Complimentary Services

Upon request, we will provide all of the following services at no charge to anyone who is interested in adoption, or in the process of adoption.

• Monthly "Introduction to International Adoption" seminars.
• An invitation to attend monthly "Waiting Family Support Group" meetings.
• A schedule of classes taught at our Education Center.
• A list of the books and videos available through our Education Center.
• A subscription to our quarterly newsletter.

A few important qualifiers

We have told you about the services we provide and the fees we charge. There are some services we do not provide, and some fees that will be your responsibility to pay. We have tried to include all of those above. Some families also incur some medical expenses for physical examinations and immunizations. They are not included here as medical plans may vary.

While this document details the technical and paperwork aspects of international adoption, it does not discuss the personal impact that adoption will have on your life, nor the ethics of adopting from different countries. It is the responsibility of each adoptive parent to learn about these aspects of adoption. Much of that preparation is accomplished as a part of the home study.

It is also your responsibility to research adoption, to gain an understanding of the differences between families built through adoption and families built through birth, and, to be sure that you are willing to assume the risks and responsibilities of adopting and providing care for an orphan from a developing country. In order to assist you with this process, we have established the Americans Adopting Orphans Education Center and have social work professionals on staff. Through the Center we offer support groups, classes, videotapes, and books.