Hands Across The Water provides services, which support the belief, that...

		Children come first
		Every child has a right to a family
		Families need to be found for children, not children for families
		Birth parents need the opportunity to explore their parenting options
		Same-race and trans-cultural/racial adoptions are great ways to build a family
		Education is the key to a positive adoptive placement

Hands Across The Water is committed to actively recruit families of all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds who are able to adopt children served by this agency. HATW will in no way establish screening criteria for prospective adoptive families based on race, religion, creed, color, sexual preference, or national origin when such criteria impedes a placement opportunity for children.

Perspective adoptive parents must be at least 21 years of age and may be single, married, or divorced. They must have sufficient and stable financial means to support a family. At least one perspective adoptive parent must be a citizen of the United States for an international adoption.

It should be noted that in intercountry adoption, foreign countries and other agencies might have additional requirements for families who may adopt from their programs. These may include length of marriage, religion, number of divorces, number of children already in the home, age of prospective adoptive parents, and sexual preference.

Hands Across The Water provides consultation, Assessment, Post-placement, process, education, court, and program services to Michigan families. HATW also provides international program services to families outside the state of Michigan wishing to adopt through one of our international programs. Families outside the state of Michigan must have a Pre-placement Assessment completed by a non-profit licensed child-placing agency in their state of residence.

Program Services
The Hands Across The Water adoption program offers option exploration for the family considering adoption. These sessions will address the specific concerns and questions a family may have before committing to adoption as a way to build or add to a family. Perspective adoptive parents are encouraged to participate in a pre-adoption orientation at no cost to them. This orientation will discuss the programs available to a family as well as the costs, requirements, and adoption process.

Hands Across The Water provides education based Pre-Placement Assessments for prospective adoptive parents. A minimum of three visits will be held with the family and other household members. At least one visit is held in the home. This assessment is designed to evaluate and help prepare a family for adoptive parenting. A document checklist and detailed instructions will be given to a family regarding the documents necessary to complete an Assessment. Pre-Placement Assessments will take no longer than 1 month to complete after all necessary documents are received from the family.

Intercountry/International
Hands Across The Water will work with families:

1. Choosing an international adoption program of Hands Across The Water's.
2. Who are working with an international adoption program of another agency located within Michigan or out-of-state, or
3. Who are working independently and directly with an international source.

If a family is working with another program or source, HATW will work closely with the placing agency to meet that agency/country's specific criteria as well as CIS and the State of Michigan's requirements.

When working with HATW, all families receive extensive instruction and preparation throughout the process. Assistance begins with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) requirements and procedures. The agency keeps abreast of all new laws, procedures and requirements. Families receive “The CIS Process” packet explaining the process, forms, and documents required.

When the Pre-Placement Assessment is complete, families receive the “Waiting For Your Referral” packet. This packet assists families during the often-difficult waiting period with information and activities to help prepare themselves and their home for their child’s arrival.

Those families adopting a child through a HATW international program will receive a comprehensive “Dossier” packet. This packet gives complete, specific instruction on preparing the dossier. HATW will walk families through this process with the help of this packet. HATW also offers a Helping Hands Dossier Service which you can hire to prepare your dossier for you.

All families will receive a “Welcome Home” packet which discusses a child’s transition into the home, post-placement reports, Michigan birth certificates, social security cards, citizenship, registering with the foreign Embassy, etc.

All families seeking Pre-Placement Assessment services must fulfill the HATW Education Policy. Each family will receive the workbook “With Eyes Wide Open” on their first Assessment visit. The workbook is to be completed, typically, by the end of the Assessment visits but will need to be completed prior to the Assessment being written. HATW believes information is one key to a successful adoptive family and our intent is to further assist families in becoming as aware as possible to the issues of international adoption and adoptive parenting. We believe our focus should always be in the children’s best interests who we believe would be better served through this education policy.

Hands Across The Water provides post-placement supervision and reports for adoptive families as required by the foreign country and Court. A minimum of three reports are required, unlessmore are regulated by the foreign country. Other post-adoption services include support groups, education classes, and referral services.

Families pursuing an international adoption may also submit their birth parent materials into the HATW "Waiting Families" album/website. In the event that a birth mother counseled by HATW chooses an adoption plan for her baby, the families in the "Waiting Families" album will be available to her.

Domestic - Adoptive Family - Infant Adoption
Hands Across The Water has an infant adoption program where our Pregnancy Counselor assists prospective birth parents with their parenting options. Should an adoption plan be chosen, HATW will assist them in choosing an adoptive family and complete the adoption process. Hands Across The Water will also work with families who are pursuing an infant domestic adoption with an out-of-state agency or attorney by providing Pre-placement Assessment and Post Adoption services to these familes. HATW will work closely with the placing agency/attorney to be sure the Assessment fits the criteria and type of adoption the agency/attorney handles, as well as Michigan law. HATW can process the Interstate Compact if needed, file legal court paperwork for custody and finalization, and provide post-placement supervision, if needed.

Each family adopting domestically will receive a workbook on their first Assessment visit. The workbook is to be completed, typically, by the end of the Assessment visits but will need to be completed prior to the Assessment being written. HATW believes information is one key to a successful adoptive family and our intent is to further assist families in becoming as aware as possible to the issues of international adoption and adoptive parenting. We believe our focus should always be in the children's best interests who we believe would better served through this education policy.

Families pursuing an infant domestic adoption through a source other than Hands Across The Water may also submit their birth parent materials into the HATW "Waiting Families" album/website. In the event that a birth mother counseled by HATW chooses an adoption plan for her baby, the families in the "Waiting Families" album will be available to her.

Domestic - Adoptive Family - Waiting Child
Hands Across The Water also works with families interested in adopting a “Waiting Child.” These are children who have been in the foster care system and are now available for adoption. HATW will search our photo listings of available children from numerous states, including Michigan, who need a family. HATW has a state adoption contract with Michigan DHS to place Michigan children into adoptive homes. HATW can process the Interstate Compact if needed, file legal court paperwork for custody and finalization, and provide post-placement supervision.

Each family adopting a Waiting Child will be required to attend adoptive parenting classes through HATW or another approved agency. These classes will need to be completed prior to the Assessment being written. HATW believes information is one key to a successful adoptive family and our intent is to further assist families in becoming as aware as possible to the issues of adoption and adoptive parenting. We believe our focus should always be in the children's best interests who we believe would be better served through this education policy.

Domestic - Birth Parent
When contacted by a birth parent, Hands Across The Water will provide her the opportunity to explore the options available in the event of an unplanned pregnancy. All birth parent services will be available free of charge to the birth parent not conditional to the parenting option chosen. If parenting the child is chosen, HATW will assist the birth parent in accessing all resources available to facilitate a positive, nurturing bond between child and parent and to assist in parenting a child as needed. If adoption is chosen, birth parents will be given the opportunity to actively select a permanent adoptive family for their child. Birth parents will have access to all families listed in the “Waiting Families” album/website. HATW helps support same race and cross-cultural/racial adoptive families.

Hands Across The Water will meet with birth parents weekly and strongly encourage an active participation in counseling/preparation services. The agency will collect and compile a non-identifying Medical and Social history on birth parents as the information is available, to provide to the Court and adoptive family in accordance to Michigan law. Birth parents are given non-identifying information from the adoptive parent’s Pre-placement Assessment in accordance to Michigan law. Openness and sharing of identifying information is encouraged. Birth parent and adoptive parent are required to meet prior to the placement. Should HATW begin to work with a birth parent 2 weeks or less prior to the birth, temporary placement of the child into our TLC foster home is required to assure birth parents are comfortable with their decision.

Post-Adoption Services
Hands Across The Water will meet with a family as required by the State, Court, or Country and provide post-adoption support. Visits are made in the family’s home, documents and pictures of the family are obtained, a report is generated and submitted to the appropriate officials. The family’s specific needs are assessed and resources given, if needed, to ensure the family’s transition and acclamation to each other is as smooth as possible.

Hands Across The Water offers monthly education workshops and groups which families are encouraged to attend. These workshops offer a variety of topics specific to adoptive parenting. Families will be supplied with information from the area support groups on upcoming meetings and events.

Hands Across The Water is available to all our families to provide support, resources, education, and referral services to meet any and all needs they may have. Adoption is a lifelong journey. A family’s needs will change as that family develops and grows. Hands Across The Water is committed to the family built by adoption.

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