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FAQs - Adoption Works FAQ
What is AdoptionWorks?
Who can apply?
What type of child can I adopt and where do I need to live?
Why are these children in public foster care?
What are the steps and how long is the wait for a child?
What is an adoption home study?
What if I already have a home study and/or have attended pre-adoption training elsewhere?
How much information will I receive about a child whom I might consider adopting?
What if my child needs special psychological or medical care?
Can a biological family reclaim a child placed for adoption through AdoptionWorks?
Can I adopt a child whose race is different from mine through AdoptionWorks?
Will my child be eligible for an adoption subsidy?
What does it cost to participate in the AdoptionWorks program?
How do I get started?
What is AdoptionWorks?
AdoptionWorks is a program at Adoptions Together that facilitates the adoption of school-aged children who are growing up in public foster care throughout the United States.
Who can apply?
Individuals and families of all types are encouraged to apply. Adoptions Together works with many types of families including single apllicants, married couples and those with or without children.
What type of child can I adopt and where do I need to live?
AdoptionWorks (AW) places school-aged children from throughout the United States with parents who reside in MD, DC & VA.
Why are these children in public foster care?
Children enter the public foster care system for a wide variety of reasons, such as abuse, neglect, drug abuse, and many other factors.
What are the steps and how long is the wait for a child?
Parents must attend 27 hours of training, complete a home study; work with an AW team member to locate a child, be placed, and proceed toward finalization. You can begin the process of finalizing your child’s adoption after the child has been in your home for a minimum of six months.
What is an adoption home study?
Each AdoptionWorks home study consists of three to four interviews with a licensed social worker that is experienced in adoption. Information is collected about the applicant’s background, references are checked and a home safety inspection is completed. A report is written by the home study social worker and a recommendation is made as to whether the applicant should proceed with an adoption.
What if I already have a home study and/or have attended pre-adoption training elsewhere?
We require all families entering the program to attend our AdoptionWorks training and have their Home Study completed by our agency.
How much information will I receive about a child whom I might consider adopting?
We will provide you with all of the information about a child that we are able to obtain from the agency that is serving as the child’s guardian. Information may include a medical, social and developmental history that is collected from professionals involved in caring for the child. We will assist you with making a decision as to whether the child and your family are a good fit.
What if my child needs special psychological or medical care?
Most children who are adopted through AdoptionWorks are eligible for Medical Assistance.
Can a biological family reclaim a child placed for adoption through AdoptionWorks?
Many of the children are legally free and cannot be reclaimed by their biological parents. Some children’s birth parents’ rights have not yet been terminated, but the state that has custody of the child is in the process of terminating their parental rights.
Can I adopt a child whose race is different from mine through AdoptionWorks?
Yes. Part of the training provided explores trans racial adoption issues.
Will my child be eligible for an adoption subsidy?
Most children who are adopted are eligible to receive an adoption subsidy. The amount of the subsidy depends upon the special needs of the child.
What does it cost to participate in the AdoptionWorks program?
Application/Training: The Application/Training fee is $350, due with your application.
Home Study: The home study fee is $650, due when you turn in your home study paperwork.
Placement Services: AdoptionWorks charges a $7,000 placement fee, which covers all services involved in matching, placement, supervision of placement, and finalization of an adoption. Some states will pay this fee for the adoptive parents, for the adoption of children from their state. If a family decides to be placed with a child from a state that does not pay purchase of service, this fee will have to be passed onto the family.
With the Federal Adoption Tax Credit, you will be able to claim a full $10,000 tax credit in the year that you finalize your adoption, regardless of the amount of money you spent on the adoption. Therefore, you can more than cover the cost of an adoption from a state that does not pay purchase of service.
How do I get started?
We encourage you to attend one of our scheduled information meetings or contact one of our team members:
AdoptionWorks: Carol Edelstein @ 410.869.0620 or cedelstein@adoptionstogether.org
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