U.S.A.
Program Manager: Darlene Catton
905-836-6776
USA – Heartsent Adoptions, Inc. (HAI)
Please note:
This program is currently accepting new applications and is open to applicants residing in all provinces except Quebec and Alberta.
Same-sex/heterosexual married or common-law couples, and single applicants are encouraged to apply.
General Information:
- The Children’s Bridge, as an adoption facilitating agency, is working in partnership with Heartsent Adoptions, Inc. (HAI) which is based in Walnut Creek, California. HAI works with other local agencies in other states and applicant(s) will have an opportunity to choose one of the supervised agencies in other states.
- The child’s ethnic background is varied depending on which local agency/state your profile will be presented.
- Infants are placed with adoptive family in the hospital following the birth or shortly after. If the expectant mother wishes, you may travel to the state before the labor at your own risk.
- Applicants must be open to a child of any ethnic background.
- In most cases, the adoptive family will be at the hospital for the birth of the baby or at least in the state (to avoid another placement).
- Adoption is finalized in the local state approximately 6 months after placement. You do not need to travel to the state for finalization, but must present for the finalization hearing by phone.
- Children will maintain dual citizenship and annual US tax returns will need to be filed on behalf of the child by the adoptive family.
- Applicants must be open to “semi-open” adoptions. Depending on the birth mother’s wish, you will be asked to exchange pictures and letters with the birth family.
- Applicants must be open to some in-utero exposure to drugs/alcohol, familial history of mental illness, unknown birth father, etc.
- 2 to 3 post-placement reports are required.
Requirements:
- This program is open to same-sex and heterosexual married and common-law couples, as well as single applicants.
- Applicants must be open to a child of any race and/or ethnicity.
- At least one of the prospective applicants MUST be a Canadian citizen.
- Family must possess a stable financial portfolio. Please note that the total cost for most adoptions from the USA is approximately $110,000 CAD +.
- Applicants must live in an area where they can provide racial mirrors for their child and have access to cultural and racial diversity in their everyday life and communities.
- Applicants must be in sound physical and emotional health. Adoptive applicants must be free of major mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Applicants must be open, at a minimum, to a semi-open adoption.
- Prospective applicants must be free from criminal record. You will NOT be eligible if you have a history of arrest by a law enforcement or charged with a criminal offence. This includes a child welfare record check (i.e. Children’s Aid Society).
Process:
- Complete consultation with HAI and submit application.
- Complete an intake meeting with the Program Manager.
- Complete TCB’s Retainer Agreement.
- Submit retainer agreement and HAI’s application form.
- Completion of home study, PRIDE training and approval in province.
- Compile dossier and family profile booklets.
- Once home study approval is received and dossier has been compiled, documents will be submitted to HAI.
- Match received and reviewed.
- Baby is born and referral documents received.
- Family travels to the local state
Timelines:
- Completion of home study (average time 3 – 6 months).
- Approval in province varies from 4 – 16 weeks.
- Processing of adoption dossier (Canada and U.S.) averages 4 – 6 weeks.
- Wait for proposal approximately 1 – 3 years.
- Travel to local state prior to birth or at time of birth (unless prior agreement has been reached).
- Generally one trip of up to 45 days is required.