ADOPTION FAQS

How do I start the adoption process?

By contacting All Blessings, we will be able to discuss our adoption services and provide you with information that is uniquely relevant to your family. There is a great deal of information available on the internet regarding adoption services, but by contacting us directly, we can answer all of your questions and provide you with the most specific and applicable information for your family.

What children are available for adoption?

The demographic range of children available to be adopted is broad. In regards to age, it is possible to adopt children as newborns, as well as older children and every age in between. It is possible to adopt children with varying special needs, as well as healthy children. It is possible to adopt a single child, a sibling group, or multiple unrelated children. During the home study process, we will discuss your family’s specific desires regarding adoption, and also provide a professional assessment in regards to the child(ren) you are being approved to adopt.

Do I have to be married in order to adopt?

No, you do not need to be married to adopt a child. ABI provides adoption services to single people each year.

Can I adopt if my spouse is not a US citizen?

Yes, you are able to adopt if your spouse if not a United States citizen. USCIS regulations permit international adoptions if only one spouse is a citizen. ABI has provided adoption services to many couples where only one spouse is a United States citizen.

Can I adopt if I already have children?

Yes, you can adopt if you already have children. There are many programs which welcome experienced parents. Through ABI’s adoption services, we can assist your family in identifying the adoption program best suited for your family’s demographics.

How long does an adoption take from beginning to end?

This depends greatly on the placement program chosen and the agency chosen. The length of time varies between programs, and each adoption is different.

ABI works diligently to ensure our adoption services are provided in a timely manner. Families can control the speed of their adoption by completing all of their paperwork quickly and accurately.

How long does it take All Blessings to complete a home study?

All Blessings is licensed to perform home studies, as well as additional adoption services, for residents of Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. Much of the process in completing the home study assessment is reliant upon the adoptive family and how quickly they are able to complete their documentation. It is also reliant upon contributing factors, such as your background clearance agencies, your references completing their questionnaires, and your physician submitting your medical reports. Once all of the documentation has been submitted, and your home visits have been completed, All Blessings will proficiently complete the home study assessment report. We take great pride in our expedient and efficient home study and adoption services.

How do I apply to adopt a child with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)? Why must I do this?

USCIS verifies that all children entering the country for the purposes of international adoption have a qualified family waiting for them. The agency performing your home study must submit a study which conforms to the laws for your state, and USCIS will take your fingerprints for an FBI background check. For countries which are a party to the Hague Convention, you will file a form I800-A. For all other countries, you will file form I600-A. As ABI provides adoption services to your family, we can answer any questions that you might have concerning this process.

Is travel required for adoption?

For domestic adoption, you will need to travel to the child’s place of birth.

All Blessings strongly recommends that all families travel to meet their children whenever possible. Meeting your child in the familiar surroundings is the best way to begin a loving and compassionate relationship. These options can be discussed in detail as ABI provides your adoption services.

What is the Hague Convention, and what does it mean?

The United States is part of an important treaty on intercountry adoption called the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). The treaty governs adoptions between the United States and nearly 75 other nations, and to ensure adoption services are being provided ethically. The Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008. The Department of State is the U.S. Central Authority for the Convention and oversees compliance with the Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA). In this role, the Department of State also serves as U.S. liaison with other adoption Central Authorities around the world.

The Hague Adoption Convention protects children and their families against the risks of unregulated adoptions abroad and ensures that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children. The Convention also serves to prevent the abduction, sale of, or trafficking in children.