Hands Across The Water
Domestic Waiting Child Program
There
are many children currently waiting for an adoptive family throughout
the United States. These children have been in the foster care system
and the birth parent's rights have been terminated. Now they are just
waiting for their forever family. Most of these children have special
needs of varying degree due to their life history and what brought them
to foster care. Children of all ages and many races are available
although they are generally older. There are also many sibling groups
that need a family.
Hands
Across The Water receives waiting child photo listings for the state of
Michigan as well as many other states across the United States. We also
work closely with the placing agencies in Washtenaw County in case
there is a child recently available that needs to be placed in an
adoptive family. We have an adoption contract with the State of
Michigan for state ward children. The Internet is also a wonderful tool
in searching for a child, although not all children available are
photo-listed on the Internet.
When we are working with a
family in the Domestic Waiting Child program, we review the various
photo-listings monthly for the child you are looking for. When we see a
child that may be a possible match, we contact the agency placing that
child for more information. We then contact you and give you the
information we have. If you are interested in pursuing a child, we will
write to the agency and forward your approved Hands Across The Water
home study. After that agency reviews your home study, they will
contact Hands Across The Water to discuss the possibility of pursuing
the match. If the child is out-of-state, you would need to travel to
visit with that child before the child will be placed with your family.
After a placement has been made, Hands Across The Water will work
closely with you for the next 6 months to help you transition and
become a family. When the adoption is finalized, we will continue to be
a part of your family by way of support and providing services or
referrals for any of your needs.
Adoption fees in the Domestic
Waiting Child program are initially paid, then may be reimbursed to you
through the placing state's Non-Recurring Expenses program after the
adoption is finalized.
Ready to apply? Download
The
photos on these pages are of children already placed and are not
available for adoption. HATW does not photolist children waiting for
adoption via the internet.