Your Adoption Plan

Your adoption plan will be one of the most important decisions you will ever make. The Field of Dreams staff understands your needs and will strive to find the right child for you. We provide pre-adoptive counseling meetings at no cost. You may meet in a group with other couples and single parents or arrangements for a private meeting can be accommodated.

We believe:

  • No two adoptive parents have the same needs. We listen to those we serve and strive to meet their individual needs.
  • Adoption is a life-long commitment, and those choosing to work with A Field of Dreams Adoption Services Inc. will become part of the "Field of Dreams family."

Adoptive parents should be flexible about
age and sex of child/children as well as special needs.

  

Who Can Adopt

Within the United States, there are over 500,000 children waiting for a family.

Single adults and married couples are accepted as prospective adoptive parents. Families are served without regard to race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, marital, or socio-economic status.

 

The Adoption Process

  • Complete and return the family registration form.
  • Physicals are required from all prospective parents.
  • Personal references are required and will be contacted.
  • Home visits are conducted by our social worker. Our visits are used to gather information for our use and for you as a prospective parent to gain insight into your strengths and weaknesses.
  • A decision is reached regarding your readiness for adoption.
  • Following the matching selection, the child will be placed with your family.
  • Follow up visits are conducted on an "as needed" basis to assist you and as required by the state of Pennsylvania.
  • Termination of Rights is now 30 days after the Birth Mother signs Voluntary Relinquishment of Rights

International, Domestic, and Special Needs Adoptions

We assist families in international, domestic, and special needs adoptions.  Please contact us to let us know if you have a particular country in mind.

  • Guatemala
  • China
  • India
  • Korea
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Poland
  • Other countries may be available

Who is eligible to adopt?

Anyone--single, married, divorced, non-traditional families--anyone of any race, color or religion who has a valid homestudy as well as a child abuse and criminal clearance.  You must have a lot of love in your heart for a child who needs a permanent, safe home.

 

How long is the waiting list?

A Field of Dreams Adoption Services Inc. does not maintain a waiting list. The personality of the child is matched with that of the family.  It is conceivable that you may welcome a child in your home very shortly after the homestudy is completed.

 

What is an open adoption?

A Field of Dreams Adoption Services Inc. believes that birth families, children and adoptive families deserve to have ongoing relationships.  Contact is encouraged, but not pushed.  It has to be the right relationship for all parties involved.

"I knew from the very beginning of my pregnancy that I was going to give my son up for adoption. However, I was uncertain if I wanted an open or closed adoption. After many prayers and much thought I decided that open adoption was the right decision for me and my son. I knew that I wanted to be in his life and for him to know that I was his biological mother.

"Meeting the prospective adoptive parents, Tish and Will, was an absolute blessing. They were kind and loving and they said that they would always be honest with my son (who would be named Nicolas) and let him know that I was his birthmother. They had also done their homework!! They had done research on Nicolas' condition, HPE, before I even met them. Knowing that they were prepared and just waiting for me to "say the word" made me realize what wonderful parents they were going to be.

"Today, Nicolas is 5 years old and because of the level of openness in the adoption, I can visit and call whenever I'd like. Knowing that Nicolas is loved and safe always puts my mind at ease. Open adoption was definitely the right option for me, Nicolas, and Tish and Will."

 

What should I do first?

Get a homestudy. A homestudy is like a biography written about you and your family by a licensed, agency social worker.  No child may be placed for adoption in Pennsylvania without a valid homestudy. Homestudies are valid for a period of one year.  Any licensed adoption agency may perform your homestudy.

 

What happens after placement?

Post-Placement Visits.  Pennsylvania law mandates three post-placement home visits by a licensed agency social worker. A Field of Dreams Adoption Services Inc. will provide post-placement visits for you if so desired.

Tax Information

Hope for Children Act Adoption Tax Credit
(Signed into Public Law 107-16 on June 7, 2001)

Will a $10,000 tax credit be enough?
The Hope for Children Act is a healthy start to ensuring more children find a loving home. While some adoptions will cost well over $10,000, raising the limit will aid more families in their efforts to adopt a child in need. The Hope for Children Act is indexed for inflation to ensure that the tax credit and income limitations continue to rise alongside the cost of living. Additionally, the full credit can be claimed for adjusted gross income (AGI) up to $150,000, and is gradually phased out for incomes between $150,000 - $190,000. The tax credit is exempted from the Alternative Minimum Tax.

Who should I contact for clarification on my particular tax credit scenario?
Contact the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040 with your specific questions.

The IRS Publication 968 is available via the IRS website at http://www.irs.ustreas.gov  and provides a step by step guide to the current $5,000 tax credit, which will be a model for the new $10,000 adoption tax credit.

PLEASE NOTE: This information is provided as a general guideline on the new provisions of the adoption tax credit. It should not be used as a definitive source of information for individual case scenarios. The appropriate agency of the U.S. Government (e.g. the Internal Revenue Service or the Immigration and Naturalization Service) should be able to answer specific questions on the implementation of the Hope for Children Act.

If you have already tried reaching the IRS or INS and have inquired with your adoption agency or legal representation and still are unclear on particular provisions, your local U.S. Representative may be able to make an inquiry on your behalf. You can verify your U.S. Representative by going to the "Write Your Representative" section at the bottom of the U.S. House of Representatives Web site at http://www.house.gov.