the children in need of families are African American, members of a sibling group and over the age of six.

International Adoption: We work hard to find permanent homes for toddlers and older

children from Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America who are in need of a family.

Home Study and Post Placement: Our team of qualified professionals provides a complete array of home study services including pre-adoption preparation, assessment and post-placement support.

Other Services: Our mission of bringing children and families together is equaled only by

our commitment to keep families strong. We offer individual and family counseling, support groups, community and professional education, parenting seminars and summer camps.

If you would like to expand your family through adoption , we urge you to consider Adoptions Together. We wish you the best on your adoption journey. Warm regards, Janice Goldwater, LCSW-C Founder and Executive Director

Friend,

Introduction Home Studies ……………………………………………………………............................... Home Study Service Fees ……………………………………………………………….............................. Financing Your Adoption ………………………………………………………………................................ Support Services ................……………………………………………………………............................. Information Meetings …………………………………………………………………................................. Contact Information …………………………………………………………………….................................. Working with Adoptions Together ……………………………………………………….......................... Complaint Policy ………………………………………………………………………....................................

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Table of Contents

If you are a married or a committed couple, you must be married or partnered for a minimum of one year by the time you apply for a home study. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis.

If you are seeking to adopt a baby under 12 months, the younger spouse or partner must be 45 years of age or younger at the time of your application. Both prospective parents should be in sufficient health to be expected to be able to raise a child to adulthood.

If you are single and interested in adopting a baby under 12 months, you must be 45 years of age or younger at the time of your application. The prospective parent should be in sufficient health to be expected to be able to raise a child to adulthood.

You need to have sufficient financial resources to afford adoption expenses and to provide adequate care for the adopted child. All family members need to be covered by medical insurance. The primary earner should have life insurance to cover one year of his/her salary. The reason for these financial guidelines is to protect both the adopted child and your family from serious financial distress.

** Please note that particular countries and other placement services may have additional eligibility guidelines.

We believe that each family who adopts deserves professional, ethical and sensitive treatment during the home study experience. We also believe that each child who is adopted needs to be with a permanent family that will provide the best possible parenting, no matter what challenges the child may present with.

The Home Study by Adoptions Together

Home Study 101

Home studies help prepare prospective adoptive and foster parents for the tasks of raising a child who was not born into their family. They also provide assurance to individuals who are responsible for placing a child for adoption or foster care that the family is properly equipped to take care of a child. A home study consists of a series of interviews with a social worker, the collection of documents about the family, and a written narrative report. Home studies are required in most states and, if you are adopting internationally, by the United States Citizen Immigration Service (USCIS) and the country where the child resides.

The Process At the first home study meeting, your social worker will explain the home study process in detail and an-swer your questions about any special circumstances in your family that may exist. Your social worker will tell you about the documents that must be collected before the home study can proceed and provide de-tailed instructions about how the documents should be completed. Once you have collected all of your documents, you will submit them into My Adoption Portal with the bal-ance of the home study fee. If you are a couple, the social worker usually conducts three more interviews. If you are single, the social worker usually meets with you two more times. In most circumstances, we will complete the home study within 90 days from the date that we receive your documents.

Elegibility

International Home Studies

You will be required to complete ten (10) hours of pre-adoptive training. Adoptions Together offers several seminars for families adopting domestically. Foundations of Adoptive Parenting (Pre-Adoption) – this five and a half hour This seminar will cover the history of adoption,

open adoption, adopting trans-racially, positive adoption language, and emotional and practical considerations related to

adopting a child. Particular emphasis is placed on navigating the birth parent relationship and the benefits and challenges of

open adoption. The seminar incorporates open discussion, lecture, experiential activities, video clips and question and answer

to teach and reinforce important concepts.

Enhancing Bonding and Attachment (Pre-Adoption) – this two and a half hour seminar will cover the relationship between

attachment, trauma and brain development, and provides techniques and strategies for enhancing bonding and attachment

between parent and child. Other topics addressed include trans-racial adoption and identity development, prenatal alcohol

and drug exposure, and basic baby care 101. Time is also devoted to preparing siblings for adoption, and nurturing healthy

relationships with spouses, partners, friends and extended family during and after the adoption. The seminar incorporates

open discussion, lecture, experiential activities, video clips and question and answer to teach and reinforce important

concepts.

Forever Family (Post-Adoption) - this two hour seminar provides an opportunity for new adoptive parents to come together to

discuss challenges, joys, and questions in a safe, supportive atmosphere. Techniques for strengthening bonding and

attachment with baby, as well as navigating relationships with birth parents will be reviewed. The seminar will also provide

information on infant temperament, how to talk with children about adoption at different ages and stages, and adoption

finalization. Parents are strongly encouraged to bring their babies with them to Forever Family! The seminar incorporates

open discussion, lecture, and question and answer to teach and reinforce important concepts.

New U.S. rules about international adoption require that families complete ten (10) hours of training. Adoptions Together offers seminars for families who will be adopting internationally to fulfill this requirement. If it is not possible to complete training before the home study is completed, please provide your social worker with a receipt for training registration. International Parent Preparation 1 - This half-day seminar explores the socio-cultural realities of adopting a child from another country, practical strategies for your household both before and after your child arrives, and the essential building blocks of healthy attachment. International Parent Preparation 2:(region specific)- This full-day seminar will provide detailed information about issues common to children living in orphanages or foster homes in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin American. Transracial Adoption Seminars - these seminars educate prospective adoptive parents about the im-

portant issues involved in transracial adoption. Children adopted from Asia, India, Latin America and the Middle East also face the same racial dilemmas within their Anglo families, as do children with Afri-can heritage.

Parenting the Later Placed Child Seminar - This half-day seminar focuses on techniques and strategies. Relatives Raising Relatives Seminar - This half-day seminar focuses on the benefits and challenges of

kinship care. Your social worker will provide more details during your first visit. If you have any questions about the training requirements, please feel free to contact us at 301-422-5110 or info@adoptionstogether.org for information about registering for the seminars or your home study social worker.

Domestic Home Studies

Home Study Services Fees

STANDARD FEES: Home Study Schedule for all families (AdoptionWorks Clients please see below):

Application Fee- Due at time of application approval $550

Home Study Fee- Due at time of submission of home study documents $1350

Post Placement Schedule

Domestic Post Placements- Due before placement, includes required 3 post placement visits/reports $1200

International Post Placements- Each, due before placement, schedule based on country requirements $400

**additional fees may apply, please see below**

Annual Home Study Updates Maryland and DC clients- due at time of submission of home study update documents $550 Virginia Clients- due at time of submission of home study update documents $575

OTHER FEES THAT MAY APPLY: Subsequent Home Study (you previously adopted a child with an Adoptions Together home study) Within 5 years of previous home study- $1100

More than 5 years since previous home study- To be determined

AdoptionWorks Clients Application Fee- $350 Home Study Fee- $800 Annual Home Study Update- $350 Subsequent Home Study- $650

Expedited Fees Expedited Home Study- Due with application. Permitted only when a specific child has been identified for

adoption and placement is imminent, or with the approval of Adoptions Together Assessment Program Director $2,800

Expedited Home Study Update- To be determined

Expedited Post Placement- To be determined

Miscellaneous Fees

Home Study Conversion- update of a home study from another agency $700- $900

Home Study Addendum- one visit by social worker to modify current home study $200

Mileage Fee- $.50 for each mile traveled roundtrip if the home is more than 50 miles from the nearest office of the agency. One visit in the home is required for the home study. If more visits are completed in the home, an additional travel fee is due per visit.

Virginia Court Finalization report- (+$250 for each additional child) $550

District of Columbia Finalization Interim Court Fee- $300

District of Columbia Finalization Final Court Fee- $500

Additional Post Placement visit/report- if more than three are required $400

Post Placement Supervision for additional Child- during the same visit $150

Post Placement Supervisory Telephone Conference- $100

Administrative Fees

Home Study Plus Document Preparation Fee- $50

Dossier Documentation Preparation- $100

Copies of Documents from File- $25

Processing Refunds- $100

Returned Check Fee- $25

Education and Training Services

Parent Education and Training Adoptions Together offers adoption education and parent training on a wide range of topics that address the unique needs of adoptive, blended, foster and kinship care families. Seminars and workshops cover topics such as attachment and trauma, grief and loss, parenting a teen, talking to children about adoption, navigating the birthparent relationship, managing challenging behaviors, and trans-racial adoption. We strive to make parent training affordable, convenient, and easily accessible by offering in person, online, and on-demand options for parent training and adoption education. Support Services for Children and Families Adoptions Together offers support groups for parents, children, and families that provide a safe atmosphere to share common issues and concerns. Summer camp programs are also offered to help children build self-esteem, practice social skills, explore their identity, and discuss family relationships. Special events such as the Annual Family Connections Conference are designed to educate and inform, forge connections, strengthen family bonds, and celebrate the many ways that families are formed.

Adoptions Together offers a wide array of adoption education and support services for children, families and professionals that are relevant, cost effective, and easily accessible. Our adoption education, training and support programs include:

Adoption Preparation Classes

Post-Adoption Seminars for Adoptive Families

Specialized Seminars on Domestic and International Adoption

Online and On-Demand Adoption and Parent Education Courses

Support Groups for Parents, Children and Families

Educational Conferences for Parents and Professionals

Summer Programs for Children and Teens

School Education Programs for Teachers and Administrators

Professional Development Seminars and Programs

Consultations for Professionals (e-mail and telephone)

Attachment Training Series for Professionals

For more information about the services we offer, please contact us at info@adoptionstogether.org or visit us online http://www.adoptionstogether.org/EducationTraining.aspx

Financing Your Adoption

While adoption services can be expensive, financial programs and resources may be available to help you with these costs. At Adoptions Together, we may be able to help you locate the financial resources you may need. Whether you are eligible for adoption tax benefits, adoption assistance programs from your employer, or the adoption subsidy program, we can direct you to the information you need. You might want to begin your research with an excellent resource guide from the National Endowment for Financial Education, How to Make Adoption An Affordable Option.

Federal Tax Credit The Hope for Children Act of 2001 provided for a $10,000 tax credit for adoption and this amount increases each year (up to $12,970 for 2013). The amount decreases if your Adjusted Gross Income is over $189,710 and is phased out at $229,710 (check with IRS for current amounts). Consult your tax advisor and/or IRS Publication 968, Tax Benefits for Adoption. The common interpretation of this law is that international adoptions are eligible for the credit in the year their adoption was finalized in the country. For complete information, click here. ** Adoption Tax Credit is Refundable for Adoptions finalized in 2010 and 2011. The health care reform bill made the federal adoption tax credit refundable 2010 and 2011—meaning adoptive families can benefit from the credit even if they do not have tax liability. This change makes the credit much more accessible to lower and moderate income families. The IRS released guidance stating that adoption tax credit amounts carried forward from previous years are also refundable, so even parents who adopted as long ago as 2005 can benefit from the new law. If parents claimed the credit on their tax return for adoptions from 2005 to 2009 and have been carrying it forward on each return, with their 2010 taxes they can be paid for any remaining amount of the credit that they have not yet received. Parents who didn't file for the credit originally will need to amend past tax returns.

Employee Benefit Programs Perhaps your employer is among the roughly 25% of companies in the United States that offer some form of adoption benefits to their employees. Typical benefits may include reimbursements of adoption expenses; paid leave in addition to vacation time, sick leave, or personal days; and unpaid leave. Reimbursement amounts can run from $1,000 to $10,000. To find out whether your employer offers adoption benefits, contact the human resources office where you work. Even if your company does not now offer adoption benefits, you may be able to persuade your employer to do so. Studies have shown that adoption benefits are among the most cost-effective advantages an employer can offer. The Child Welfare Information Gateway can help you and your employer to establish an adoption benefits program.

Military Benefits for Adoption The military will reimburse active-duty personnel for most one-time adoption costs up to $2,000 per child, whether adopting a Domestic healthy infant or older child, or a child from abroad. (Travel costs, foreign or domestic, are not covered.) There is a maximum reimbursement of $5,000 in a given year, even if both parents are in the military. Reimbursement is made only after the adoption is finalized and only if the adoption was provided through a state adoption agency or a not-for-profit private agency. Adoption and placement fees that may be reimbursed include:

Fees for birth parent counseling Legal fees and court costs Medical expenses - hospital expenses of the biological mother and newborn infant.

The military's Exceptional Family Member Program is designed to ensure that the adoptive families of children with special needs are assigned to duty stations where the child's needs may be met. In some instances, a military family caring for an adopted disabled child may receive monthly assistance up to $1000 under the military's Program for Persons with Disabilities. While the military has long provided health care for adopted children, as part of the health benefits provided by the Federal government to military personnel and their dependents, it is now available for adopted children as soon as they are placed in your home, rather than having to wait until the adoption is finalized. Moreover, military health care does not require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions. Military personnel may make use of leave programs similar to those offered by civilian employers. Reimbursements and benefits apply whether the adopting parent is single or married and whether the adoption is completed in the US or overseas. **NOTE: Independent adoptions, or adoptions provided through a for-profit adoption agency, do not qualify for military reimbursements. For more information about adoption for military families, visit the web at www.nmfa.org. Credit Cards and Frequent Flyer Miles Families adopting through the International Adoption Program typically travel overseas to complete their adoptions. You can use frequent flyer miles to reduce the cost of airfare significantly. Many credit card companies offer frequent flyer miles as incentives. Check with your individual credit card issuers to see if this benefit is available to you. Adoption Loan Information Please contact the National Adoption Foundation to explore grants and loans specifically for adoption www.nafadopt.org

Adoption Subsidy Program Families who adopt children with special medical, emotional, and/or developmental needs; older children; or members of a sibling group may be eligible for an adoption subsidy from federal and state governments. This financial assistance is available to ensure that families who adopt these children have the necessary services and financial resources to meet their children's ongoing needs. Subsidies fall into three categories:

Monthly Financial Assistance. This type of subsidy is designed to remove financial barriers for fami-lies who adopt children with special needs. Nearly all children in public foster care who are waiting to be adopted are eligible for this type of assistance. Subsidies are awarded on a case-by-case basis and vary depending on the needs of the child. Annual reviews of subsidies are conducted to ensure that the child still qualifies for assistance. Eligibility for the subsidy is based solely on the needs of the child; the adoptive parents’ financial resources do not determine whether a child is eligible for a subsidy. Medical Assistance. Children in subsidized adoptions are also eligible for a medical subsidy through a new Medicaid-managed care program.

One-Time Subsidy. This nonrecurring payment, which may be offered in addition to the monthly

financial subsidy, is designed to cover specific expenses or special services related to the adoption of a particular child or children. Reimbursable expenses may include adoption placement fees, court costs, attorney's fees, required health and psychological examinations, transportation, and reasonable costs of lodging and food for the child and/or the adoptive parents when necessary to complete the placement or adoption process. To be eligible for any subsidy, a child must first meet both of the following two requirements:

A local department of social services or a private agency in Maryland must hold guardianship of the childThe child could not be placed for adoption without a subsidy To be eligible for any subsidy, a child must also meet one of the following requirements:

The child must be six or older, but has not reached the age of 18 years The child must be a member of a minority group The child must have a physical or mental handicap and/or be emotionally disturbed The child must be a member of a sibling group which is to be placed together

If you are interested in adopting a child who may be eligible for an adoption subsidy, we will assist you in applying for a subsidy for your child.

Join us for an information meeting (schedule below). Our information meetings are held at our office locations. For directions, please click on the links provided. You can also register for the Information Meetings by clicking on the date of the meeting. Registration is recommended.

You can also contact us directly. We’d love to hear from you!

Need more Information? Phone: (301) 439-2900 | E-mail: info@adoptionstogether.org

2014 INFORMATION MEETINGS

Calverton 4061 Powder Mill Road Suite 320

Calverton, MD 20705 Directions

Baltimore 5750 Executive Dr. Suite 107

Baltimore, MD 21228 Directions

Virginia 457A Carlisle Dr.

Herndon, VA 20170 Directions

Calverton Baltimore Virginia

February 18, 2014 January 14, 2014 January 9, 2014

April 15, 2014 March 11, 2014 February 6, 2014

June 17, 2014 May 13, 2014 March 6, 2014

August 19, 2014 July 8, 2014 April 3, 2014

October 21, 2014 September 9, 2014 May 1, 2014

December 9, 2014 November 11, 2014 June 4, 2014

July 10, 2014

August 7, 2014

September 4, 2014

***Because of limited seating and to be considerate of other families, we kindly request that you do not bring children to Information Meetings. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Next Steps…… >> Learn more about Placement Services >> Complete an Application >> Contact us:

Lauren Defina Maryland and DC Home Study Manager E-mail: ldefina@adoptionstogether.org

Phone: 410 402 1120

Jessica Ostrander Virginia Home Study Manager

E-mail: jostrander@adoptionstogether.org Phone: 703 689 0404

Irene Jordan

Assessment Director E-mail: ijordan@adoptionstogether.org

Phone: 410 402 1107

Our Mission Adoptions Together is committed to building, healthy permanent families by providing the highest quality child placement services, lifelong support to children and their families and advocacy for continuous improvement of child welfare systems.

Our Guiding Principles To help us make the right decisions, we have developed these guiding principles about how we can best serve our clients.

The best interest of the children who need our help comes first.

Adoption is the best option when children cannot safely be raised by their birth families.

Children should be part of their permanent families as quickly as possible.

Openness and honesty in adoption is healthy for children.

Adoptive parents should be informed decision-makers in the adoption process.

Adoptions work best when adoptive parents continually learn about child development and how

it is impacted by adoption.

The best adoptions are built upon trust and honesty.

Adoption is a lifelong process.

Full disclosure about the physical and psychological well-being of children being placed for

adoption is essential for adopted children and their families.

Education, support and guidance from qualified adoption professionals before during and after

placement helps adopted children and their families succeed.

The ability to be a good parent does not depend upon wealth, race, religion, marital status, sexu-

al preference, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Complaint Policy

At Adoptions Together, we welcome your feedback about how we can improve the quality of services that we provide. First Step: We encourage you to talk openly and honestly with our staff if you have any concerns about working with us. Second Step: If the staff member with whom you are working does not adequately address your concerns, please speak to his or her supervisor. Third Step: If the above is unsuccessful, you can bring your concerns and suggestions for improvement to Janice Goldwater, Executive Director and founder of Adoptions Together. You can reach Janice via email at jgoldwater@adoptionstogether.org or via telephone at 301-439-2900. If your concerns are not resolved through informal communications with our staff and Executive Director, you can file a formal written complaint with our Quality Assurance Committee. Your formal complaint will be promptly investigated and you will receive a response within no more than 30 days. If you do file a complaint, no retaliatory action will be taken against you. For more information or to receive a formal complaint form, please contact the Quality Assurance Committee Chair via email at QualityAssurance@adoptionstogether.org.