Heart of Adoptions, Inc.

International Adoption
Heart of Adoptions, Inc. works with families all over the United States in the placement of children from Guatemala. We are also pleased to have the opportunity to assist all adoptive families residing in Florida with home studies, post-placement supervision, networking, dossier preparation, and education and counseling, regardless of the country of choice. We are able to work with adoptive families by counseling and networking with international placement agencies to find the international adoption program best suited to each family.

Guatemala
At present, we are no longer accepting new applications for our Guatemalan program.
For information on the status of adopting from Guatemala, please visit: http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_389.html

Other Countries

Home Studies and Post Placement Supervision
If you need an adoption home study, we can provide it. Adoptive families enjoy the following advantages with our home study: We are a licensed child-placing agency. The home study will be tailored to the requirements of the placement agency, the country and USCIS. We are able to complete most home studies more quickly than most agencies, and often, our home study is less expensive than many programs in Florida.

Our adoption home study application is available on our forms page listed under Adoptive Parents, or if you need a packet mailed, please call our office.

Post placement supervision visits are required follow-ups to the home study after a child is placed in your home. They consist of visits with a social worker or agency worker to assess the status of the child and the adjustment of the adoptive parents. Once the child is placed in your home, our agency can perform the required number of post-placement visits required, which vary by country. Typically, a minimum of four visits is required.

Networking
The requirements for adoption vary by country and by placement agency. For example, some countries do not permit adoption by singles, or by parents over the age of 45. Other countries may have prohibitively long travel requirements or referral timelines.
If you need help in determining which country or which international placement agency is right for you, our trained staff will help you evaluate your options and make the right choices. Upon reaching a decision, we will work with you to ensure that your home study, dossier and other steps meet the requirements of the country, placement agency and USCIS.

Dossier Preparation
Each country requires the submission of a dossier in order to be considered for a child referral. This compilation of documents contains notarized, certified and authenticated documents verifying employment, financial status, health status, marital status and numerous other documents, the specific contents of which vary by country. Adoptive parents may prepare their own dossiers with our guidance, or we can handle this process on your behalf. Fees are determined on a case by case basis.

Adoption Education
Your home study social worker will discuss pertinent issues in international adoption with you. In the event additional education is required by the international program, placement agency or USCIS as a condition of adoption, our agency can arrange for additional coursework and education. Fees are determined on a case by case basis.

Counseling
In the event you find you need additional support at any time during the adoption process or post-placement, our trained professionals can work with you or assist you in obtaining referrals to qualified professionals. Hourly fees are determined by the level of service required.
For complete information about our Guatemala program, or international adoption services in general, please contact our Naples, Florida, office at 239-594-2830 or email daneille@afth.us.