Alliance for Children FAQ

1. Tell us a little about the founding and development of your organization?
   Connecticut Adoption Services (CAS) was founded in the mid-1980's by a group of volunteers who were concerned about the many children of color in the state foster care system who were waiting to be adopted, but very few families of color were coming forward to adopt. The group received a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services to research the problem. The group successfully recruited many families from the local area and were eventually helped by the Connecticut Dept. of Children & Families to get licensed as an adoption agency in 1994. Since then, the agency has expanded and now provides services for domestic private infant adoptions and state foster care adoptions. We assist birth parents who wish to place children for adoption. We also do some family services such as in-home counseling and supervised visitation for state foster children and their families. In April 2013, CAS merged with Waterford Country School (WCS), a large non-profit community services organization. CAS now operates as a program of WCS.
2. How are your adoption home study and your organization unique?
   Connecticut Adoption Services’ home studies are done on a one-to-one basis. We provide personalized services and are attentive to the needs of our clients. We work hard to be advocates for our families when needed. Our staff has small caseloads, so we are able to spend a lot of time with our families. We have a large staff of 12 social workers, 10 of which have a masters degree. Some of our staff has worked in the field for over 20 years, so we have a great deal of experience to offer.
3. Why are you passionate about adoption and the home study process?
   We are passionate about adoption, because we have had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful families and have been able to find loving parents for so many children.
4. How long is an adoption home study valid?
   In Connecticut, the home study is valid for 24 months. However, we update home studies after 12 months so that families planning to adopt children from out-of-state will comply with other state’s regulations.
5. Approximately how much time is necessary to complete an adoption home study by your organization?
   A Connecticut adoption home study usually takes 12 weeks to complete.
6. Can adoptive parents use a home study completed by your organization to adopt a child born in another state?
   Yes. CAS home studies are accepted by all other states.
7. If you complete my home study, do you also have to complete my post-placement visits?
   No. Our home study and post placement services are separate but most clients choose CAS for both.
8. How many post-placement visits does your organization require?
   For most domestic private infant adoptions, CAS conducts three post-placement visits over a 6-month period. If the placing state requires monthly visits, then CAS will comply by this schedule.
9. What is some advice you can give to potential adoptive families about the home study process? What should they be prepared for?
   We will provide families with a complete folder of information at the beginning of the home study process. We have a wealth of information available on our website as well: www.CTadoptions.org
10. What do your home study social workers look for in a home and a family when they visit potential adoptive families' homes?
    We follow the regulations as set forth by the Connecticut Dept. of Children & Families (which can be viewed on our website in the section titled: “Information/ application/fees”).
11. Are you Hague accredited, and if not, does your international home study comply with Hague International Standards?
    CAS does not do international home studies and is not Hague accredited.
12. Do you have experience in completing the home study and working with international placement companies?
    CT Adoption Services does not provide international services.
13. Are there other services and benefits you would like to share about your company?
    We have free adoption information sessions in five different locations throughout Connecticut at the beginning of each month at 7 p.m. The schedule can be seen on our website: www.CTadoptions.org. To register, just call the office or email the assistant director Sandra Couillard at: CTadoptions@waterfordcs.org. A social worker will review the different types of adoption at that session and will hand out folders for families to take home. If clients prefer, they can schedule an individual session during office hours in Norwich by contacting Ms. Couillard. Clients may also request an in-home information session, the cost for which is $150, which is deducted from the cost of the home study if the family decides to start the adoption process. In addition to adoptive parent home studies and post placement services, CT Adoption Services also offers: Step-parent and relative adoption screenings; LGBT adoption services; birth parent counseling; guardianship services; home evaluations for custody cases