BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES
INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION SERVICE PLAN TEMPLATE
Parenting, whether through birth or adoption, is an adventure that begins with preparation and continues far beyond the moment that a child first enters your life. There is a lot to do and learn to get ready for the journey, and plenty of support needed to smoothly transition to parenthood. The purpose of the service plan is to plan ahead for some of the challenges adoptive parents frequently face and to identify people and resources to help make the journey less stressful. You and your adoption specialist will work together to individualize a plan that will be designed specifically for your family’s needs.
FAMILY INFORMATIONFamily Name:
Adoption Worker Name:
SERVICE PLANNING
A. ADOPTION PREFERENCES
Age Range:Gender: _____Male ______Female
Siblings: _____Yes ______No Age Range: ______Number of Siblings: ______
Special Placement Needs Discussed and Documented: (Date Completed)
B. OPENNESS PLAN
Please rate your opennesson the following scale: 1= Not open to this at all and 5= Very open to this
Meet birth parent(s)/birth family members/foster parents while in countryProvide child with information about their country of origin and contact/connections to their country of origin
Engage in on-going contact with birth family after adoptive placement
Engage in on-going contact with persons important to the child after adoptive placement
Exchange full names/addresses/phone numbers with members of birth family/foster parents/institutional staff
Comments:
Note: Given the increasing role of social media in connecting people globally and the regularly changing nature of adoption, prospective adoptive parents seeking limited openness are advised that this level of openness cannot be guaranteed.
C. ESTIMATED TIMEFRAMES FOR COMPLETING THE ADOPTION:
MONTHS/YEARS
D. ADOPTION TASKS
As required in Hague Standard 96.44, the Primary Provider (Bethany Christian Services) will provide all six adoption services itself or in collaboration with the following:
1. Responsible for identifying a child for adoption and arranging the adoption:
2. Responsible for securing the necessary consent to the termination of parental rights and to adoption:
3. Perform the background study on the child:
Perform the home study on the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s):
4. Determine the appropriateness of the adoptive placement and that the placement is in the best interest of the child:
5. Responsible for monitoring the case after a child has been placed in a family, but before the adoption is finalized:
6. Take custody of a child if necessary before the adoption is finalized:
E. GOALS
Goal: Complete Required Steps in Intercountry Adoption ProcessPlanned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Initial USCIS approval
2. / Dossier Completion
3. / Home Study Update
4. / Fingerprint Renewal
5. / USCIS renewed approval
6. / Review and make decision on referral
7. / Other:
Goal: Complete Family Training and Preparation
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Provide documentation of the completion of the required Hague training
2. / Assess learning styles and areas of needed training
3. / Develop personalized training plan to meet requirements for Stage 2 (10 hours)
4. / Develop personalized training plan to meet requirements for Stage 3 (10 hours)
5. / Other:
Goal: Prepare to meet child’s healthcare and special developmental needs
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Verify insurance benefits, enrollment periods, and confirm process for adding a child
2. / Research general medical needs and risk factors for the type adoption you are considering
3. / Research general developmental needs and risk factors for the type of adoption you are considering
4. / Meet with a family who is parenting a child with special needs similar to the needs you are open to. Prepare and discuss questions you have for them about day-to-day needs, challenges, joys, community resources, etc.
5. / Select a pediatricianwho is familiar with common medical needs of adopted children. Suggestions include,
1. Identify a pediatrician who is a preferred provider under your insurance,
2. Identify a local provider listed in the AAP Adoption & Foster Care Medicine Directory
3. Ask other adoptive parents and your Adoption Specialist for recommendations,
4. Call each prospective provider’s office to ask general questions
6. / Research medical needsnot previously identified upon receipt of child’s medical information
7. / Verify insurance coverage for specialized areas of need (i.e. occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy).
8. / Explore insurance coverage for mental health services, including psychiatric hospitalization and residential treatment programs.
9. / Schedule a consult with a pediatrician to have the child’s medical information reviewed. You can use“A Healthy Beginning”developed by the American Academy of Pediatricsto guide discussion (you will likely have to pay for this visit out of pocket since the child is not yet covered by your insurance).
10. / Identify state-specific services that serve children with developmental needs and/or disabilities, including early intervention specialists, in your local community.
11. / Select a dentist by verifying what providers are covered by your insurance, then using the same suggestions outlined for pediatricians. You may want to choose a provider who specializes in pediatric dentistry.
12. / Schedule an initial physical examination to take place within first two weeks of child’s placement
13. / Schedule a dental examination
14. / Add identified resources to Family Care Team
15. / Other:
Goal: Prepare to meet the child’s and family’s self-care needs
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Identifyadoption-competent therapist that can be available for your family.
2. / Review information about depression after adoption with Adoption Specialist.
3. / Identify therapist for each parent if he/she experiences depression after adoption.
4. / List at least threerelaxing/enjoyable activities (physical, spiritual, emotional, cognitive) for each person in home.
5. / List at least three strengths (physical, spiritual, emotional, cognitive) that uniquely equip each person to meet needs of child being adopted.
6. / List at least threefun/playful activities for promoting attachment and bonding with child joining the family.
7. / Identify resources and strategies for strengthening marriage while adjusting to new parenting role.
8. / Add identified resources to Family Care Team.
9. / Other:
Goal: Put educational services in place for child
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Select a school and plan for child to enroll, according to state law and the child’s needs.
2. / Identify contact person in school system to talk to about special education, psychological services, and other resources.
3. / Meet with the teacher or specialist at the school and discuss the school’s experience meeting the needs of adopted children and resources that will be available to support learning needs.
4. / Add identified resources to Family Care Team.
5. / Other:
Goal: Develop a plan for child care and/or babysitting
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Explore the needs of your child and family as it relates to child care decisions.
- When will I (we) return back to work?
- Considering the grief/loss/trauma experiences of child; what type of child care will best facilitate healing and attachment?
2. / Collect child care recommendations or advice from other adoptive parents (particularly important for parents of children who experienced complex trauma prior to adoption).
3. / Identify the child care provider you feel is best suited to your family.
4. / Identify 2-3 babysitters for evenings, date nights, brief daytime commitments, etc.
5. / Add identified resources to Family Care Team.
6. / Other:
Goal: Gain understanding of the dynamics of creating a positive adoptive identity in a child
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Identify specific ways to incorporate more diversity (racial, cultural, socio-economic, etc.) into family life. Consider ways diversity can be reflected in your neighborhood, church, friendships, choice of professionals, schools, and media (books, music, movies).
2. / Increase understanding of the impact of a child’s name to their sense of identity and connection to their history.
3. / Establish strategies and plans for how to talk to your child about adoption.
4. / Increase understanding of the role of grief and loss in adoption.
5. / Increase understanding of normative parenting issues in adoptive family life.
6. / Establish a plan for openness and contact with birthparents and other significant and safe people in your child’s life prior to adoption (foster parents, other caretakers etc.).
7. / Increase understanding of the role of social media in adoption relationships.
8. / Begin a Lifebook (this will be an ongoing project).
9. / Increase understanding of the role of the search process in adoption.
10. / Other:
Goal: Prepare for travel
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Participate in travel preparation phone call.
2. / Review travel packet and seek answers to any questions.
3. / Prepare needed finances for travel.
4. / Prepare needed documents for travel.
5. / Other:
Goal: Prepare to successfully navigate the first weeks and months together as a family
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Develop a plan for addressing sleep-related difficulties (for child and parents!).
2. / Develop a plan for addressing eating-related difficulties (e.g. hoarding, over-eating, extremely selective eating) using adoption informed information.
3. / Identify routines, rituals, foods, sounds, objects, etc., that your child is familiar with from their prior life that you can incorporate into your family to ease transition.
4. / Develop a plan for simplifying your family’s schedule for the first three months that your child is home.
5. / Create a basic daily schedule with simple words/phrases and pictures that can help child develop a sense of predictability.
6. / Explore several approaches to discipline and develop a plan that both parents agree with, based on trauma-informed parenting practices (i.e. I.D.E.A.L. response, NCTSN, Whole Brain Child).
7. / Other:
Goal: Develop personal safety plans for all members of the family
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Discuss family rules regarding personal space and modesty that will be most appropriate and comfortable for new family member.
2. / Develop a plan for teaching all children about appropriate and inappropriate touch.
3. / Discuss plans for sleeping arrangements for all children and how to plan for child supervision and safety.
4. / Develop a plan for monitoring online activity to ensure child safety and no access to inappropriate sexual material
5. / Develop a plan for dealing with sexualized behavior
6. / Other:
Goal: Prepare friends and family to welcome a child to the family through adoption
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Talk with family members (children, significant extended family/friends)about:
- their expectations of a new family member
- what they are looking forward to
- what they aren’t looking forward to or are concerned about losing
- what changes they expect due to adoption
2. / Provide family members (children in home, significant extended family members, other important members of family care team) with age and role appropriate information about:
- adoption
- grief and loss
- trauma
3. / Identify other children of adopted siblings who can provide support to your children.
4. / Identify other extended family members of adoptive families who can be a resource to your extended family to provide education and support.
5. / Organize a family event to talk about the upcoming adoption.
- Prepare a meal for your extended family that incorporates aspects of the culture of the child you anticipate adopting
- Lead conversations about adoption, race, and/or culture
- Ask your family about questions they may have
- Let your family know how they can help you during different stages in the process
6. / Other:
Goal: Organize support systems
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1. / Identify support groups for adoptive parents.
2. / Identify support groups for adopted children.
3. / Find cultural and racial role models for children who may be a different race, culture, or ethnicity than your own family.
4. / Identify other relevant activities/groups available through Bethany or other agencies.
5. / Identify a mentor family who adopted a child whose background and type of adoption was similar to the child you plan to adopt. Find out about their experience and resources they found helpful. Meet by phone or in person at least once prior to placement.
6. / Identify at least three respite care providers or services (formal or informal) that are available to provide care.
7. / Complete Family Care Team list of resources and supports. (found on Family Portal under “Resources”)
8. / Other:
Goal:
Planned Activity: / Person(s) Responsible / Date Added / Target Date / Date Completed
1.
2.
3.
4.
F. Prospective Adoptive Parents’ Understanding of the Risks Associated with Intercountry Adoption Services:
This family has been advised of the risks of intercountry adoption. They understand that children from overseas may arrive with previously undetected health issues. They recognize this child may arrive with a contagious condition that could be contracted by others. They are aware that children from overseas may have little or no background information, or inaccurate information, on the birth family, circumstances of the child’s placement for adoption, or past medical care. The family also understands that the identified date of birth for the child may be estimated and not consistent with the child's actual chronological age. They have further been advised that children from overseas may suffer from the effects of minimal care or institutionalization and may suffer from developmental delays or attachment issues. An orientation has been provided to the family, which has included a review of the program statement, policies and procedures, the legal process for adoption, the services and resources available, the fees and charges for services, and education on the needs and characteristics of children available for adoption.
The family understands that children eligible for intercountry adoption will likely have a history of malnourishment and low birth weight. They may have undiagnosed medical issues and therefore may have additional special needs not identified at referral. The family is aware that children may have been exposed to tuberculosis, malaria, intestinal parasites, and/or Hepatitis A, and may have contagious conditions such as molluscum contagiosum and/or giardia. The family has researched and received education on the prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders within the country they hope to adopt, and acknowledge that this can pose a special risk to children who are able to be adopted internationally. The family understands that this is not an exhaustive list of the possible conditions to which the children may have been exposed, and consequently, will educate themselves on potential therapies and treatments available within their community.
This family is aware that there are no guarantees or predictions for the future mental, social, or physical development of the child. They state that they understand and willingly accept these risks. They have been given examples of situations to exemplify potential problems. They assert that they will deal with any issues that arise in the way that they would if they had given birth to the child, taking into account the child’s unique needs. They know that they have other options for adoption, but it is their intent and desire to adopt an international child.
By clicking “Sign”, I/we acknowledge that I/we have had the opportunity to discuss and contribute to this service plan. Further, I/We agree that the Service Plan will be changed as needed throughout my/our adoption process. I/We will participate in a quarterly review of this Service Plan until adoption services to be provided by Bethany Christian Services are complete.
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