Agency Policies
ADOPTION ELIGIBILITY
AAI seeks to advance the welfare of children throughout the adoptive placement process. Therefore, AAI will employ the following adoptive parent eligibility criteria:
Heterosexual couples who have been married for at least one year are eligible for domestic and international adoption. Single heterosexual women are eligible for international adoption. The sexual orientation of applicants will be assessed during the adoptive home study.
AAI will deny applications of persons:
who have been divorced more than two times
whose sexual orientation is other than heterosexual
who are not married and are cohabitating with another person of the opposite gender
who have been convicted of a felony
who have any pending criminal charges
who have any substantiated abuse or neglect charges
who abuse alcohol or other substances
AAI reserves the right to deny applications of persons:
who have any misdemeanor convictions
who have been accused of abuse or neglect
who have a significant medical condition
In addition, applicants for international adoption must also satisfy the eligibility requirements of each country of interest.
CHILD SPACING
Adoption Associates, Inc. requires that the placement of a child(ren) in an adoptive home provide at minimum a nine month age range between the adopted child and the other children in the home, and that the age of the child being placed be under the youngest child currently in the home. The purpose of this is to preserve the birth order, assure differential grade placements in their schooling, and minimize comparison and competition between siblings. Likewise, when adopting more than one child, unrelated adoptees and the existing children in the home must be at least nine months apart in age.
The decision to place a child with a family not meeting the child spacing policy will be made according to the professional judgment of Adoption Associates, Inc. staff.
ESCORTING
ETHIOPIA: Escorting is possible for the Ethiopia program, although Adoption Associates, Inc. strongly recommends that parents travel to bring their child home. Escorting will only be made available according to the professional judgment of Adoption Associates, Inc. staff when there are compelling reasons to do so.
HAITI: Escorting is possible for the Haiti program, although Adoption Associates, Inc. strongly recommends that parents travel to bring their child home. Escorting will only be made available according to the professional judgment of Adoption Associates, Inc. staff when there are compelling reasons to do so.
KAZAKHSTAN: Escorting may be possible for the Kazakhstan program’s second trip, although Adoption Associates, Inc. strongly recommends that parents travel to bring their child home. Families traveling on their second trip will be able to bring their child home much more quickly than when using an escort, since using an escort can add an additional four to six weeks of USCIS paperwork. For a child, making the transition and adjustment as he/she leaves the caregiver can be a traumatic experience. Therefore, it is in the child’s best interest that the parents, rather than an escort, bring him or her home.
Not all regions and/or officials in Kazakhstan allow escorting. This option will only be made available according to the professional judgment of Adoption Associates, Inc. staff when there are compelling reasons to do so.
HOME STUDY UPDATES/ADDENDUMS (INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION)
In the event that the family’s USCIS approval expires before the placement of a child, a home study update will be required. If Adoption Associates, Inc. completed the family’s original home study, Adoption Associates, Inc. will complete the home study update. The family will need to obtain new clearances, medicals, reference letters, and any other materials asked for by their home study caseworker. A visit with all family members in the home will also be required. Please see the fee schedule for applicable fees. If the family’s home study was completed by an agency other than Adoption Associates, Inc., the family will be responsible for contacting their home study agency to complete the update and will be responsible for all costs incurred.
In the event that a significant change occurs in the family’s life, or if the family wishes to be approved for, or the agency wishes to approve the family for a child with different characteristics than stated in the original home study, a home study addendum will be required. If Adoption Associates, Inc. completed the family’s original home study, Adoption Associates, Inc. will complete the home study addendum. If there is a new member of the household, the caseworker will visit all members of the household and the family must obtain a medical for said person. In the event of a change of residence, the caseworker will visit all members of the household at the new residence. When a job change has occurred, the caseworker will speak with the family by phone and the family will provide the agency with a letter from the new employer. Adoption Associates, Inc. may require additional documentation or visits with the family at the agency’s own discretion and will charge the family for addendums completed as a result of a change initiated by the family. If the family’s home study was completed by an agency other than Adoption Associates, Inc., the family will be responsible for contacting their home study agency to complete the addendum and will be responsible for all costs incurred.
If using AAI for a home study only, all home study services will be billed according to applicable fee schedules, including all updates and addendums.
MEDICAL CARE
Adoption Associates, Inc. will place children only into homes with parents who agree to seek medical attention when necessary for the child. In addition, parents must agree not to withhold medical treatment for the child against the advice of medical personnel.
NON-DISCLOSURE POLICY
AAI takes nondisclosure of arrests, convictions, unsubstantiated/substantiated incidents of child abuse or neglect, and significant medical issues very seriously. If the prospective client does not disclose said issues on the formal application, this could result in possible denial of the application or rescission of the adoptive home study—if already completed.
AAI understands and acknowledges prospective adoptive clients may be apprehensive to disclose such incidents, but a criminal record, including an expunged record, will almost certainly be discovered through required state and FBI background checks. Medical issues can be discovered by required forms from the client’s doctor. If these issues are not disclosed to the agency by the prospective adoptive client, it can result in feelings of mistrust between agency and client.
Disclosure of incidents can save time by allowing AAI to direct prospective clients away from programs or countries who may not be accepting of even seemingly minor criminal or medical issues. Disclosure allows AAI to inform prospective clients about additional documentation that may be required to provide to the court or cooperative agency, or in the case of international adoptions, to the USCIS or the source country. This can save valuable time for the client and the agency.
In the event that a prospective adoptive parent, immediate family member, or resident of the home is arrested, convicted of a crime, accused of child abuse or neglect, or diagnosed with a significant medical issue during the adoption process, such incidents or issues must be disclosed to AAI within 48 hours.
The ultimate determination to either terminate, hold, or continue the case will be made by the administration of AAI after review is completed of each case, taking into consideration the circumstances that are cause for concern regarding the best interest of the child and/or family. Several issues will be considered, to include, but not limited to: severity of the incident, length of time that has passed since the incident happened, circumstances surrounding the incident, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes.
In the event that AAI terminates a case, the client must agree to fully cooperate with AAI to ensure that any child referred to the prospective adoptive family is allowed the opportunity to be adopted by another prospective family.
AAI DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
AAI will fully disclose in writing to the general public the following upon request:*
AAI adoption services
general eligibility criteria
fees
foreign supervised providers and expected costs
AAI International Formal Application (service contract)
*This information is automatically provided to prospective clients making a request for the AAI International Information Packet.
In addition, AAI will make available the following to clients and prospective clients upon request:
the number of annual adoptive placements
the number of placements that remain intact, are disrupted, or dissolved
the number of annual adoptive applicants
the number of waiting children eligible for adoptive placement via AAI**
copies of country-specific adoption law
**While thousands of children may be available for international adoption, AAI can only account for those waiting children referred to our agency.
PREGNANCY (DOMESTIC ADOPTION)
With the best interest of the family in mind, prospective adoptive couples who become pregnant during their adoption process will stop their adoption process at that time. Services for any portion of a home study/update, agency services, or post adoption supervision terminated prior to completion will be billed on a pro-rated basis. Payments for services not yet performed will be refunded, excepting the non-refundable fees. The timing of when the couple can pursue one of AAI’s adoption programs should be discussed with the administration, always taking into consideration AAI’s Child Spacing policy; the clinical advisability of proceeding with adoption placement plans; the ages of the children involved; and the family’s wishes.
PREGNANCY/BIRTH (INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION)
With the best interest of the family in mind, and in consideration of the foreign adoption process, AAI has implemented the following pregnancy/birth policy. Prospective adoptive applicant(s) that become pregnant prior to the referral of a child will be required by AAI to terminate the adoption process, unless otherwise stated. The definition of “referral of a child ” varies per international program and is defined in the country specific paragraphs below.
If a pregnancy/birth occurs after the referral of a child, as defined below, applicant(s) have the option of continuing with their adoption or withdrawing from the program.
CHINA: If a child is born to a family after the dossier is submitted to CCAA, the family may be placed on hold for up to six months to ensure that the child by birth and the child by adoption are at least nine months apart in age with the child by adoption being the youngest (see Child Spacing policy). If the six month hold is not enough time to ensure the above spacing, CCAA will return the family’s dossier. Furthermore, CCAA requires that at least twelve months have passed from the birth of the biological child to the placement of the adopted child. A family may be able to have their dossier placed on hold for up to six months to ensure this, but if not possible, the dossier will then be returned to the family.
Due to the complexity of this issue, complicated by the uncertainty of the wait time for referral, AAI strongly recommends that if a family plans to have a child by birth, that the birth of the child not occur until after the adoptive placement.
If it is necessary for the family to discontinue the adoption process or if the family chooses to withdraw due to a pregnancy/birth, fees paid to AAI will be non-refundable. The applicants may or may not receive a refund of the international program fee paid to the contact in China, which is solely at the discretion of the China contact. AAI will not be held responsible for the return of these monies paid to the China contact.
ETHIOPIA: If a pregnancy occurs prior to the acceptance of a referral, the applicant(s) would be required to discontinue the adoption process. Once a referral has been accepted, the applicant(s) would be allowed to proceed or withdraw, dependent on their wishes. If the Ethiopia applicant(s) must discontinue the adoptive process or chooses to withdraw, fees paid to AAI will be non-refundable. If a withdrawal occurs due to a pregnancy, the applicant(s) may or may not receive a refund of the international program fee paid to the contact in Ethiopia, which is solely at the discretion of the Ethiopia contact. AAI will not be held responsible for the return of these monies paid to the Ethiopian contact.
HAITI: If a pregnancy occurs prior to the acceptance of a referral or any time during the adoption process, the applicant(s) would be allowed to proceed or withdraw, dependent on their wishes. If the Haiti applicant(s) chooses to withdraw, fees paid to AAI will be non-refundable. If a withdrawal occurs due to a pregnancy, the applicant(s) will not receive a refund of the international program fee nor foreign attorney fees paid to the contact in Haiti. AAI will not be held responsible for the return of these monies paid to the Haiti contact.
KAZAKHSTAN: If a couple learns of their pregnancy prior to receiving their official invitation for their first trip to Kazakhstan, the applicant(s) are required to discontinue the adoption process. If the applicant(s) must discontinue the adoption process or choose to withdraw, fees paid to AAI will be non-refundable. If a withdrawal occurs due to a pregnancy, the applicant(s) may not receive a refund of the international program fee paid to the staff in Kazakhstan, which is solely at the discretion of the staff in that country. AAI will not be held responsible for the return of any fees paid to the Kazakhstan staff.
NEPAL: If a pregnancy occurs prior to the signing of the referral acceptance letter while in Nepal on the first trip, the applicant(s) would be required to discontinue the adoption process. Once a referral has been accepted, the applicant(s) would be allowed to proceed or withdraw, dependent on their wishes. If the Nepal applicant(s) must discontinue the adoptive process or chooses to withdraw, fees paid to AAI will be non-refundable. If a withdrawal occurs due to a pregnancy, the applicant(s) may or may not receive a refund of the international program fee paid to the office in Nepal, which is solely at the discretion of the Nepal contact.
RUSSIA: If a pregnancy occurs prior to the signing of the referral acceptance letter while in Russia on the first trip, the applicant(s) would be required to discontinue the adoption process. Once a referral has been accepted, the applicant(s) would be allowed to proceed or withdraw, dependent on their wishes. If the Russia applicant(s) must discontinue the adoptive process or chooses to withdraw, fees paid to AAI will be non-refundable. If a withdrawal occurs due to a pregnancy, the applicant(s) may or may not receive a refund of the international program fee paid to the office in Russia, which is solely at the discretion of the Russian office.
UKRAINE: If a pregnancy occurs before the referral acceptance letter is signed in Ukraine, the applicant(s) are required to discontinue the adoption process. Once a referral has been accepted, the applicant(s) are allowed to proceed or withdraw, depending on their wishes. If the Ukraine applicant(s) must discontinue the adoption process or decide to withdraw, fees paid to AAI will be non-refundable. If a withdrawal occurs due to a pregnancy, the applicant(s) may or may not receive a refund of the international program fee paid to the contact in Ukraine, which is solely at the discretion of the Ukrainian contact.
NOTE: The timing of when applicant(s) can again pursue one of AAI’s adoption programs should be discussed with the administration, with the input of the program manager, always taking into consideration a.) AAI’s Child Spacing policy, b.) the clinical advisability of proceeding with adoption placement plans, c.) the policy of the foreign country, or their provider agency, d.) the ages of the children involved, and e.) the applicant(s) wishes.
FEE AND REFUND POLICY
Adoption Associates, Inc. (AAI) has made a good faith effort to provide a comprehensive schedule of adoption fees. However, AAI cannot guarantee the final amount of a family’s adoption fees and expenses. All fees, including AAI, Convention country, and third party fees, are subject to change, and the prospective adoptive parent(s) is/are required to pay the fees according to the prevailing fee schedule.
Fees are charged based on services provided. All or a portion of a fee may be due prior to completion of a specific service. Any portion of a fee that is not paid prior to the completion of a service will be due in full upon completion of that service.
AAI does not customarily charge additional fees and expenses beyond those disclosed in the fee schedules. In the event that unforeseen additional fees and charges are incurred in the Convention country, AAI will charge such additional fees and expenses only under the following conditions:
Additional fees and expenses will be disclosed to prospective adoptive parent(s) in writing.
AAI will obtain consent from prospective adoptive parent(s) prior to expending additional funds in excess of $1,000.
Written receipts will be provided to prospective adoptive parent(s) for any additional fees and expenses paid directly by AAI in the Convention country.
In the event that either AAI or the Convention country is unable to complete your adoption process in the program for which you have applied or if the prospective adoptive parent(s) choose to withdraw from an adoption program, the following refund policy will apply*:
Fees paid directly to AAI, except for international program fees, are non-refundable once they are paid. 2. International program fees, once paid to the Convention country, are not refundable by AAI. AAI will submit a refund request to the Convention country. However, AAI has no control over whether the funds will be returned or not. The Convention country will make this determination and their decision is final.
Fees paid directly to third parties in the U.S. or in the Convention country are non-refundable by AAI.
AAI Administration reserves the right to make exceptions to the refund policy in the event that such exceptions would benefit prospective adoptive parent(s). Refunds to which prospective adoptive parent(s) are entitled will be provided within sixty days of the completion of the delivery of services.
*Also see Agency Policies regarding Pregnancy/Birth (International Adoption).
