GENERAL FAQ's

INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION PROCESS

INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION EXPENSES

ELIGIBILITY TO ADOPT INTERNATIONALLY

 

GENERAL FAQ's

What services does Nightlight Christian Adoptions (NCA) offer?

NCA is licensed to provide the following services:

  • Homestudies in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties
  • Domestic Adoptions: Agency, Identified (Modified) or Interstate Adoptions
  • International Adoptions: Programs in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Taiwan, and Russia
  • Snowflakes (c) Frozen Embryo Adoptions
  • Birthparent counseling services

Is NCA a non-profit agency?

Yes, Nightlight is a 501(c) (3) non-profit agency. Fees paid by adoptive parents as well as any fundraising efforts throughout the year cover agency expenses.

What is your licensure information?

Nightlight Christian Adoptions has been licensed by the California State Department of Social Services since 1959. Nightlight's Home study, Post Adoption, and Birthparent counseling services are available to families within Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura Counties. We are currently in the process of obtaining our Hague accreditation.

Does NCA assist with out-of-state adoptions?

Yes, we can assist you in completing and International, Embryo, or Interstate Adoption, either to or from California. You would just need to work with an agency licensed in your state to provide Home study or Post Adoption services. If you are adopting Internationally, your agency must have a Supervised Provider Contract on file with our office and must be in the process of obtaining their Hague accreditation.

What if we are not Christians?

The "Christian" in our name explains who we are. We work with families from all religious backgrounds.

What are the different countries you work with?

We currently have active programs in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Taiwan.

Approximately how long does it usually take to adopt internationally?

It depends on the country you choose to adopt from, as well as the time it takes to complete your home study and dossier, but typically an international adoption will take about 8-24 months from the start of the home study to finalization. Please refer to the country descriptions for more detailed information.

What is the adoption process?

(Please refer to the individual country descriptions for more detailed information on the adoption process in each country).

  • Home study - The home study is an evaluation and education process required by the State to determine your preparedness to parent through adoption. A homestudy consists of three components: paperwork, education and interviews with a social worker.
  • Dossier - The documents required by the foreign government to allow you to adopt a child from the country. These documents typically must be notarized and apostilled.
  • Referral - Based on the information you submit in your dossier, the foreign government will issue you an official referral of a child or children for adoption. Depending upon the country you are adopting from, you will either travel to the country to receive the referral and meet the child or you will receive information on the child including pictures and medicals prior to travel.
  • Court - You will travel to the country for your court date where the judge will issue you the Adoption Decree and the adoption will be finalized.
  • Post Adoption - You will register for your child's passport with the embassy and provide Post Adoption reports completed by your social worker along with pictures of your child for a period of time after your adoption, as specified by each individual country.

What if we have not decided which country we will adopt from?

If possible, learn more about the countries through the internet (see Resources at the end of the FAQs), adoption groups, the agency and other adoptive families so you can make your decision. If you decide on a country and then change your mind after the completion of the home study and/or dossier, while not too difficult, there will likely be a delay in your adoption as you complete any additional forms or paperwork for the new dossier.

Will Nightlight allow us to pursue a domestic and international adoption simultaneously?

We would advise you to only pursue one program at a time, as each child needs time to bond and feel secure within your family. However if you are still unsure you may want to begin your home study and discuss your options with your social worker. Before the home study is completed, you will need to make a decision as to which program you will pursue.

Can we be undergoing fertility treatments while in the adoption process?

No. To be healthy adoptive parents, you need to have completed all your infertility treatments and given yourself the time necessary to grieve for the biological children you dreamed of. Only after this important step can you truly be ready to begin the adoption process. Please talk with your social worker if you have any concerns about this requirement.

What if we become pregnant during the adoption process?

Notify our office and your social worker immediately. It is our policy to put files on hold once we are notified of a client's pregnancy. Your file will be on hold until your child is at least 1 year old in order to allow time for attachment and bonding. When you are ready to begin the adoption process again, contact our office to discuss your adoption plans.

What do you recommend we do to help prepare ourselves for an international adoption?

Learn your child's language, or at least a few basic words or phrases to help your child transition into your family, and to communicate with your child as they learn English. Learn about your child's country and culture so that you can ensure they do not lose their rich cultural heritage. Attend support groups and events either through the agency or in your area. Talk with other families who have adopted children internationally. You may also want to begin your child's Lifebook.

What type of information on number of placements and children waiting is available to us?

Nightlight Christian Adoptions makes available the following information, upon request by clients or prospective clients:

  1. The number of international adoptive placements by Nightlight Christian Adoptions, listed by country for each of the prior three calendar years; and the number of those adoptions which have been disrupted or dissolved.
  2. The number of families who applied to adopt internationally through Nightlight Christian Adoptions for each of the three prior calendar years.
  3. The number of children eligible for adoption and awaiting an adoptive placement referral through Nightlight Christian Adoptions.

 

INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION PROCESS

What is a Home study?

The mandatory home study is an evaluation and education tool to help us, as an agency, and you, as adopting parents, to determine your preparedness to parent through adoption. It is not a psychological analysis; our intent is to prepare you for the special needs of an adoptee and to help you build important parenting skills. The home study is different for each adoption as everyone has different histories and experiences that they bring into the process. It consists of paperwork, education, and interviews.

  • Paperwork
    The paperwork portion of the home study includes completion of an application, autobiographies for each parent, fingerprints, references, medicals and more. We encourage you to begin this portion as soon as you are ready, since it must be completed before other steps can be taken.
The home study paperwork that a family completes includes, but is not limited to: Adoptive Parent Questionnaire, Agreement for Adoption Services, Personal Profile forms, fingerprinting, Criminal Record Statement, references, medical forms, financial statement, autobiographies, DMV driving record, floor plan and directions to your home, income tax return, and current Infant First Aid and CPR. You will also need to obtain certified copies of your marriage and birth certificates as well as any divorce decrees from all previous marriages.
  • Education
    The most important component of the home study is the educational portion. You will be educated throughout the interviewing process by your social worker as you explore your attitudes, plans, and feelings regarding adoption and how to present adoption to your child.
There are several forms of independent study that you will be required to complete, including a combination of CPR / First Aid classes, adoption classes, books, and videos. The extent and combination of these tools will be set on a case-by-case basis and may include outside sources to ensure that you are prepared for the journey you are undertaking. The goal is to expose you to a myriad of opinions and perspectives on adoption so that you are well prepared to parent your child. International adoption also includes a minimum of 10 hours of education separate from the actual home study process, consisting of classes (either online or in person), seminars and readings through your Hague accredited home study agency.
  • Interviews
  1. The Intake Interview: This initial interview is held at our office, and will be attended by both spouses. This meeting is held after the paperwork package has been provided and serves as our first chance to get to know you personally. We ask that you arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete the AAPI (Adult Adolescent Parenting Inventory). This meeting will take about two hours.
  2. The Individual Interviews: These interviews will again be held in our office but with each spouse individually. In these interviews we will explore your attitudes and beliefs about children, parenting, and your own childhood. These interviews should take about 1 1/2 hours each.
  3. The Home Visit: This interview will be in your home. We will again speak with both parents as well as individually with your children. This interview should take about one hour plus an additional 15-30 minutes per child.

What is "the Hague"?

The Hague Convention is a program that governs the way international adoptions are conducted throughout the world. The United States ratified this program and is in the process of implementing it. It basically puts the decision making process and control in the hands of a central authority in each country that works in international adoptions. One of the major components of the Hague is the education of adoptive parents. Each prospective adoptive parent is required by Federal mandate to take a minimum of 10 hours of education, in addition to the home study. So, it is actually a 'federal regulation' for anyone adopting internationally according to Hague Standard 96.48(b)(2).

What are your fees to complete a home study? What additional out of pocket home study expenses can we expect?

Our fees for home study services are $2,600. Additional expenses include fingerprinting ($65 per person in CA), education classes (approximately $100-$150 per person), CPR/First Aid class (approximately $40-$50 per person), DMV records ($5 per person in CA), and medicals (your individual co-pay). In addition, some doctors may charge a fee to fill out the required medical forms. Please also remember that you will be required to complete Post Adoption visits through your home study agency with fees typically ranging from $200-$500 per visit.

How long does a homestudy take to complete?

A homestudy typically takes anywhere from 2-6 months to complete, depending on how quickly a family turns their paperwork in, schedules visits with the social worker, and completes the educational component.

Is a single homestudy valid for both domestic and international adoption?

No, they are two separate homestudies. You will need to decide if you are pursuing domestic or international adoption before you begin your homestudy visits. If you complete your homestudy and then decide to pursue the other program there may be a conversion fee. You would need to meet with your social worker at least one more time to get the appropriate education, and you may have additional documents to complete and education classes to take.

What paperwork is involved?

The homestudy paperwork that a family completes includes, but is not limited to: Personal Profile forms, fingerprinting, Criminal Record Statement, references, medical forms, financial statement, autobiographies, DMV driving record, floor plan and directions to your home, income tax returns and current Infant First Aid and CPR. You will also need to obtain certified copies of your marriage and birth certificates as well as any divorce decrees from all previous marriages.

How long is a home study valid?

A California home study is valid for two years or until a child is placed in the home. However, home studies completed for International adoptions are often valid in the foreign country for only one year.

What issues are discussed during the interview process?

During your meetings with the social worker, some of the topics you will discuss include: your childhood, marriage and family relationships, motivation to adopt, expectations for child, infertility, parenting and integration of a child into your family. Your last visit will be conducted at your home and will include a physical inspection of your home.

 

INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION EXPENSES

What would you estimate the cost for international adoption to be?

Depending on the country you are adopting from, and the number of required trips, your total estimated costs for an adoption can range from $18,000 - $43,000.

Is any portion of my fees tax deductible?

Yes. A $3,000 orphanage donation is also included in the program fees (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Taiwan). This donation is used for humanitarian aid and to improve the conditions of the orphanages.

What is the cost to adopt a second child?

Biological siblings may be adopted from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and possibly may be available in Taiwan. Please refer to the Sibling Fee Structure which is located in the Agreement for International Adoption Services. In addition, you will have additional out of pocket expenses for the child's airfare, visas, etc.

Are we required to take large sums of American currency with us or does Nightlight wire the money?

You will take cash with you. If you decide to work with our agency, we will go over that information with you pre-travel.

Are my only other expenses my travel, accommodations, home study, CIS, Embassy fees?

Those would be the majority of your other expenses. Also included in your out of pocket expenses would be your apostilles, gifts to the orphanage staff and children and driver/translator fee.

Is there financial assistance available?

Yes. Here are a few opportunities that will help families cover the cost of adoption process:

The National Council for Adoption has created an Adoption Loan Program to help families with the financing of their adoption.

The Hope for Children Act

This tax break has opened up a window of opportunity for many families who previously found the financial obstacles to adopting to be insurmountable. The Act provides a tax credit (not a deduction) of up to $10,000 per adopted child and applies to both domestic and international adoptions. Adopting families with combined incomes of $150,000 or less can qualify.

Additional information on the tax benefit is available on the Internal Revenue Service web site at www.irs.gov. Search for Publication 968 "Tax Benefits for Adoption." If you have questions as to what fees and expenses can be applied towards the tax benefit, please contact your tax preparer or the IRS directly.

Employee Benefits

Many companies are beginning to offer Adoption Benefits to their employees. The company may reimburse some of the adoption expenses paid by the employee, or they may offer paid adoption leave. Check with your Human Resources department to see if your company provides adoption benefits.

 

ELIGIBILITY

Nightlight Christian Adoptions is licensed by the California State Department of Social Services to select suitable families for children needing adoption. The selection of adoptive parents is based on their eligibility to meet state and agency requirements as well as the requirements and preferences of the applicable foreign country. The homestudy process also will assess their capacity as adoptive parents and the characteristics of children whose needs they can meet.

Residence: Nightlight works with families living throughout the United States. No specific residence requirements are applied other than those stated by the involved countries and their respective governments.

Citizenship: At least one (or sole) adopting parent must be a United States citizen.

Religion: Applicants must be committed to providing their child with a constructive, wholesome and spiritual home environment.

Health: Adoptive applicants must give evidence of good health, both physical and mental, which will be verified during the application process by medical examinations and psychological evaluations.

Age: In general, we believe that there should be no more than 45 years difference between the age of the adopting parents and the age of the adopted child. However, some countries may have more relaxed or stricter requirements.

Marriage: Adoptive applicants are encouraged to have been married a minimum of three years when the homestudy begins. We hope this period will provide the couple sufficient time to establish a home, financial security, and to adjust to the marriage as well as to each other. Married applicants must have a satisfying and secure marriage. Single parents are eligible to adopt if they meet the qualifications of a stable home environment, financial security and have a strong support network of family and friends. Eligibility for single parents to adopt varies among countries.

Education: Classes and reading pertaining to parenting skills and adoption issues are required of adoptive families. Our goal is to prepare you to be the best parents possible for your child.

Postplacement Supervision : Foreign countries require the adopting parents’ homestudy agency to supervise the placement for a period of 3-5 years. Adopting families must provide Nightlight with photographs and reports every six months after placement. These reports are then forwarded to the child’s country of origin. In addition, families must also register their child with the Embassy of the foreign government in the United States.

Finances: Adoptive parents must be able to pay fees and costs based on the fee schedule for their specific country. All fees and costs must be paid before travel. Special assistance may be possible based on the needs of the child to be adopted and the financial needs of the family.

Pregnancy: Before you begin the adoption process, you need to complete all your infertility treatments so you can truly be ready to be the best parent for your adopted child. If you become pregnant while in the adoption process, notify our office immediately. We will place your file on hold. When you are ready to consider adoption again – generally at least when your child is nearing their first birthday – call us to discuss re-activating your file.

Adoption of Subsequent Children: In order to have adequate time for attachment and bonding, it is important to have a minimum of one year with the child/ren in the home before beginning another adoption.