Adoption Associates, Inc: Domestic Infant and International Adoption Agency

AAI has placed 1,813 infants as of May 1, 2008.

AAI placed 124 infants in 2007.

When choosing between domestic and international adoption, one thing to consider is whether a family is willing to work with a birth mother. The amount of involvement with a birth mother or birth parents varies with each placement. However, most AAI placements are semi-open, which allows for contact with the birth parents prior to the birth, and for the exchange of pictures and letters for up to 18 years.

Another consideration is travel. In order to adopt internationally, it is usually necessary for one or both parents to travel to the country from which they are adopting. Other considerations include cost, race of child, and age of child. In an international adoption, it would be highly unusual to get a newborn, Caucasian infant.

To get started, simply request an information packet from AAI. Included in the packet is a Preliminary Application, which you will submit to the agency to set up an appointment to meet with the office supervisor for a consultation. Once the consultation takes place, here is a general idea of the steps taken:

• Submit a formal adoption application
• Attend an Adoption Awareness meeting
• Begin your home study process
• Complete your profile
• Become linked with a birth mother
• Temporary placement/host care
• Birth parent release hearing
• File Petition for Adoption
• Thirty day, three month, and six month post-placement visits
• Finalization of Adoption

We will help you create a profile, or a synopsis of who you are, for a potential birth mother. Once your profile is active, most families are linked with a birth mother in less than twelve months. But since we do not have a “waiting list” because birth mothers choose the family themselves, it is very possible the wait to be linked could be as short as a few days, or longer than a year.

While you can specifically request the gender of your child, it can cause significant delay in the waiting time. This is especially true in our Caucasian adoption programs, due to the fact that most birth mothers choose the family during pregnancy before they know the sex of the baby. If a specific gender is important to you, you might want to consider international adoption, where more choices are possible.

AAI works only with heterosexual couples.

We find that birth mothers prefer to place their child in a two parent family. We happily accept single women in our international program.

Our agency places primarily infants in the domestic program. However, many toddlers are available through our international program.

Our waiting families vary each month, but typically AAI has 100-120 waiting families.

The majority of our adoptions are semi-open. This means that adoptive couples meet the birth mother and send correspondence through the agency. Identifying information is not exchanged.
We do not accept couples who are interested in a closed adoption. For those couples who do not wish to meet a birth mother, our international program would be ideal.

After a birth mother releases her parental rights in court, she has twenty-one days to file an appeal or ask for a re-hearing. The basis for this cannot be a change in her decision. She cannot come back to the court after this time to ask for the release to be overturned.

Attending an information meeting is not required, but would certainly be helpful to you as both the domestic and international programs are reviewed. The information meeting is a wonderful way to help make the decision between our international and domestic programs.

This is a three hour meeting where various adoption issues are discussed. You will meet other couples who are beginning the adoption process and will learn about networking, birth mothers, and a variety of other topics.

This is a difficult question to answer in domestic adoption as there are so many variables to consider. The average wait for a healthy Caucasian infant is approximately 12 to 24 months from the time a couple submits their profile. Since birth moms select the adoptive family, some families wait a short time while others may wait longer. The more open couples are to unusual situations, which can include a willingness to adopt a child whose birth mother has a history of substance abuse, a child who has a different racial heritage, or simply agreeing to allow more openness in the adoption, the more opportunity we will have to show your profile. The more often your profile is shown, the greater your chances of receiving a placement more quickly. However, Adoption Associates, Inc. cannot guarantee a domestic placement for every family.

If a baby is born with an unexpected medical problem, the agency will work with the birth mother and the adoptive family to learn about the child’s condition and determine if the adoptive family is prepared to handle these special needs. If not, the family is not obligated to proceed with the adoption. If a family decides against proceeding with the adoption, the agency will immediately locate a family that meets with the birth mother’s approval and is prepared to adopt a child with this condition.

A home study is simply an evaluation of a home, and the family living in it, to be sure it/they can provide a safe and loving environment where the physical and emotional needs of the child can be met. Many different areas are covered, including almost all areas of your life. The home study is required by all courts in the State of Michigan.

A home study is current for one year. If a couple has not been placed after one year, your caseworker will come to your home and do an update of your home study.

Licensing requires that a caseworker visit your home in order to ensure that your house, property, neighborhood, schools, and community are adequate before you adopt. This is the purpose of the home visit. You do not need to childproof your home.

In 2006, the average cost of all agency matched domestic adoptions was approximately $18,699. Because every adoption includes somewhat different situations with adoptive families and birth parents, it is impossible to give a definite amount.

The fees required in an adoption may seem overwhelming at first, but broken down, and with the help of the $10,000 U.S. federal tax credit, adoption is more affordable than you think.

Here are the ways most prospective parents raise the necessary funds: Federal and state tax credits, home equity loans, personal savings, employer benefits, family loans or gifts, churches, refinancing a mortgage, credit card payment, borrowing from 401(k), pension or insurance policy, or using grants and loans.

AAI works hard to keep adoption costs manageable.

The cost of your adoption through Adoption Associates, Inc. is accumulated on a fee for service basis. You are charged for time and expense in the case. These fees are recorded at an hourly rate for any service provided by the agency and include pregnancy-related living expenses for the birth mother as allowed by the law. The total cost of your adoption can vary greatly depending on when the birth mother is due, how much time the agency needs to put into the case, how far the birth mother lives from the agency, etc. Whether a birth mother needs help with living expenses has a great deal to do with the final cost of your adoption. You can refer to the agency fee schedule for specifics on the fees for your adoption.

Voluntarily-released infant placements by Adoption Associates, Inc. are divided into two categories: designated placements and agency-matched placements. Designated placements are adoptions where the adopting couple and the birth parents have had contact before the agency begins to serve the birth parents. Agency-matched placements occur when the birth parents come to the agency and then select their child’s adoptive family from the profiles available through the agency.

In agency-matched cases, the administrative fee of $9,000 is added to the time and expenses incurred in serving the birth parent(s). In designated placements, $3,600 is deducted from the administrative fee.

The administrative fee covers approximately two-thirds of our total costs for statewide Yellow Pages and other advertising, administrative and support staff salaries, agency insurance, development and publication of resource materials for birth parents, legal services, travel expenses, telephone/Internet expenses, and office expenses. In addition to these expenses, there is a tremendous cost to the agency in serving birth mothers who ultimately do not release their children for adoption. These expenses help enable services to adopting couples and birth parent(s), but are not individually or easily attributed to individual cases.

When developing your profile, work closely with your home study caseworker. Your caseworker’s guidance will help make your profile high quality from the beginning of the process. Also, remember that the photographs are very important as they are often the element that catches a birth mother’s eye and then entice her to read the profile. Take time to make sure your pictures are high quality, attractive, bright, active, and engaging.

When a birth mother is ready to review profiles, the caseworker will talk with her to find out if there are specific characteristics that she is looking for in an adoptive family. We do not give her a checklist or suggest what she should consider, but leave this totally up to her. We take the characteristics that the birth mother lists and then request profiles from our corporate office that match her wishes. When determining the profiles that are shown to the birth mother, we also take into account information about the baby she is carrying, such as the child’s race and whether or not he or she has been exposed to any substances during the pregnancy. The profiles we show to the birth mother are of families that are accepting of the child and the birth mother’s situation, in addition to reflecting the characteristics that the birth mother has requested.

If the birth mother does not have many specific requests about the adoptive family, and the number of qualified families is too large to show her, we might select a number of the qualified families that have been waiting the longest. Sometimes birth mothers may have quite a few qualifiers which limit the number of profiles to a smaller amount. In these cases, we might include extras which don’t exactly match her requests. However, we will let her know that we have included some others as well, and identify those as such.

Profiles are shown to birth mothers at all of our office locations, and most birth mothers are given a number of profiles to review. Generally, she does not comment on why she didn’t select a particular family, but rather discusses why she did pick the family she has chosen. Because of this, caseworkers generally don’t have this information available. If a birth mother makes a negative comment about a particular profile that can be corrected, the information will be passed on to the adoptive family’s caseworker to share with the family.

A birth mother has the right to change her mind about adoption until she goes to court to release her parental rights. This hearing usually takes place two to four weeks after the birth of the baby. There is no time period following that hearing that allows her to change her mind. The release of rights is permanent at that hearing.

The ages of families range from the mid-twenties to the mid-forties.

Complete health backgrounds are reported from the birth mother. Additionally, the agency will get prenatal records, if possible, and will provide the family with medical reports on the child.

If a birth mother should change her mind and decide to parent, the couple will return to the profile book and be shown to other birth mothers.

If your link with a birth mother includes a meeting, there are several things you can easily do when you first meet her. Bringing some kind of simple gift of hospitality is a really nice thing to do. It shouldn’t be anything costly, but flowers, bath and body products, or homemade cookies, etc., are all examples of something that shows her your concern about her personally. After the meeting, sending her a brief note to say how much you enjoyed meeting her, maybe including a toll-free number where she can call you during the pregnancy if she has questions or wants to talk, or offering to meet with her again prior to delivery if she would like, can be very supportive things to do.

If your link does not include a meeting, you can still send a note or card as mentioned above with details particular to your circumstance. You can talk with her caseworker to learn more about her circumstances so that your note can be personal and thoughtful.

At the hospital there are many things you can do to be supportive of her. Try to treat the situation as you would when a friend or family member is in the hospital—bring flowers, a magazine, or a special treat. Pay attention to her personally, her needs and wishes about seeing the baby, having her family/friends come to the hospital to see the baby, or even having time with the baby alone. Find out ahead of time what she likes—maybe she likes a certain kind of candy or reads a certain magazine. If you are going out for a bite to eat, ask if you can bring something back for her. Small, personal, thoughtful gestures at the hospital help her remember that you care about her well-being too, and help to reinforce that you aren’t going to forget about her now that the baby is here.

Sending photos and letters over the years as agreed upon before the adoption is one of the most important things that an adoptive family can do to support a birth mother. Honoring your promise is important to help her know that she can trust you, and sending photographs and a letter helps her healing and grieving process by assuring her that her child has a wonderful family, a bright future, and all that she hoped she was giving him/her by choosing adoption.

The caseworker will gather health and background information from birth mother clients, including use of drugs or alcohol during their pregnancies. We explain that gathering this information is for the best interest of the baby, not because we are just trying to be nosy or intrusive, and that it is very important for her to be honest with us. Having a proper health history helps assure us that we are matching her to a family that is right for her situation and is best for her child. In the majority of cases, birth mothers are honest about their substance abuse, but there are some situations where prenatal testing or testing at delivery reveals information that was not provided by the birth mother.

Due to the unpredictability of domestic adoption, it is generally best to keep things rather low key and just share minor details with people who need to know when you are linked. Cautious optimism is a good way to approach things. Many people don’t understand the uncertainty of domestic adoption. It is better to share all the exciting news after placement, rather than have to explain to everyone when there is a change of plans or complications occur. Also, remember that the information you receive about a birth mother is your child’s personal history, and it is important not to share too many details with people who don’t need to know. This information is your child’s to share at a later date.

No. All the courts are very diligent in asking every birth mother many questions to ensure that she comprehends the legal purpose of the hearing. The courts make sure that she understands that signing the release is voluntary and that no one can force her to do so. They ask her if she has had enough time to make the decision, if she needs more counseling, and remind her that the 21 day appeal period is NOT simply a time period for her to change her mind. It is, instead, a time to correct flaws in the legal system if any occur.

Review the agency policy regarding gifts for birth mothers. This policy was developed to help families by providing guidelines that will allow you to give gifts to a birth mother but to also be sure that these gifts will not be misinterpreted as coercion in her adoption decision. You can provide her with thoughtful gifts at the hospital, for Christmas, or on her birthday as long as you stay within the $40 per person limit. Be creative! Sometimes flowers from your garden or homemade baked goods can be even more meaningful than purchasing these kinds of items. Sometimes a family might want to purchase a special gift for the hospital or after delivery, like a necklace with the baby’s birth stone, a locket, a bathrobe, etc. If you choose a special gift that is over $40, remember that you must provide a receipt to the birth mother caseworker so that she can record it with the court.

If you become aware of personal needs, household items, or financial assistance that is needed during a birth mother’s pregnancy, please discuss these needs with the birth mother’s caseworker. The law provides guidelines on helping birth mothers with expenses during their pregnancies, and there is agency policy on how to handle this. The caseworker can assess these types of situations and see that the birth mother’s needs are met by following agency policy and staying within Michigan law. You should never buy household or personal items for a birth mother or pay her bills on your own.

Having the opportunity to talk frequently or spend time with a birth parent during her pregnancy is a great opportunity for you to get to know more about her personally. It is okay to talk about your family, job, interests, etc., but the birth mother should be the center of discussion. Here are some topics you may want to consider discussing: how she is feeling, her prenatal care, her family and friends, the birth father, her interests, her job or school situation, her goals, and her other children. It is important for her to see your excitement about the adoption and this baby in particular, but also remember to be cautious with your emotions as complications could arise before the child is born or the adoption is finalized.

Adoption Associates, Inc. strongly encourages a birth mother to obtain prenatal care and will assist her in scheduling appointments, getting to the clinic or doctor, etc. However, we do not require drug testing and/or prenatal testing. If there are unusual medical circumstances, we work directly with the prenatal care provider to gather as much medical information for the prospective adoptive family as possible. When medical testing is appropriate, it must be ordered by the physician.

Adoption Associates, Inc. works very hard to make sure that information about Adoption Associates, Inc. is easy for birth mothers to find. Our primary method of advertising is in the Yellow Pages, which consistently brings us approximately 60% of our initial birth mother inquires. When advertising in the Yellow Pages, we aim to place the biggest and best ad on the page, which usually draws the birth mother’s attention right away. Because birth mothers see our agency’s name so quickly, we are frequently the first—and only—agency that they contact. Our ads appear in Yellow Pages directories across the state.

Another important advertising tool is the Internet. We currently have a strong presence on the web with our agency web site, www.AdoptionAssociates.net, and a separate web site that reaches out to birth mothers, www.PlanAdoption.com.

In addition to these advertising methods, we also provide agency information and birth mother packets to many referral sources that work with pregnant or young adult women and network with hospital social workers, crisis pregnancy centers, Medicaid clinics, and DHS offices. Furthermore, we provide speakers for school districts across Michigan who tell students about adoption and the Safe Delivery Law. We are constantly looking for new and creative ways to get information to prospective birth mothers.

Michigan allows adoptive parents to pay for pregnancy related living expenses for birth mothers. These expenses usually include items such as rent, food, clothing, and utilities.

If a birth mother asks for assistance with living expenses, her caseworker will work with her to determine appropriate expenses and make sure that the agency has the proper documentation to pay the expenses. We pay bills directly to providers in as many situations as possible or reimburse her for expenses when she turns in receipts. All expenses paid on behalf of a birth mother are documented to the court in her adoption process so that the court is aware of and approves any expenses.

Call the birth mother’s caseworker, who will be able to assist you with unexpected problems in the hospital. Remember that even if the office is closed, we have a 24-hour answering service that can contact the caseworker in the evening or on weekends and holidays. You will need to let the answering service know that you are in the hospital with a birth mother client and need to speak with the caseworker immediately. They will either patch your call through to her or have her return your call as soon as they can reach her.

In most counties the adoption petitions are filed via mail. Some counties require a finalization hearing. Our legal department will take care of all of the necessary legal work and will notify you if you must attend.

If a birth mother is married at the time of the conception and/or birth of the baby, the woman’s husband is the child’s legal father. Michigan law requires a legal father to sign a release or a consent to the adoption in court after the birth of the baby, just like a birth mother must do, for the adoption to proceed. If the legal father is not willing to cooperate, an adoption cannot go on as planned.

In the instance where the legal father is NOT the biological father and is NOT willing to cooperate, the agency may obtain an attorney to file a petition for a hearing to determine that the child was born out of wedlock. Guided by the assistance of an attorney, this process requires two court hearings that must occur prior to the hearing for the birth mother to release her parental rights.

A putative father who provides substantial financial support to the birth mother or the baby during the pregnancy or after the birth also has a special status in the court. Although he is not required to be present at court and sign a release like a legal father, if he is not in agreement with the adoption, he can come to court to ask for custody, thereby preventing the birth mother from proceeding with her adoption plan.

The birth mother’s caseworker will prepare her for court and will take her to the release hearing. The purpose of the release hearing is to terminate the parental rights of both the birth mother and the birth father. The hearing will take place in front of a judge or referee.

First, the judge or referee will explain the birth mother’s parental rights to her and make sure that she comprehends them. The judge or referee will ensure that the birth mother’s release is voluntary by asking her numerous questions to ensure that she is not being forced or coerced into following through with her adoption plan. The judge or referee will also verify that she has had enough time to make her decision. Finally, the judge or referee will ask the birth mother additional questions to make sure that she understands that her decision is permanent and that the 21-day appeal period that follows the hearing is not a time frame for her to change her mind.

Then, the judge or referee will ask the birth mother questions about the identity of the birth father. His rights will also be terminated on this day by the fact that he is present and agrees with the adoption, he has signed a Notice to Putative Father and Custody Statement indicating that he is in support of the adoption, he has been served proper notice of the hearing and has not appeared, or he cannot be identified or located.

In any adoption, rights of the birth father must be terminated, even if he is unknown. If the birth mother cannot identify him, the caseworker will speak with her several times to make sure that we have all the information she can provide, or to see if there is anything additional that can be done to identify and locate him. If he truly cannot be identified, the birth mother will testify in court at her release hearing about the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy and why the birth father cannot be identified. She will be testifying under oath, and she will be advised of the importance of telling the truth. The judge or referee will ask her follow-up questions as necessary. If the judge or referee accepts her testimony, he or she will terminate the rights of the unknown father so that the adoption can proceed.

The agency will discuss the importance of locating a birth father with the birth mother and obtain all possible information as soon as possible. Sometimes the agency is able to locate a birth father on its own, but at other times, the agency enlists the services of a private investigator to find him. We make every attempt to locate the birth father to assure the court that there is nothing further that can be done and to protect the child’s placement in your home.

Because domestic adoption can be unpredictable and uncertain, every family handles this differently. The agency doesn’t recommend or require you to prepare a nursery prior to being linked with a birth mother or before the baby is born. Most families feel this is something that they can complete at their own leisure after a permanent adoptive placement occurs, but you’ll need to figure out what works best for you. If you always like to be prepared and want things to be orderly, you might feel better if you have completed some initial preparations ahead of time. This can range from simply making lists of what you will need to purchasing some things and leaving them in boxes in the basement. Some couples even choose to paint the room. However, you may want to wait to complete the baby’s room until later in the adoption process, especially if it would be difficult for you to walk past an empty nursery every day.