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Intercountry Adoption Fees

Individual Consultation
The individual consultation service is available to families who have received a general adoption information package (but have not yet submitted an application) and are interested in having an individual meeting with a social worker to discuss more in depth the agencies' services/programs. This service is optional. Families can request an Application Package without having an individual consultation.

Fees:
$150.00 Individual Consultation Fee- optional service, to be sent in with Registration of Interest form

Home Study Services
The home study is both a process and a document:

The Process: The process involves a series of interviews with an adoption social worker. It is required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that all aspects of a prospective family's life be explored, including but not limited to, health, social and employment history, marriage(s) (if applicable), disciplinary practices with children, motivation to adopt, and financial/housing/criminal records backgrounds. Information from the interviews and paperwork completed by the family is then consolidated into a written report.

The Document: This written report, the home study, is used to facilitate the matching of a child with the family. It is sent to the intercountry placing agency, BCIS, country of origin, and to the court for legalization. It is valid for one year.

Fees:

• $500.00 Application Fee- due when Application is sent in (non-refundable)
• $2000.00 Home Study Fee- due at the beginning of the Home Study process
• $1000.00 Home Study Update Fee- due at the beginning of the Home Study update process (Home Study update fee applies only if the original home study is less than five years old, and for updates needed for applicant(s) to change programs)
• Requests for expedited home study (within 60 days) - $350.00 additional

Intercountry Adoption Pre-Placement Coordination
The Home for Little Wanderers provides home study, pre-placement coordination and post-placement/legalization services to families adopting through a variety of intercountry sources.

The Home for Little Wanderers also has a formal partnership with an intercountry agency:

• Children's Home Society & Family Services (MN)

This intercountry adoption agency specializes in placing children from China, Russia, Ethiopia and other smaller Latin American countries.

The Home for Little Wanderers knows that often families require services not included in the home study service such as: preparation of home study summary, home study updates, additional home study copies, changes to home study after approval (e.g. in country, child approval, etc. as appropriate), access to free notary on staff, monthly support during wait, assistance with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, assistance with the preparation of the intercountry dossier, and consultation for the review of the child referrals. Therefore, a pre-placement coordination fee is required after the home study is approved.

Fees:

• $750.00 - For those working with all other Agencies

OR

• $1,200.00 - For those working with our Partnership Agencies*

Due at the completion/approval of the home study.

*Note: the Partnership Agency may reduce their fees since The Home for Little Wanderers will be providing this service.

Post-Placement Supervision and Legalization Services
Post-placement supervision is required by Massachusetts regulations, The Home's policy, and for intercountry clients, the country from which the child is being adopted.

In Massachusetts, 6 months of supervision is required. This entails minimally at least 3 face-to-face meetings and monthly telephone contact. After each visit, the assigned social worker will write a report and then forward it on to the appropriate agency or source.

The purpose of this service is to evaluate the adjustment of the child and family and to prepare the court legalization package. At the end of the post-placement period, the finalization package can be submitted by The Home for Little Wanderers to the appropriate court on behalf of the family.

Fees:
$2000.00- paid at the time of placement.

Note: For families who reside in Suffolk County an attorney is required by the court to attend the finalization hearing. The Home can provide an attorney for an additional fee or the family can secure their own attorney. The Home can still complete the legalization package).

Additional fees are applied to families needing post-placement reports beyond 6 months, each additional report needed is $500.00.

Financial Assistance
Prospective adoptive parents may apply to The Home for Little Wanderers for a reduction in fees, or an extended payment plan, based on financial need. All requests should be submitted in writing to the Director of Adoptions. Applicants should include proof of income and expenses, credit history, and other relevant financial documentation in their request.