International Adoption
Children are waiting for loving homes. We can help you with the process
If you live in New Jersey or Bucks County, PA, Children’s Home Society of New Jersey is licensed to provide adoption services to you. You may use a placing agency located anywhere in the United States, and need a local agency licensed in New Jersey or Pennsylvania for your home study. Choose CHS of NJ as your local agency.
Quality Counts—The Adoption Study Process
You have done your research about adoption and you’re ready to proceed. You know that an adoption study (also called a home study) needs to be completed. You may see it as a barrier between you and the child you hope to adopt. You may be worried that you won’t be approved for adoption and you will not realize your dream to be a parent.
The adoption study is one of the most important parts of the adoption process—and the most misunderstood, feared and resented. If you are like most adopters, as you read the home study definition, "evaluated to determine their suitability to adopt" grabs your attention and contributes to your anxiety about getting through the adoption study process.
Before we clarify what is meant by that phrase, please understand that your social worker is not expecting you to be a perfect parent—just as she knows the child you adopt will not be a perfect child! Your social worker’s goal is for you to be ready to begin this exciting journey of adoption.
There is an assessment component, required by state laws, to determine that you are emotionally, physically and financially able to meet the needs of a growing child. After your social worker reviews your written autobiographical work and interviews you, he or she has the responsibility to "recommend" you for adoption, or explains why not, and that is reported in the adoption study. The adoption study is the official document that outlines your readiness for adoptive parenting.
We Work with Agencies That Have A Global Reach
CHS cooperates with many adoption agencies throughout the country for placing children from many countries throughout the world, including Russia, China, Guatemala, Columbia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, India, Thailand…
CHS offers international adoption services with many international adoption placement agencies throughout the country such as: Adopt a Child International, Maine Adoption Placement Service, European Adoption Consultants, Children’s Hope International, Christian World Adoptions, International Assistance Group, La Vida, and The Children’s Home Society and Family Services of Minnesota.
No matter where your placing agency is located, you need a local agency to perform your home study and post-placement supervision. We can be your local agency if you live in New Jersey or Bucks County, Pennsylvania
International adoption offers many advantages:
- There are many healthy children available.
- There are more available children than parents to adopt them.
- The process is confidential.
- CHS staff may assist with the local process and paper work.
- You can be married, single or divorced.
- There are seldom religious requirements.
CHS is there with you every step of the way
Our caring and professional staff will thoroughly explain the process, what is involved, the costs, and all of the details you need to know and things to do. CHS offers home studies, pre-adoption education, post-placement supervision and post-finalization counseling.
Children’s Home Society of New Jersey has been working with Adoptive Families For Over 100 Years.
If you are working with a licensed agency in another state towards an international adoption, and live in New Jersey or Bucks County, PA, CHS of NJ can provide home study services and post-placement supervision.
We will work with your placing agency:
- Our fee for a home study is $1250.
- The Children's Home Society of New Jersey offers a full range of post-adoption services.
For more information contact Kathy Westbrook via e-mail at or via telephone at (609) 695-6274 ext. 113.
The Adoption Process for International Adoption
Registration and Application: Families are provided with information to learn about the requirements and process of adopting from a variety of countries.
Complete pre-adoption education by attending classes or by completing a take-home course.
Education is a large part of an adoption study. At Children’s Home Society of New Jersey we emphasize the importance of preparation for adoptive parenting and education about issues unique to the task as part of your adoption study process. It may be necessary for to attend classes, complete recommended readings, and to do the assigned homework. You are expected to candidly discuss your feelings with your social worker and gain from her experience (all part of your adoption study process), you gain confidence as your "plans" to adopt progress to the adoption itself. You are well informed and equipped to make (sometimes hard) decisions as you proceed. (For example: your dream is to adopt a 3-month-old girl; you wait and wait and finally are asked if you would consider adopting a toddler.)
In essence, the adoption study embodies the three key components of a successful adoption: information, education and support. Don’t minimize the importance of being well informed, educated and supported throughout your adoption process—from the first meeting you have at an agency until your child joins your family.
Quality counts. As you make your adoption plans, assess carefully the services an agency offers and count among its responsibilities its role in educating you thoroughly about and preparing you well for adoptive parenting as part of your adoption study process.
Home Study: To begin the process, your social worker needs to have an understanding of why you want to adopt, and how your life experiences contribute to your readiness for adoptive parenting. Families will meet with a social worker to discuss biographical information, employment and family background, and issues pertinent to international adoption. When an adoption study or home study is prepared, the social worker will ask for information from the prospective adoptive parent/s relating to:
- Marriage relationships and family support systems;
- Description of other children in the family;
- Parenting philosophy;
- Others in the household;
- Adoption experience
- Cross cultural ideas
- Ethical and religious values
- Health
- Income and financial management
Processing: Families adopting from another country must comply with all laws, regulations and requirements of both the U.S. government and the government of the child's country. We will support you through the process.
