An adoptive home study is a critical piece in the international adoption process. Miriam’s Promise conducts home studies for international adoption that meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of State and the government of the adopted child.

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Travel to the foreign country is usually required and an important part of the bonding process.

To be successful in an international adoption, it is important to be well prepared and educated about the issues children and their families often face. Training and support are available to all families adopting internationally. Miriam’s Promise requires that all clients adopting internationally participate in a twelve-hour training program called “Parents in Process.” This class is offered several times throughout the year.

Miriam’s Promise is a non-profit, licensed child-placing agency providing services to residents of middle Tennessee. We partner with other experienced agencies that work directly with the country. These agencies depend on us to provide the education and training, home studies, and post-placement services to local clients. These partner agencies place children of all ages and from various countries with families whose home study has been completed by Miriam’s Promise.

There are many helpful resources available to you that may be useful in choosing a country, placing agency, and type of child for your family. We suggest that you visit the website of Joint Council on  International Children’s Services (JCICS). This national agency is one of the oldest and largest child welfare organizations with a mission to advocate on behalf of children in need of permanent safe and loving families. This organization’s website lists all of the countries that place children internationally, the criteria for adoptive applicants, and the agencies that work in each country. Miriam’s Promise is a proud member of JCICS.

International Adoptive Home Studies
Miriam’s Promise is a licensed child placing agency authorized to complete home studies for international adoption. The home study is an educational adoption preparation process and a requirement in every legal adoption.

Prospective adoptive parents begin the process of a home study by scheduling an appointment with one of our caseworkers to discuss your desires to adopt a child from another country. For those ready to begin a home study, the caseworker will provide you with the instructions and paperwork required. Once this information is completed, the caseworker will schedule office interviews and visit with you in your home.

The home study document is a summary of the information provided by you, supporting documents, and interviews. After approval, the document will be submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for their approval. Every prospective adoptive parent will need to apply with USCIS by filing an Orphan Petition referred to as an I-600A or an I-800A if you are adopting from a Hague country.  Once approved,  your placing agency will assist you in completing the process with the country you have chosen.

Training and Support
Miriam’s Promise is pleased to offer “Parents in Process,” a curriculum designed by Holt International, to prospective adoptive parents. This course is specifically designed for parents adopting children from other countries and is appropriate for experienced parents as well as first-time parents. The course consists of four modules that address the life-long process of adoption, attachment and bonding, the impact of trans-racial and trans-cultural adoption, and the losses and gains for all members of the adoption triad. It also meets Hague standards for training.    This training is a great way for families to come together and support one another. It is offered in sessions of either two or four weeks.   We also conduct an additional four hour training for families who are adopting a child over the age of 24 months, approved for a sibling group or an identified medical need.

The middle Tennessee area is home to several support groups for adoptive parents and their children. We are happy to make information available to you regarding these organizations. If you do not find your child’s country represented by a support group, we can provide you with contact information for other families in the area who have children from the same country.

Single International Adoptive Parents meet the second Saturday of each month at Belmont United Methodist Church at 10:00 a.m.

Post-Placement Services
Once a child is home with you, Miriam’s Promise will provide the required post-placement reports. Our agency requires a visit with you at 30 days in addition to whatever schedule is set up by your child’s country. Post-placement requirements vary from country to country and usually number from two to four visits. These visits are a wonderful opportunity for us to let the country know about your child’s progress and for you to discuss with us any concerns or issues you are facing with your new son or daughter.

Partner Agencies
Miriam’s Promise has a Partner Relationship and a Hague Provider Agreement with the following agencies:

• Children’s Home Society and Family Services has helped 23,000 families since their founding in 1889. They have well-established international programs that are fully accredited. They partner with over a dozen countries to find loving homes for their children. Last year more than 600 children were adopted through their international adoption programs. They have bilingual and bicultural specialists with extensive country knowledge.
• Chinese Children Adoption International is located in Centennial, Colorado. China adoption is their sole focus, specialty, and passion. More than 7,000 Chinese children have found loving homes through CCAI since 1994. CCAI has 20+ dedicated bilingual staff in China that are available to you 24 hours a day. Thousands of CCAI adoptive families volunteer as references to talk with you about their adoption experience.
• Great Wall China Adoption, located in Austin, Texas, is one of the top three China adoption agencies in the United States. Since 1996 Great Wall has assisted the Chinese government in placing more than 5,000 children. GWCA prides itself in assisting families every step of the way with prompt responses to your questions and English-speaking escorts while you are in China.
• Holt International, incorporated in 1956, is located in Eugene, Oregon, and works in 15 countries. Holt states that “it has always been about the children.” This agency is committed to conducting their services and operating their programs at the highest standard of ethics and integrity. Although known widely for adoption, Holt International serves a large number of children by helping families stay together.

Miriam’s Promise has a Hague Provider Agreement or other working relationship with these additional agencies:

• All God’s Children International
• Alliance for Children
• Carolina Adoption Services
• CASI Foundation for Children
• Children’s House International Adoptions
• Christian World Adoption
• European Adoption Consultants
• Faith International Adoptions
• Hawaii International Child, Inc.
• Hands Across the Water
• Heritage Adoption Services
• Journeys of the Heart
• Living Hope Adoption Agency
• MAPS Adoption & Humanitarian Aid
• Wide Horizons for Children

Over the years, Miriam’s Promise has worked with many wonderful placing agencies across the United States. We invite you to find a placing agency that best suits your needs whether they are a partner agency of Miriam’s Promise or not. There are over 500 agencies in the United States that place children for international adoption. We encourage you to fully investigate the agencies you are considering by speaking with them by phone, verifying their credentials, and contacting their former client references.

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Resources
Adoptive Families of America (www.adoptivefamilies.com)
Map of Service Area (www.tnumc.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=34; scroll to the bottom of the page)
Child Welfare Information Gateway (www.childwelfare.gov)
Tapestry Books (www.tapestrybooks.com)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (www.uscis.gov)
U.S. Department of State (www.travel.state.gov)
Vanderbilt International Adoption Clinic (www.vanderbiltchildrens.com/interior.php?mid=259)
Perspectives Press (www.perspectivespress.com)