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Adoptions from the Heart (NY) FAQ

  1. Tell us a little about the founding and development of your organization?
    Adoptions From The Heart was founded by the current Executive Director almost 30 years ago. It began from her home and now there are eight offices in six states.
  2. How are your adoption home study and your organization unique?
    We were one of the first agencies on the East Coast to do open domestic adoptions. We encourage families to take our education course as well as the home study so that they are prepared to raise a child of adoption and/or open adoption.
  3. Why are you passionate about adoption and the home study process?
    Many agencies do a home study at the family’s home. We feel that this is not enough to get to know a family. We have two group sessions in the office or individually and then one in the home. We also offer a personal meeting before this and encourage families to also attend the education course which gives us even more time to get to know them.
  4. How long is an adoption home study valid?
    If a family is adopting through our agency, it is one year before it needs an update but if it is a private home study, it depends on the agency or state where the adoption will be taking place.
  5. Approximately how much time is necessary to complete an adoption home study by your organization?
    We meet families two times in the office and then one time in their home so approximately 2-3 months unless it is an emergency and then it is done in several weeks.
  6. Can adoptive parents use a home study completed by your organization to adopt a child born in another state?
    Absolutely!
  7. If you complete my home study, do you also have to complete my post-placement visits?
    In NJ this is required but in other states, it is not. It is always better in PA, DE, VA, CT and NY but not required.
  8. How many post-placement visits does your organization require?
    Three or more if the family is adopting older or special needs children.
  9. What is some advice you can give to potential adoptive families about the home study process? What should they be prepared for?
    Families should not be worried and relax. They will be going over how they were raised, their ideas about parenting, their marriage, etc. There is also a lot of paperwork such as physical exams, references, police and child abuse clearances, etc.
  10. What do your home study social workers look for in a home and a family when they visit potential adoptive families' homes?
    Adoptions From The Heart normally goes over any areas that they do not feel have been completed in the in-office meetings, look around the home for safety and to make sure there is room for a child(ren). It is not a white glove test.
  11. Are you Hague accredited, and if not, does your international home study comply with Hague International Standards?
    We are not Hague accredited but we can do Hague home studies under the supervision of another agency that we have an agreement with.
  12. Do you have experience in completing the home study and working with international placement companies?
    We did International adoptions before the Hague went into effect. We still do some but we do not offer international support services at this time because we focus on domestic adoption.
  13. Are there other services and benefits you would like to share about your company?
    Adoptions From The Heart has always believed in providing adoption services as locally as possible and that is why we have small offices in many locations, rather than just one large one to cover many states and areas. We like to provide personal services to our prospective adoptive families and pregnant couples.

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