Dear Prospective Adoptive Family:
Frank Adoption Center, NC sees adoption as an enormous undertaking and we feel strongly that prospective adoptive parents need to be made aware of the issues and concerns that are ingrained in the adoption process. Furthermore, as the United States gets ready to ratify the Hague Convention of 1993, all licensed home study and placing agencies who conduct home studies for families adopting internationally are being required by the State Department to ensure that their families have had at least 10 hours of pre-adoptive educational training before being permitted to adopt.
In order to be in compliance with the Hague Convention of 1993 and because Frank Adoption Center, NC takes this preparation so seriously, we will require that all of our families undergo 20 hours of pre-adoptive education and training. In order to complete your 20 hrs. of educational training we will require each family to participate in both courses below:
1) Frank Online School (10hrs.)- www.frankonlineschool.org. When you apply to Frank Adoption Center, NC, you will be automatically registered as a course participant and have been assigned a Username and Password. Amy Perry, Amy.Perry@frankadopt.org will provide you with your username and password.The cost for this course is FREE. If you have questions at any point throughout the course, please contact Amy Perry. Once you have successfully completed the entire course, you will be issued a Certificate of Completion, which will also become a part of your Frank Adoption Center, NC file and;
2) Adoption Learning Partners course “WITH EYES WIDE OPEN” (10hrs.). Go to www.adoptionlearningpartners.org and then to Courses to enroll in this program. The cost for this course is $30. Once you have successfully completed this program you will be issued a certificate; please be sure you indicate that you want a certificate. Please send in a copy of your certificate to Amy Perry so she can record that you’ve fulfilled this requirement. Note: If we are completing your home study we will indicate in your home study that you have fulfilled the pre-adoptive educational requirements for Frank Adoption Center, NC, thus making you ready to adopt.
Furthermore, we strongly encourage all of our families take the time to educate and inform yourselves about adoption in all possible ways. There are some great books available that have been very helpful to families: “The Post Adoption Blues” by Karen Foli and John Thompson, “Adopting the Older Child” by Claudia L. Jewett and “Facilitating Developmental Attachment” by Daniel A. Hughes are just to name a few. This is, more than likely, the biggest decision you will ever face and Frank Adoption Center, NC believes that the more educated and informed you are the better off you will be.
Additional resources on international adoption are available through your local library, bookstore, the Internet, etc. Of course, our experienced staff is always available to assist you as well.
You will need to complete both courses before dossier submission or if you are a Frank Adoption Center, NC home study only family. If you have moved from another state and are asking Frank Adoption Center, NC to prepare a home study update for you, you will be required to complete both courses.
We believe that you will find our educational programs and materials to be informative, interesting and enlightening and we look forward to your participation and your feedback!
Sincerely,
Michalina Miller, MSW
Executive Director
FRANK ADOPTION CENTER, NC
