International Program

Dear Friend,
Welcome to Adoptions Together and thank you for taking the time to learn more
about adoption. Our mission is to build healthy lifelong family connections for every
child and to advocate for continuous improvement of systems that promote the wellbeing of children. 
Founded in 1990, Adoptions Together is 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 more than 4000 children join loving
adoptive families.
EVERY CHILD: 
Domestic Infant Adoption: Adoptions Together welcomes all children in need of an adoptive family.  While
we serve children of all races, we primarily place African American infants. Prospective adoptive parents 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 throughout the United States primarily over the age of nine who are
waiting in foster care for a permanent family, and we match them with our prospective parents. We place many
sibling groups as well as individual children.  Once placed with children, our families receive support through our
comprehensive post placement services.
International Adoption: We provide extensive support services for families seeking to adopt children from
overseas, including consultation to determine which country is the best choice for individual circumstances; a
home study specific to the country; training; guidance in considering a child referred for adoption; and post
placement services.
EVERY FAMILY:
Home Study and Post Placement: Our team of compassionate and experienced social workers provides a
complete range of home study and post placement services for families adopting through our agency’s placement
programs, as well as for families adopting through other sources.
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY:
Lifelong Family Support: Our mission of bringing children and families together is equaled only by our
commitment to supporting families lifelong. We offer attachment-focused, adoption competent counseling,
support groups, community and professional education, parenting seminars, webinars and summer programs.
We also have fun recreational activities.  We are your partner in whatever capacity you want as your child
matures.
If you would like to expand your family through adoption with an organization that takes a holistic approach to
building and support, we urge you to consider Adoptions Together.  If you have any questions or concerns please
know we welcome your call. 
Warm regards,
Janice Goldwater, LCSW-C
Founder and Executive Director
Introduction to International Adoption Program………………………………………………………….... Page 4
Fee’s for Service ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Page 6
Ten Steps of International Adoption ……………………………………………………………………………….. Page 7
Networking Programs
Haiti ……………………………………………………………….....................................................
Page 11
Bulgaria ……………………………………………………………………….....................................
Page 12
Colombia ……………………………………………………………………….....................................
Page 13
South Africa ………………………………………………………………………..................................... Page 14
South Korea ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Page 15
Financing Your Adoption ………………………………………………………………................................
Page 16
Our Mission and Our Guiding Principles …………………………………………………………………………. Page 18
Parent Education & Support Services for families ……………………………………………..……………. Page 19
Information Meetings ………………………………………………………………….................................
Page 20
Next Steps ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Page 21
Working With Adoptions Together ……………………………………………………............................
Page 22
We are delighted that you are considering adoption! Thank you for your interest in our agencies
services.
Choosing the agency that will best meet your needs is one of the most important steps of your adoption journey. Our
agency is staffed with compassionate, experienced professionals, many of whom are also adoptive parents. As you read
about our programs and the support we provide, we hope you will choose us to provide services to assist with your
adoption.
For more information, please visit our website: www.adoptionstogether.org
Pease join us for one of our monthly Adoption Information Meetings. A schedule of meetings included at the end of this
publication. No reservations are necessary and the meetings are free of charge.
We would also be happy to talk with you individually, so please feel free to call or email us.
Adoptions Together Requirements for Parents
Our primary mission is to provide loving, safe and secure homes for every child. Therefore, you must demonstrate that
you are physically and emotionally able to lovingly care for a child. We work with
singles and with couples (preferably married for at least one year) regardless of race, faith, or gender. However, some
countries do impose certain restrictions and in those cases, we defer to the country’s requirements.
Adoptions Together Provides Supportive Services for Families Adopting Children from Overseas
Adoptions Together provides services for families seeking to adopt children in other countries who are in need of
families. International adoption can be a challenging process for adoptive families. Families must follow the laws
and regulations of the foreign country. In addition families must follow the U.S. immigrations requirements, in order to ensure that the child they have adopted overseas will qualify for a visa to enter this country. Our experienced and compassionate staff is dedicated to providing information and support to families to assist them through
this process.
Our Services
We assist our families throughout the international adoption process by providing:
 Consultation services to help families determine which country program is the best choice for their
circumstances
 Home Study specific to the country
 Training and preparation
 Guidance in considering a child referred for adoption
 Post placement support
Adoptions Together is honored to have been one of the first agencies to receive Hague Accreditation from the
Council on Accreditation. Our Hague Accreditation reflects our devotion and compliance to high ethical standards of
practice. This accreditation authorizes our agency to provide home study and post placement services for an adoption from any foreign country. We have been continuously accredited since 2008.
The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption
The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is an international treaty that provides protections
for children who are adopted internationally, to ensure that international adoption is in the best interest of the children. The U.S. implemented the Hague Convention in April 2008. Adoptions from foreign
countries that have also implemented The Hague Convention must meet all Hague requirements. Families must work with U.S. Hague-accredited agencies, both for services provided in the U.S. (such as the
home study and post placement services) and for services provided in the foreign country (such as ensuring that international adoption is in the best interests of the child and that the child’s biological parents have consented to the adoption.) In most Hague countries, there are U.S. Hague-accredited adoption agencies that also have been accredited by the foreign government to assist families with adoptions from that country.
Universal Accreditation Act
The U.S., through the Universal Accreditation Act, applies the same Hague protections to adoptions
from countries that are not a part of the Hague Convention. The goal is to ensure that international
adoption is in the best interest of the children, even if the foreign country has not implemented the
safeguards of The Hague Convention. Effective July 14, 2014, any agency or person providing adoption
services in intercountry adoption must be Hague-accredited or be supervised by an accredited Adoption Service Provider. The U.S. Hague-accredited agency that takes responsibility for the services in the
foreign country is referred to as the Primary Provider.
Placement Agencies and Local Agencies
It is very common for families to use the services of two U.S. agencies to complete their international
adoption. They need to use a U.S. Hague-accredited placement agency to take responsibility for the
services overseas. In addition families need to work with a Hague-accredited agency that is licensed in
their state of residence to provide their home study and post placement services.
Our agency’s Hague accreditation authorizes Adoptions Together to provide home studies and post placement services
under the Hague Convention and under the Universal Accreditation Act for families in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
Adoptions Together maintains formal Networking Agreements with several U.S. Hague-accredited placement agencies.
These formal agreements include:
All Blessings International for adoptions from Haiti
Family and Children’s Agency for adoptions from South Korea
Holt for adoptions from China, Thailand
Spence-Chapin for adoptions from Bulgaria, Colombia, and South Africa, India and Vietnam
Our agency is able to work with any Hague-accredited U.S. placement agency for adoptions from any country.
Note:
Our agency is no longer arranging adoptive placements of children from overseas. Upon request, we can provide historical
information about the numbers of children placed by our agency from overseas in the past, including any disruptions and
dissolutions.
FEES FOR SERVICES
Application Fee
$550
International Home Study Fee
$1350
In-person Consultation
(if requested by client)
$100 *
Individualized Training
(for family adopting child over age 3)
$350
Review of Information about child being considered for placement
(if requested by client)
Serving as the Primary Provider
in UAA Transition Case
(if accepted by agency)
$120/hour *
$1000 *
Post placement Visit/Report
$350
(schedule and number of reports based on country and placement agency requirements)
For all expenses related to the adoption process overseas, check fees from the placement agency.
*This service is not required.
The TEN Steps of International Adoption
Step 1: Choose a Country Program

Select a country whose adoption program will be a good match for your family.
Step 2: Select a Placement Agency
For a Hague country, select a U.S placement agency that is Hague accredited and that is
accredited by the foreign government.
For a non-Hague country, select a U.S Hague accredited agency to serve as the Primary Provider for your adoption.


Step 3: Application

Complete and submit Adoptions Together’s Application for a home study through My Adoption Portal (MAP).
Step 4: Home Study
Your
Social Worker will meet with you to begin the home study process.
Complete your home study documents through MAP and pay the home study fee.
Your Social Worker will complete the home study interviews.
While your homes study is underway, you will need to complete the required 10 hours of preadoption training. China requires 12 hours of training.
The TEN Steps of International Adoption
Step 5: USCIS
When your Home Study is complete, download either the I-600A form (for a non-Hague
country) or the I-800A form (for a Hague country) from the USCIS website: www.uscis.gov.
 When your I-600A or I-800A is accepted by USCIS, you will be sent information for
fingerprinting. (Each individual living in the home, over the age of 18, will need to complete
fingerprinting for USCIS. )

Step 6: Dossier Compilation
Instructions and documents for foreign country dossier will be provided to you by your
placing agency.
For most countries documents need to be certified at the county and state levels.
Apply for a passport if you do not have a current passport.



Step 7: Dossier Submission
Submit your completed dossier to your U.S placement agency.

Step 8: Referral


When a child has been identified for you by your placing agency, our Director of Home Study
and Support Services will be available to review the child’s information with you if you wish
We can refer you to an International Adoption Medical Specialist for additional review of the
child’s medical records and background information
Step 9: Travel
The number and length of trips vary by country,
Your placing agency will prepare you for your trip.
Upon obtaining your child’s US visa, you will bring your child home!



Step 10: Post Adoption Services




Post Adoption reports are required by USCIS, Adoptions Together and by each foreign
country.
Our agency will provide required post-adoption services for you.
The number of Post Adoption Reports required is determined by the country.
Adoptions Together provides ongoing post adoption support. For more information about
our post adoption services please visit our website.
Networking Programs
Adoptions Together is excited to be working with All Blessings International to find families for
orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti. All Blessings International is a nonprofit agency
licensed in Kentucky and Missouri. They have been working in Haiti for years and support numerous
humanitarian efforts in Haiti.
Adoptions Together provides families with Home Study and Post Placement services as well as
Training and support through the process. All Blessings International provides the referral
information and facilitates arrangements in Haiti.
The Children in Need of Adoption & Parental Qualifications
For Current information concerning the children available for adoption, wait times and parental
qualifications, go to All Blessings International.
Program and Procedure
Adoptions Together will complete your Home Study and assist you with Training. When your dossier
is complete, you will submit it to All Blessings International who will then review and prepare the
documents for submission to IBESR (The Haitian adoption authority Institut du Bien Etre Social et de
Recherches). The current wait to adopt a child from Haiti varies based on the age and gender of the
child requested.
All Blessings International will help coordinate your visits.
Fees
For Current information concerning the fees for adoption from Haiti, go to All Blessings International.
SPENCE-CHAPIN
Service and Caring Since 1908
Adoptions Together is pleased to be a network agency with Spence-Chapin. This program is only
available to families residing in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. Our agency
provides the home study, training, post placement services and assistance with the adoption
process for the placement of a child from Bulgaria. The placement of the child will be done
through Spence-Chapin. Spence-Chapin is a nonprofit agency in New York City that has been
placing children from Bulgaria since 1995, in collaboration with ANIDO.
THE CHILDREN IN NEED OF ADOPTION & PARENTAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADOPTION IN BULGARIA
For Current information concerning the children available for adoption, wait times and parental
qualifications, go to Spence Chapin– Bulgaria.
BULGARIA ADOPTION PROGRAM AND PROCEDURE
Once your home study and dossier documents are complete, the dossier will be sent to
Spence-Chapin. Spence-Chapin will submit the dossier to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
Fees
For Current information concerning the fees for adoption from Colombia, contact Spence-Chapin
at 212-400-8150 or at [email protected].
SPENCE-CHAPIN
Service and Caring Since 1908
Adoptions Together is pleased to be a network agency with Spence-Chapin. This program is only
available to families residing in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. Our agency
provides the home study, training, post placement services and assistance with the adoption
process for the placement of a child from Colombia. The placement of the child will be done
through Spence-Chapin. Spence-Chapin is a nonprofit agency in New York City that has worked
with Colombia since 1994. Spence-Chapin has been approved by Instituto Colombiano de
Bienestar Familiar (ICBF).
THE CHILDREN IN NEED OF ADOPTION & PARENTAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADOPTION IN COLOMBIA
For Current information concerning the children available for adoption, wait times and parental
qualifications, go to Spence Chapin– Colombia.
COLOMBIAN ADOPTION PROGRAM AND PROCEDURE
Once your home study and dossier documents are complete, the dossier will be sent to
Spence-Chapin. Spence-Chapin will send the dossier to ICBF or one of the children’s facilities in
Colombia.
Fees
For Current information concerning the fees for adoption from Colombia, contact Spence-Chapin
at 212-400-8150 or at [email protected].
South Africa
SPENCE-CHAPIN
Service and Caring Since 1908
Adoptions Together is pleased to be a network agency with Spence-Chapin. This program is only available to families residing in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. Our agency
provides the home study, post placement services and assistance with the adoption process for
the placement of a child from South Africa. Spence-Chapin is a nonprofit agency in New York
City. The placement of the child will be done through Spence-Chapin.
THE CHILDREN IN NEED OF ADOPTION & PARENTAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADOPTION IN
SOUTH AFRICA
For Current information concerning the children available for adoption, wait times and parental
qualifications, go to Spence Chapin– South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA ADOPTION PROGRAM AND PROCEDURE
Once a family’s home study and dossier documents are complete, the dossier will be sent to
Spence-Chapin. Spence-Chapin will send the dossier to South Africa. After submission of the
paperwork to South Africa, families will receive the referral of a child from the South African
Central Authority. For more information about the adoption process, and go to Spence Chapin–
South Africa
Fees
For Current information concerning the fees for adoption from South Africa, contact SpenceChapin at 212-400-8150 or at [email protected].
Adoptions Together is pleased to be a network agency with Family and Children’s Agency. This
program is only available to families residing in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia.
Our agency provides the home study, training, post placement services and assistance with the
adoption process for the placement of a child from Korea. The placement of the child will be done
through Family and Children’s Agency. Family and Children’s agency is a nonprofit agency in Connecticut that has worked with adoptions from Korea since 1982.
THE CHILDREN IN NEED OF ADOPTION & PARENTAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADOPTION IN KOREA
For Current information concerning the children available for adoption, wait times and parental
qualifications, go to Family and Children’s Agency.
KOREA ADOPTION PROGRAM AND PROCEDURE
Once your home study and dossier documents are complete, the dossier will be sent to
Family and Children’s Agency. Family and Children’s Agency will send the dossier to SWS. The current wait for the referral of a child is 14-15 months on average from the date the dossier is sent to
SWS.
The referral information will include a comprehensive medical report and photos of the child.
Fees
For Current information concerning the fees for adoption from Korea, go to Family and Children’s
Agency.
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
has been increasing in subsequent years. The amount is adjusted based on your income.. 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.
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 costeffective 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
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, sexual preference, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Education and Support 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 counseling and support programs for parents, children, and families that
provide a safe atmosphere to share common issues and concerns. 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

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 [email protected]
or visit us online http://www.adoptionstogether.org/adopting/training/international-adoptionpreparation/
Need more Information?
Phone: (301) 439-2900 | E-mail: [email protected]
Join us for an information meeting (schedule below). Our
information meetings are held at our office locations from
7:00-9:00pm. 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!
2016 INFORMATION MEETINGS
Calverton
Baltimore
Virginia
February 9, 2016
January 12, 2016
January 7, 2016
April 12, 2016
March 8, 2016
February 4, 2016
June 14, 2016
May 10, 2016
March 3, 2016
August 9, 2016
July 12, 2016
April 7, 2016
October 11, 2016
September 13, 2016
May 5, 2016
December 6, 2016
November 1, 2016
June 2, 2016
July 7, 2016
August 4, 2016
September 8, 2016
October 6, 2016
November 3, 2016
December 1, 2016
***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.
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
Next Steps……
>> Learn more about Home Studies
>> Complete an Application
>> Contact us:
Laura Teeter
Director of Home Study and Support Services
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 410 402 1107
Lauren Higginbotham
Manager of MD/DC Home Study and Support Services
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 410 402 1120
Jessica Ostrander
Manager of Virginia Home Study and Support Services
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 703 689 0404
Complaint Policy
At Adoptions Together, we welcome your feedback about how we can improve the quality of services
that we provide. We encourage you to talk openly and honestly with our staff if you have any concerns
about working with us. If the staff member with whom you are working does not adequately address
your concerns, please speak to his or her program director.
Together
What should do if am unhappy with services that receive from
At Adoptions Together, we welcome your feedback about how we can
vices that we
First Step: We encourage you to talk openly and honestly with our staff
about working with us.
Second Step: If the staff member with whom you are working does
your concerns, please speak to his or her
the
of ser-
have any concerns
adequately address
Third Step: If the above is unsuccessful, you can bring your concerns
suggestions for
to Janice
Executive Director
founder of Adoptions Together. You
can reach Janice via email
or via telephone at
Fourth Step: If your concerns are not resolved through
with our staff and
Executive Director, you can file a
with our Quality Assurance Committee.
Your
will be
investigated and you will receive a response
no more
than 30 days. If you do file a
no
action will
taken against you. For more
or to receive a formal
please contact the Quality Assurance
Chair via email
As an agency that is accredited by the Council on
you may also file a
about Adoptions Together with the United States
of State. More
about this process can be
obtained by
the State
at (888) 407-4747 or visiting the State
web site