Virginia Adoption Services

PROVIDING COMPLETE ADOPTION SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN VIRGINIA

America World Adoption is a licensed and Hague-accredited Virginia adoption agency. America World provides full home study and adoption services for families in Virginia. Although our primary role is to provide home study services for families adopting through America World's international programs, 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 primary office is located in McLean, VA but we provide services for families living throughout the State of Virginia from our regional offices.

Virginia Adoption Home Study Services

The home study is a major part of the Virginia 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 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 Virginia, state, and FBI criminal record checks, child abuse registry checks, and references will be obtained. You will need to provide a copy of your birth certificate, marriage license, financial documentation and medical statements for all members of the family. All of these items will be collected and reported in the home study.

Virginia Post-Adoption Services

America World Adoption also provides post-adoption services for your Virginia 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.

Re-Adoption in Virginia

Virginia recently changed its law so it is possible to get a Virginia birth certificate without re-adopting your child. If you also desire a finalized adoption decree from Virginia then there is a court report which the agency must complete as part of the re-adoption process.

How to Begin

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, we 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 Virginia, 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, our office 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 Abby Konyndyk.

International Adoption Services

America World began in 1994 as a China adoption agency. Since then, we have expanded our adoption services to over a dozen countries around the world. Currently, we are looking for families who are called to adopt from China, India, and Haiti. Each of these countries has a great number of children in orphanages and foster care who are waiting for their forever families. America World believes that every child deserves and has a right to a family. Integrity in international adoption is critically important as corruption over the years has created some negativity to adoption as a whole. As a Christ-centered adoption agency, America World always places the interests of the child first by making sure the child is truly orphaned or parental rights have been given with a full understanding of what adoption means. America World is also known for its knowledgeable, caring staff who provide personal guidance to every family they assist. For more information on our international adoption services, visit our Programs page or contact us to speak with someone.