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| Information
About Our Counseling and Consulting Service |
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Whether
you are just beginning to think about adoption as a way to build
your family, or have firmly committed to adoption and are just
beginning the "paper chase" you probably have lots of
questions. Perhaps you are wondering whether healthy infants are
available for adoption by a family like yours. Or whether you
can adopt even though you are single, or gay or lesbian. Perhaps
you have concerns about your age, or your religious beliefs or
lack thereof. Many people believe that all adoptions are tremendously
expensive, or that their income is too low for them to qualify
to adopt. Some people fear that birth parents will interfere with
their parenting, or worse, attempt to re-claim the child. And
many are uncomfortable about the homestudy process, simply not
liking the idea of being "examined and approved" to
become a parent.
We
know that these are common feelings because we at AAHS are adoptive
parents and we have had many of these same thoughts and feelings.
We formed AAHS after years of talking about adoption with countless
people and establishing an extensive network of adoptive parents
who have graciously shared with us their feelings and experiences.
Our mission is to help prospective adoptive parents to make good
decisions for themselves and their families by providing solid,
reliable information and compassionate listening. Our counseling
services are designed to help you consider your own wishes, dreams,
choices and resources and therefore be able to confidently and
comfortably reach your own decisions about adoption.
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We
Tailor Our Counseling Services To Suit Each Family
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| Among
the services that you may elect to use are: |
- Answering
your questions about the differences between domestic
adoption, international adoption, and foster adoption.
- Giving
advice and counseling tailored to your family's
specific circumstances, such as being married, single,
or in a domestic partnership, your ages, races,
health or background issues.
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Providing information regarding legal requirements,
adoption costs, and estimated timeframes for completing
an adoption.
- Counseling
regarding the characteristics of the child or children
which you are open to adopting, such as the desired
age of the child, the race and gender of the child,
and the adoption of a child with known special needs.
- Researching
domestic placement services to help you avoid disreputable
adoption agencies and attorneys as well as those
who might seek to discourage you because of your
lifestyle, your religious beliefs or your personal
circumstances.
- Researching
international adoption programs and agencies which
might be available avenues of adoption for you.
- Acting
as a liaison between you any placing agency or attorney
that you may ultimately decide to work with.
- Providing
in person and phone support, guidance and counseling
throughout the adoption process.
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| How
Much Is This Going To Cost? |
Because
we do not place children, we have no financial interest in whether
you decide to pursue adoption, or what avenue of adoption you may
choose to pursue. Our counseling services are there to inform you,
to assist you and to advocate for you. We created these type of
services because as adoptive parents and passionate adoption advocates
we knew it was needed.
Our services are affordable. You choose the services you need and
want, and pay only for the time we spend working with you and on
your behalf. We charge on an hourly basis, so you may choose to
simply consult with us by phone for an hour or two, or to work with
us extensively to help you make many of your adoption decisions.
Regardless of how much or for how long you choose to work we us,
we feel confident that Adoption Assistance and Homestudy Services
is a very good place to start your adoption journey.
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