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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.

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.

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