Dear Friend,

Thank you for your interest in Adoptions Together. Our mission is to build healthy families and to keep them strong. Founded in 1990, Adoptions Together is a non-profit child placement agency, licensed in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. We welcome every child in need of a family regardless of race, health or special need, and are honored to have helped nearly 3,000 children join loving adoptive families. We offer the following programs:

Domestic Infant Adoption: Adoptions Together welcomes all children in need of an adoptive family. While we primarily place African American infants, adopters seeking children of other races can complete their home study with Adoptions Together and receive guidance and support in exploring options outside of our traditional

placement program. AdoptionWorks: We identify children who are waiting in State foster care for a

permanent family and match them with prospective parents. Many of the children in need of families are African American, members of a sibling group and over the age of six.

International Adoption: We work hard to find permanent homes for toddlers and older

children from Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America who are in need of a family.

Home Study and Post Placement: Our team of qualified professionals provides a complete array of home study services including pre-adoption preparation, assessment and post-placement support.

Other Services: Our mission of bringing children and families together is equaled only by

our commitment to keep families strong. We offer individual and family counseling, support groups, community and professional education, parenting seminars and summer camps.

If you would like to expand your family through adoption , we urge you to consider Adoptions Together. We wish you the best on your adoption journey. Warm regards, Janice Goldwater, LCSW-C Founder and Executive Director

Introduction to the Domestic Infant Programs……………………………………………………………. Criteria for Entering the Program……………………………………………………………………………….. Program Fees ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Steps in the Process ……..……………………………………………………………………………………………. Additional information………………………………………………………………………………………………... Education and Training .………………………………………………………………………………………………. Information Meetings …...……………………………………………………………………………………………. Next Steps …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Financing Your Adoption……………………………………………………………………………………………… Adoptions Together’s Mission …………………………………………………………………………………….. Adoptions Together’s Complaint Policy ……………………………………………………………………….

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Table of Contents

At Adoptions Together, we believe that the best adoption is one where everyone is well informed of the emotional challenges of making an adoption plan, as well as the financial, legal and practical issues involved. We have tailored our services to meet the needs of birth parents who deserve to be counseled with respect and compassion and infants in our community who are waiting for a healthy permanent family. And we work to support prospective adoptive parents who are negotiating an ever-changing landscape of adoption services and options. Each year, we offer guidance and supportive counseling to nearly 300 women considering adoption. We believe that the more informed a birth parent is about adoption issues, the better the outcome will be for the adoption. As they grow, children are reassured to know that his or her birth parents made informed decisions and that everyone (birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoption professionals) worked together for the child.

Adoptions Together offers two infant adoption programs:

Infant Adoption Placement Program— When clients enter our full service program, they receive assistance in creating their adoption plan and materials for presentation to birth parents. Waiting parents are offered education, counseling and support groups. In recent years, approximately thirty newborns have been placed with adoptive families annually. Today, we are primarily seeking prospective adoptive parents who wish to adopt African American infants.

Infant Adoption Networking Program— In this program, our experienced adoption

professionals will be by your side throughout the adoption process. We will help you to design an adoption plan that is suited to your financial and emotional situation. We can help you to locate and work with service providers who uphold high ethical standards and help you to avoid situations that may be too emotionally or financially risky. You will be invited to participate in waiting parent education and support services while you utilize other agencies or attorneys for placement assistance.

Regardless of which services you choose, we look forward to working with you as you build your family through adoption.

Domestic Infant Adoption Programs

Criteria for Entering the Domestic Infant Program One of the agency’s guiding principles is inclusivity: factors such as race, religion, marital status, wealth or sexual preference, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression don’t determine what kind of parent someone will be and they are never variables that we consider when finding a home for a child. The minimum age to adopt is 25 years of age. If you are a married or committed couple, you must be married or partnered for a minimum of one year by the time you apply for a home study. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis. If you are seeking to adopt a baby under 12 months, the younger spouse or partner must be 45 years of age or younger at the time of your application. The older spouse or partner should be 50 or under at the time of application. If you are single and interested in adopting a baby under 12 months, you must be 45 years of age or younger at the time of your application. It is important that you are financially able to incur the costs of the adoption in addition to providing for your child. This includes the adoption fee and medical and legal expenses of the birth parents. You must be in good health and physically able to care for a child. If medical conditions indicate, the agency may request an independent medical evaluation.

Home Study Application Home Study

$550 $1,350

To enter the Domestic Program for placement services: Clients pay 25% of the placement fee. The program deposit is nonrefundable, applied toward the placement fee. The placement fee is set according to net worth, if self employed, or gross annual income and ad-ditional financial information as established at home study.

INCOME

Less than $45,000 $10,000($2,500 Deposit)

$45,000-$69,999 $14,000 ($3,500 Deposit)

$70,000-$89,999 $16,000 ($4,000 Deposit)

$90,000-$119,999 $18,000 ($4,500 Deposit)

$120,000-$150,000 $20,000 ($5,000 Deposit)

Over $150,000 $22,000 ($5,500 Deposit)

INFANT ADOPTION PLACEMENT PROGRAM

* DC Resident fees are based on per capita income for a family of five. Each additional family member will reduce the fee by 5% per member. ** See additional fee information at end of packet.

INFANT ADOPTION NETWORKING PROGRAM ($1,000 fee) We provide comprehensive assistance: evaluating matches with birth parents; locating adoption professionals (social workers and attorneys) in states where you are matched; ongoing support and guidance; assistance in compliance with Interstate Compact regulations. You will be invited to join our Waiting Parent Support services. We are available at all times to assist you. Fees are effective January, 2013

Additional fee information for the Domestic Infant Program: The balance of the placement fee is due upon placement and includes the following: Birth Parent referral services; Birth Parent counseling and social work services; Parent support and advocacy services; Termination of birth parent rights and guardianship services; Ongoing birth and adoptive family services. If a birth parent revokes after placement, the placement fee minus the nonrefundable program deposit is refunded. Additional fees may include: 1—Birth parent separate legal counsel, when birth parents are minors.

2 —Medical fees $500 will be assessed at placement to address Birth Parent Medical (both prenatal and labor/delivery.)

3—Final petition for adoption by adoptive parents or their attorney. In Virginia, legal fees for filing as well as legal fees should the adoption become fully disclosed.

4—Post placement reports; three are required at $400 each if completed by Adoptions Together; additional post placements may be required as per contract.

5—Interim Care charges will be billed at $75.00 per day.

6—Identified Placement Fee —If prospective adoptive parents identify a birth parent prior to joining the Domestic Program and wish to utilize the birth parent counseling and guardianship services of Adoptions Together, services will be billed at $200/hour. At the time the agency’s services are engaged, a non-refundable retainer of $2,000 will engage services. The balance is due at the time of placement.

7— Adoptive Parent Trainings, 8 hours, as required by State regulations. Foundation Series: $400; Family Forever pre finalization class is $50. 8— Annual home study update fee $550. All fees due Adoptions Together must be addressed prior to finalizing the adoption.

Step 1: Application for Home Study

The first step to adopting a child through Adoptions Together is to complete the Home Study Application. Upon review of the application and receipt of the application fee of $550, you will be contacted by a social worker to arrange a meeting for the Pre-Home Study Interview. During this interview you will have the opportunity to discuss in a more personal manner your desire to become an adoptive family. After this interview, you will be asked to register for Adoptive Parenting Preparation 1 which explores core issues of adoption including trans-racial and open adoption. If you wish to adopt a child of another race, this class will give you the tools to assist in determining whether you are prepared to become a trans-racial family and take on its unique challenges. During this initial phase, you will be gathering the documentation required to complete the home study and submit the information to Adoptions Together.

Step 2: Completing the Home Study

Home Study Process Your social worker, who is experienced in the unique issues faced by adoptive families, will guide you through the interview process. This is designed to be an educational process through which you will be asked to explore your personal expectations about parenting a child through adoption. To complete the study there will be a series of interviews, including at least one that will occur in your home. You will need to gather and provide certain pieces of information in addition to participating in the interviews. Personal references will be contacted and one will be interviewed. When the interview process is complete, a report will be prepared. The home study will be done within 90 days after you have completed the required home study documents. If necessary, the process can be expedited. To be approved for an expedited process, you must have a pending placement. Once your Home Study has been approved, you will be eligible to participate in our program of prospective adoptive parents. Home Studies from Other Agencies If you have had a Home Study completed by another licensed agency within the last 12 months, you should send a copy of your Home Study with your application. We will review the home study and arrange for one of our social workers to visit your home. Some home study documents and clearances will need to be completed for our agency. Our social worker will prepare an updated home study report.

Annual Updates of Home Studies In order to meet state licensing regulations, a Home Study must be updated on an annual basis. An update requires annual medical clearances, child protective service clearances and a visit in your home by a social worker. If the Home Study is not updated annually, it is considered inactive.

Steps in the Process

Step 3: Entering the Domestic Infant Program

You will receive a draft of your home study from the Assessments Department. You will be contacted by Domestic Family Specialist, Laura Teeter. She will email you all the documents and instructions you need to write your Dear Birth Parent letter and photo album to be reviewed by birth parents. To enter the Domestic Infant Program, we ask for a deposit, which is 25% of the Placement Fee (please review Fee information). When you have completed your letter and album, we will schedule a meeting to review your portfolio and assist you in filling out the Adoptive Parent Profile. You will be asked to sign the Domestic Infant Program Agreement. Once you have paid your deposit, and we have your album, letter and Profile, you will enter the Domestic Infant Program. If you wish to be presented to birth parents in all three licensing areas, we ask that you make a duplicate album, letter and profile to be held in our Virginia office as well as Maryland. Adoptive parents are asked to complete foster parent training as required by state regulations. We make this as convenient and informative as possible. You will be invited to attend the Foundation train-ing series during Home Study and Family Forever after your child has been placed with you.

Step 4: The Domestic Infant Placement Process

Adoptions Together does not keep a formal waiting list in which placements are made based on length of time on a list. Instead, a child will be placed with you when you are selected by a birth parent to be the adoptive parents of the child. In many cases, birth parents have some requests for the type of family they choose for their child. As we rely upon the preferences of the birth parents in selecting adoptive parents, we have little control over (and cannot predict) the length of time that it may take for the placement of a child in your home. Outreach for Birth Parents Adoptions Together accepts referrals of birth parents through extensive outreach and its contacts with hospitals, medical clinics, crisis pregnancy centers, schools; as well as clergy, medical and other professionals. In addition to the efforts that the agency makes to locate birth parents, all members of the Domestic Infant Program should actively seek birth parents as well. Some of our families advertise their interest in adoption through newspaper and internet media. The agency contracts with www.parentfinder.com to feature adoptive parent advertising on the internet. Other clients engage in creating an expansive network of family and friends who agree to pass along information about pro-spective birth parents. We will work with you to create a plan with which you will be comfortable, but we encourage you to participate in the search for a child to adopt. This will increase your opportunities to talk or meet with potential birth parents. Adoptions Together recognizes the frustration families may feel during their wait for a child and we are always seeking new ways to make the wait for a child a little easier. We offer monthly support group meetings, an e-newsletter, seminars and social functions to use the time productively.

Additional Information Birth Parent Services Our birth parent counselors provide counseling and education to women and couples considering Adoption. They also guide them in completing a thorough social and medical history. The counselors understand the emotional consequences of placing a child for adoption and counsel birth parents about many aspects of this important decision. Even though a birth parent may feel confident of her decision, once the baby is born, many have to remake this serious decision. Once the birth parents have chosen adoption, they are encouraged to review Dear Birth Parent letters and albums to select a family for their child. Sometimes birth parents desire to meet the adoptive family prior to the birth and other times they may choose to wait until the child is born. Occasionally they choose to have the agency make the selection for them based on their desires for the type of family they want. Con-tact between the adoptive and birth family is negotiated on an individual basis. Our birth parent services are not limited to a specified period of time. We try to be available for birth parents who place through our agency as long as we may be needed. Relationships Between Birth Parents and Adoptive Families The amount of contact an adoptive family has with birth parents may vary. You will be guided in completing an Adoptive Parent Profile in which you specify options about the prenatal environment of the birth mother. You will also be able to designate your level of comfort with how much contact and how much information is shared with the birth parents. Most families meet their child’s birth mother at least one time. Others develop a relationship with their child’s birth parents and maintain contact independent-ly of the agency. Many birth and adoptive families choose to get together regularly, usually once or twice a year with the agency’s assistance. Post Placement Contact Agreement You will be expected to send letters and pictures as your child grows; for this purpose we have a web based system called Child Connect for adoptive and birth parents to exchange updates. Our goal is to pro-vide the opportunity for birth parents and adoptive families to make a plan that meets the mutual needs of all involved with the focus on what is in the best interest of the child. Before placement, you will be asked to sign a Post Placement Contact Agreement; at a minimum we ask you send letters and pictures an-nually. The majority of today’s birth parents are seeking an open adoption which typically involves con-tact once or twice a year. If the birth and adoptive family agree to more frequent pictures, in the agree-ment we specify a maximum of four times a year for the first five years; and twice a year after that until age 18. If the birth and adoptive family desire to set up visits, we recommend a maximum of two visits a year. The two families can always exceed what had been previously agreed. NOTE: In the states of Maryland and Virginia, these agreements are legally enforceable and filed in court; this means that either party can seek redress through the Court and the terms of the agreement may be thus ordered by the Court. While they are not currently enforceable in the state of Virginia, we ask that you regard your agreement with your child’s birth parents as a serious commitment and honor the contract that you make with them.

Interim Care Adoptions Together has a number of dedicated families who have opened their homes to provide love and nurturing to children who are not able to be placed directly with their family for adoption. Interim care is available to provide time for a birth parent to resolve this difficult decision. It is also used while we search for the appropriate family when none is available. Additionally, it may be used if the legal risks for placement are determined to be too great by the adoptive family. The agency social worker will discuss with you the perceived risks, and if the birth mother agrees, you may be asked to take placement; on occasion we make interim care available to you during this time. Interim care may be billed at $75/day.

Legal Procedure and Risks The legal process for completing an adoption may seem intimidating, but in fact is quite straightforward. Our agency attorney, Dawn Musgrave, and members of the domestic staff, are available to answer any questions you may have. We encourage all birth parents with whom we work to meet an independent attorney to fully explore the legal consequences of placing a child for adoption. After the baby is born, and the birth parents are confident of their decision, they complete documentation to relinquish their child to the agency. These documents are submitted to the court and the agency is appointed to be the legal guardian of the infant. The appointment of the agency as the child’s guardian terminates the parental rights of the birth parents. The agency receives a Guardianship Decree formalizing the legal relationship. Depending upon the level of participation of the birth mother and the birth father, the process of legally terminating parental rights in Maryland will take a minimum of 30 days. We recognize how difficult it can be during the 30 day revoca-tion period and keep in close communication during this time. In Virginia, the legal revocation period is 7 days and cases are typically filed at finalization. The adoptive parents sign placement papers giving them the authority to care for the child as pre-adoptive foster parents, with the full intent of finalizing the adop-tion. At placement, your child will be put on your family insurance policy. Because most of the children placed through Adoptions Together are newborns who go directly home from the hospital with their adoptive parents, most of our placements are considered legally at risk, meaning there is a certain period of time after the child was placed that a birth parent may revoke his or her consent to the placement, and have the child returned to their custody. While such revocations are ra-re, the emotional trauma of a disrupted placement is very difficult for adoptive families. Despite the low percentage of revocations, there is emotional risk involved. If the family is unable to accept the placement of a child before parental rights are terminated, we may be able to arrange interim care. A fee for care, accrued daily, will be assessed. Additionally, the consent of the birth parents will be required for any interim care placement.

Medical Risks Adoptions Together undertakes strenuous efforts to obtain detailed medical and social histories of the birth parents and each child placed through the agency. Before placement, each child is given an evaluation by a pediatrician either at the hospital prior to discharge or while in interim care. All medical information available on a child will be provided to the adoptive family. Despite our best efforts, all pre-existing medical conditions may not be discovered prior to placement. If a medical condition is discovered after your adoption is finalized, you will have all legal responsibility for your child. While we make every effort to obtain complete medical information, we cannot guarantee the future health of the child.

Post Placement Services After a child is placed with you, the agency will schedule a minimum of three post-placement visits to assist and suppsort your transition to parenting. The social worker who completed your initial Home Study will usually do your post placements. These visits occur over a six-month period, and at their favorable conclusion, the agency will give its consent to the legal finalization of your adoption of the child. Adoptive parents may retain independent counsel to complete this process or they may draft the petition themselves with the guidance of the agency. Additional training for adoptive parenting will be offered. Please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to have the opportunity to help you build your family through adoption.

Education and Training Services

Parent Education and Training Adoptions Together offers adoption education and parent training on a wide range of topics that address the unique needs of adoptive, blended, foster and kinship care families. Seminars and workshops cover topics such as attachment and trauma, grief and loss, parenting a teen, talking to children about adoption, navigating the birthparent relationship, managing challenging behaviors, and trans-racial adoption. We strive to make parent training affordable, convenient, and easily accessible by offering in person, online, and on-demand options for parent training and adoption education. Check out the training section of our website to see current program listings. Support Services for Children and Families Adoptions Together offers support groups for parents, children, and families that provide a safe atmosphere to share common issues and concerns. Summer camp programs are also offered to help children build self-esteem, practice social skills, explore their identity, and discuss family relationships. Special events such as the Annual Family Connections Conference are designed to educate and inform, forge connections, strengthen family bonds, and celebrate the many ways that families are formed.

Adoptions Together offers a wide array of adoption education and support services for children, families and professionals that are relevant, cost effective, and easily accessible. Our adoption education, training and support programs include:

The Foundation Series: Adoption Preparation Classes

Family Forever -after adoption for Adoptive Families

Specialized Seminars on Domestic and International Adoption

Online and On-Demand Adoption and Parent Education Courses

Support Groups for Parents, Children and Families

Educational Conferences for Parents and Professionals

Summer Programs for Children and Teens

School Education Programs for Teachers and Administrators

Professional Development Seminars and Programs

Consultations for Professionals (e-mail and telephone)

Attachment Training Series for Professionals

For more information about the services we offer, please contact us at info@adoptionstogether.org or visit us online http://www.adoptionstogether.org/EducationTraining.aspx

2014 INFORMATION MEETINGS

Need more Information?

Calverton 4061 Powder Mill Road Suite 320

Calverton, MD 20705 Directions

Baltimore 5750 Executive Dr. Suite 107

Baltimore, MD 21228 Directions

Virginia 457A Carlisle Dr.

Herndon, VA 20170 Directions

Phone: (301) 439-2900 | E-mail: info@adoptionstogether.org

There are many questions as you try to decide what is the best option for you. We recommend that you attend one of our free information meetings, which are offered monthly. This will give you an overview of our services, philosophy of our agency, and an opportunity to ask questions. If you wish to meet for a private consultation with one of our staff to discuss our services and explore how we can meet your needs in building your family, we are available by appointment. The fee for a private consultation is $100.00.

***Because of limited seating and to be considerate of other families, we kindly request that you do not bring children to Information Meetings. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Calverton Baltimore Virginia

February 18, 2014 January 14, 2014 January 9, 2014

April 15, 2014 March 11, 2014 February 6, 2014

June 17, 2014 May 13, 2014 March 6, 2014

August 19, 2014 July 8, 2014 April 3, 2014

October 21, 2014 September 9, 2014 May 1, 2014

December 9, 2014 November 11, 2014 June 4, 2014

July 10, 2014

August 7, 2014

September 4, 2014

Next Steps…… >> Learn more about Home Studies >> Complete an Application >> Contact us:

Susan Ogden Domestic Infant Program Director

E-mail: sogden@adoptionstogether.org Phone: 301 422 5114

Laura Teeter

Family Specialist E-mail: lteeter@adoptionstogether.org

Phone: 301 422 5117

Financing Your Adoption

While adoption services can be expensive, financial programs and resources may be available to help you with these costs. At Adoptions Together, we may be able to help you locate the financial resources you may need. Whether you are eligible for adoption tax benefits, adoption assistance programs from your employer, or the adoption subsidy program, we can direct you to the information you need. You might want to begin your research with an excellent resource guide from the National Endowment for Financial Education, How to Make Adoption An Affordable Option.

Federal Tax Credit

The Hope for Children Act of 2001 provided for a $10,000 tax credit for adoption and this amount in-creases each year (up to $12,150 in 2009). The amount decreases if your Adjusted Gross Income is over $182,180 and is phased out at $222,180 (check with IRS for current amounts). Consult your tax advisor and/or IRS Publication 968, Tax Benefits for Adoption. The common interpretation of this law is that international adoptions are eligible for the credit in the year their adoption was finalized in the country. For complete information, click here. ** Adoption Tax Credit is Refundable. The health care reform bill made the federal adoption tax credit refundable as of 2010—meaning adoptive families can benefit from the credit even if they do not have tax liability. This change makes the credit much more accessible to lower and moderate income fami-lies. The IRS released guidance stating that adoption tax credit amounts carried forward from previous years are also refundable, so even parents who adopted as long ago as 2005 can benefit from the new law. If parents claimed the credit on their tax return for adoptions from 2005 to 2009 and have been carrying it forward on each return, with their 2010 taxes they can be paid for any remaining amount of the credit that they have not yet received. Parents who didn't file for the credit originally will need to amend past tax returns.

Employee Benefit Programs

Perhaps your employer is among the roughly 25% of companies in the United States that offer some form of adoption benefits to their employees. Typical benefits may include reimbursements of adoption expenses; paid leave in addition to vacation time, sick leave, or personal days; and unpaid leave. Reimbursement amounts can run from $1,000 to $10,000. To find out whether your employer offers adoption benefits, contact the human resources office where you work. Even if your company does not now offer adoption benefits, you may be able to persuade your employer to do so. Studies have shown that adoption benefits are among the most cost-effective advantages an employer can offer. The Child Welfare Information Gateway can help you and your em-ployer to establish an adoption benefits program.

Military Benefits for Adoption The military will reimburse active-duty personnel for most one-time adoption costs up to $2,000 per child, whether adopting a Domestic healthy infant or older child, or a child from abroad. (Travel costs, foreign or domestic, are not covered.) There is a maximum reimbursement of $5,000 in a given year, even if both parents are in the military. Reimbursement is made only after the adoption is finalized and only if the adoption was provided through a state adoption agency or a not-for-profit private agency. Adoption and placement fees that may be reimbursed include:

Fees for birth parent counseling Legal fees and court costs Medical expenses - hospital expenses of the biological mother and newborn infant.

The military's Exceptional Family Member Program is designed to ensure that the adoptive families of children with special needs are assigned to duty stations where the child's needs may be met. In some instances, a military family caring for an adopted disabled child may receive monthly assistance up to $1000 under the military's Program for Persons with Disabilities. While the military has long provided health care for adopted children, as part of the health benefits provided by the Federal government to military personnel and their dependents, it is now available for adopted children as soon as they are placed in your home, rather than having to wait until the adoption is finalized. Moreover, military health care does not require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions. Military personnel may make use of leave programs similar to those offered by civilian employers. Re-imbursements and benefits apply whether the adopting parent is single or married and whether the adoption is completed in the US or overseas. **NOTE: Independent adoptions, or adoptions provided through a for-profit adoption agency, do not qualify for military reimbursements. For more information about adoption for military families, visit the web at www.nmfa.org.

Credit Cards and Frequent Flyer Miles

Families adopting through the International Adoption Program typically travel overseas to complete their adoptions. You can use frequent flyer miles to reduce the cost of airfare significantly. Many credit card companies offer frequent flyer miles as incentives. Check with your individual credit card issuers to see if this benefit is available to you.

Adoption Loan Information Please contact the National Adoption Foundation to explore grants and loans specifically for adoption www.nafadopt.org

Adoption Subsidy Program Families who adopt children with special medical, emotional, and/or developmental needs; older chil-dren; or members of a sibling group may be eligible for an adoption subsidy from federal and state gov-ernments. This financial assistance is available to ensure that families who adopt these children have the necessary services and financial resources to meet their children's ongoing needs. Subsidies fall into three categories:

Monthly Financial Assistance. This type of subsidy is designed to remove financial barriers for fami-lies who adopt children with special needs. Nearly all children in public foster care who are waiting to be adopted are eligible for this type of assistance. Subsidies are awarded on a case-by-case basis and vary depending on the needs of the child. Annual reviews of subsidies are conducted to ensure that the child still qualifies for assistance. Eligibility for the subsidy is based solely on the needs of the child; the adoptive parents’ financial resources do not determine whether a child is eligible for a subsidy.

Medical Assistance. Children in subsidized adoptions are also eligible for a medical subsidy through a new Medicaid-managed care program.

One-Time Subsidy. This nonrecurring payment, which may be offered in addition to the monthly fi-nancial subsidy, is designed to cover specific expenses or special services related to the adoption of a particular child or children. Reimbursable expenses may include adoption placement fees, court costs, attorney's fees, required health and psychological examinations, transportation, and reasonable costs of lodging and food for the child and/or the adoptive parents when necessary to complete the place-ment or adoption process.

To be eligible for any subsidy, a child must first meet both of the following two requirements:

A local department of social services or a private agency in Maryland must hold guardianship of the child The child could not be placed for adoption without a subsidy

To be eligible for any subsidy, a child must also meet one of the following requirements:

The child must be six or older, but has not reached the age of 18 years The child must be a member of a minority group The child must have a physical or mental handicap and/or be emotionally disturbed The child must be a member of a sibling group which is to be placed together

If you are interested in adopting a child who may be eligible for an adoption subsidy, we will assist you in applying for a subsidy for your child.

Our Mission

Adoptions Together is committed to building, healthy permanent families by providing the highest qual-ity child placement services, lifelong support to children and their families and advocacy for continuous improvement of child welfare systems.

Adoptions Together’s Guiding Principles Children and Families

The welfare of the children who need our help comes first.

Children need to maintain connections with their birth families and cultures even when they cannot be safely raised in their birth families.

Openness and honesty is healthy for children and families.

The ability to be a good parent does not depend upon wealth, race, religion, marital status, sexual preference, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Education, support and guidance from qualified professionals before, during and after placement help children and their families succeed.

Lifelong Commitment and Connection

Permanency in a healthy family is best for children.

Creating, strengthening and sustaining healthy relationships is essential for achieving permanency.

Parents should have the option to choose adoption when they believe it is best for their children.

Foster care should be a temporary safe haven for children awaiting permanency.

Stays in foster care should be as short as possible.

The first foster care placement should be the last foster care placement.

Adoptions Together

Commitment to mission and awareness of guiding principles are necessary for every staff member, contractor and volunteer.

Good financial health is required to accomplish our mission.

Continuous improvement of programs and services requires knowledgeable, experienced and crea-tive child welfare professionals and staff.

Racial, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity within our staff and contractors is essential for good decision-making.

Direct and honest communication is the best way to prevent and resolve conflict.

Complaint Policy

What should I do if I am unhappy with services that I receive from Adoptions Together? At Adoptions Together, we welcome your feedback about how we can improve the quality of services that we provide. First Step: We encourage you to talk openly and honestly with our staff if you have any concerns about working with us. Second Step: If the staff member with whom you are working does not adequately address your concerns, please speak to his or her supervisor. Third Step: If the above is unsuccessful, you can bring your concerns and suggestions for improvement to Janice Goldwater, Executive Director and founder of Adoptions Together. You can reach Janice via email at jgoldwater@adoptionstogether.org or via telephone at 301-439-2900. If your concerns are not resolved through informal communications with our staff and Executive Director, you can file a formal written complaint with our Quality Assurance Committee. Your formal complaint will be promptly investigated and you will receive a response within no more than 30 days. If you do file a complaint, no retaliatory action will be taken against you. For more information or to receive a formal complaint form, please contact the Quality Assurance Committee Chair via email at QualityAssurance@adoptionstogether.org.