South Carolina Adoption Services
PROVIDING ADOPTION SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
America World Adoption - South Carolina is licensed and Hague accredited in the State of South Carolina to provide adoption services for families. Although our primary role is to provide home study services for families adopting through America World, we are also able to prepare a home study and post-adoption reports for families using other placement agencies and who meet America World's agency requirements. Our office is located just west of Columbia in Lexington, but we are able to provide services for families living throughout the state.
South Carolina Home Study Services
The Home Study is a major part of the adoption process designed to help you, America World, the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), and the foreign government assesses your ability to provide a loving home for an orphan. A home study is an assessment process that provides a written report that is a comprehensive picture of your background, current family life and how this new child will be integrated into your family. It is designed to be a non-judgmental, educational and fruitful process. Some of the topics discussed during the home study process are motivation for adoption, expectations regarding adoption: short-term and long-term, attitude towards biological parents, type of child desired: age, sex, medical or emotional concerns, and attitudes of extended family and non-resident siblings. Your home study coordinator will also explore your values related to parenting, marriage, finances, spiritual beliefs, and child-care plans. These discussions will all take place during four face-to-face visits, one of which must be in your home. For residents in the State of South Carolina, both State and Federal criminal record checks, sexual abuse clearance checks, child abuse registry checks and 3 references (non-relatives who have known applicants for last 3 years) will be obtained. You will need to provide a copy of your birth certificate, marriage license, any divorce decrees, a financial statement, a copy of most recent tax forms showing combined annual income and medical statements for all members of the family. Verifications of rabies inoculations will need to be submitted for any animals residing with the family. All of these items will be collected and reported in the home study.
South Carolina Post-Adoption Services
America World - South Carolina also provides post-adoption services for your adoption. Post-adoption visits are vital to helping an adoptive family adjust and transition to a new family unit. We will visit your family in your home to assess your transition and write a post-adoption report. Each country and even some states have their own post-adoption requirements. Your social worker will ensure that all state, agency, and country requirements are met in your post-adoptive reports. At a minimum, you will be required to have at least two post-adoption visits. In addition to post-adoption visits and reports, we will be available to offer support and referrals for special services, education and/or training.
A Note from the South Carolina Director of Social Services – Emily Head, MSW
Hello! It’s a great day in South Carolina! I have always had a passion for adoption, and am very blessed to be a part of America World. I received my Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Social Work from Florida State University. I have had the privilege of working with domestic adoptions and also child protective services in my professional career. I am excited about venturing to International Adoption, particularly placing orphans across the world in Godly families who will raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I have four beautiful children (Mackenzie, Parker, Ashton, and Boaz). My husband is adopted and we hope to one day adopt a child as well, Lord willing. I am looking forward to serving adoptive families in South Carolina!
How to Begin Your Adoption Process
If you are adopting through America World, you will begin by completing an application online. Once your application has been approved and we have received your program agreements, Emily Head will contact you to initiate the home study. If you are not using America World as your placing agency but would like to use our local social services in South Carolina, you may fill out the application online and choose "Social Services Only" under Application Type. The application fee for a social service only case is reduced to $295. Once the application is processed, Emily Head will contact you and will work directly with you and your placement agency to ensure all requirements are met in your home study and post-adoption reports. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Head.
Contact Info
America World - SOUTH CAROLINA
Lexington, SC 29073
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET
Phone: 800-429-3369
Fax: 888-466-8922
southcarolina@awaa.org