We are using Children’s Home Society & Family Services in St. Paul, MN to adopt a child from Ethiopia. Outlined below are the formal steps we will work through in the adoption process and where we currently are at in the process. I will elaborate more on what we need to do for each of the steps when we are in that stage of the process.
Attend Orientation
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Recieve Registration Materials
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Complete Registration & Application to CHSFS
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Attend 2 Day Pre-Adoptive Classes (PAC)
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Complete Homework
(Self-studies, Checklist of Health/Background Conditions, Proof of Insurance, Cultural Worksheet, Transracial/Transcultural Parenting Plan)
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Homestudy – Visits at agency and home – Visits completed on 10/17 &10/29
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Complete & Submit dossier 11/16/07 and apply for Immigration clearance 11/24/07
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Officially a “waiting family” as of 11/16/07
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Attend Ethiopian Culture Day
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Prepare for travel with vaccinations
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Receive a Referral!!! ETA: referral for a little boy received 11/13/08
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Consult with social worker and medical professionals at Adoption Clinic and make decision to accept referral - accepted 11/14/08
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Ethiopian Court Date Set – first try 1/28 – rescheduled, take 2- mid-march
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Receive Child’s Birth Certificate & make travel plans
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Travel to Addis Ababa to pick up child
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Complete Naturalization Paperwork & Process in US
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Complete post placement reports at 3 months, 6 months & annually until child is 18
God bless you!!! If there is ever anything that you need from us, please let us know. You will always have support from us…
Love you,
Cuz – Scott and Tina
We are adopting from ethiopia as well thru CHSFS and we officially starting waiting NOV 15th! Perhaps we may travel together some day to pick up our children!
[...] Now, it should be noted that Zan and I went through a WHOLE BUNCH of other steps in order to get to step 1 above. On her blog about Ethiopian adoption, my friend Enat (Amharic for “mother” – her screen name) has a nice little flow chart of the homestudy and approval process. Some of the steps are different for Ethiopia, but you’ll get the idea. Here is that link in case you are curious. [...]