Services
Family Assessment / Home Study
Because we are primarily a child-welfare organization, our first priority – like yours – is to ensure that children are placed in a safe, healthy and loving environment. The children’s health and wellness after placement is our top priority. To that end, we carefully screen prospective adoptive parents and they must provide positive documentation for: state and federal criminal clearances, child abuse clearance, positive medical exams, strong financial statements, multiple personal references from non-family members, employment verification, and psychological examination, as required. In addition, the case worker personally meets with the family for six weeks during the investigation to discuss their motivation to adopt, abilities to parent a child(ren), support system, preparation for international adoption, and more. While we do feel that all families deserve the opportunity to be considered for international adoption, this process is not the best option for all families, and we approve families at our discretion.
Adoption Education & Training
By Colorado regulations, adoptive parents are required to undergo 24 hours of adoption-related training and education. Topics include, but are not limited to: understanding the post-institutionalized child, effects of the child being institutionalized, how to facilitate bonding/attachment, understanding and responding to trans-racial adoption issues, 7-core stages of adoption, talking with children about adoption, and more. We also prepare them for travel to the foreign country.
Child Referral & Placement
Referral and placement is made to qualified prospective adoptive parents in the United States, upon completion of the approved home study. We strive first to match the needs of the child to the adoptive family and secondarily, meet the needs of the adoptive family.
Dossier Preparation
IAN educates each family about the importance of proper dossier preparation and provides expert guidance through the process. Each dossier is thoroughly reviewed for accuracy before being sent abroad. Dossiers are carefully prepared and professionally presented for consideration in the foreign country.
Counseling & Referral
Counseling for services to adoptive families as needed in the areas of mental health services, medical services, attachment and therapeutic services, adoption support groups, etc.
Post Adoption / Placement Services
To ensure IAN provides a post adoption / placement visits within the first six months of the child’s arrival in the US after adoption. IAN follows the country requirements for frequency of visits, and social worker visits last at least one year from the time of adoption. Most countries require reports for at least two years from the time of adoption, including some self-reports.