Thank you for your interest in pursuing an international or domestic adoption through Hands Across The Water (HATW). Building
a family through adoption can be the most rewarding experience you will
ever have, but it can also seem overwhelming especially when you are
just beginning the process. This page will provide information about
the adoption services offered at HATW as well as agency
requirements. We look forward to sharing your adoption experience and
helping you build your family through adoption. HATW offers
monthly information meetings to discuss details of our adoption
services and programs. You are welcome to attend one of these meetings
or meet with one of our adoption specialists one-on-one for a personal
consultation regarding which adoption path to take. Please
click on the tab above for our current information meeting
schedule.
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 orientation, 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 orientation.
Hands Across The Water
provides consultation, Pre-Placement Assessment (Home Study),
Post-placement, 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 ServicesThe
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 four 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.
Intercountry/International
Hands Across The Water will work with families: Choosing an international adoption program of Hands Across The Water's.
Who are working with an international adoption program of another
agency located within Michigan or out-of-state, or 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 USCIS 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 USCIS 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 a education packet specific
to their families unique needs. Educational requirements must 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.
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
can process the Interstate Compact if needed, file legal court
paperwork for custody and finalization, and provide post-placement
supervision.
HATW
also has a state adoption contract with Michigan DHS to place Michigan
children into adoptive homes. We can also license you as a Foster Family. Families
choosing to either adopt or foster 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 or foster
placement and our intent is to further assist families in becoming
as aware as possible to the issues of fostering, adoption and
adoptive/foster 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 & reports. 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.
