Policies

• The prospective adoptive parents must both be at least 21 years of age in order to engage in adoption services with Adoption & Beyond and at least 25 years of age in order to be a part of Adoption & Beyond's Domestic Adoption Waiting List.
• If married, a family must be married a minimum of one year prior to engaging in adoption services with Adoption & Beyond.
• Convictions for violent crimes (e.g. assault, battery, abuse, sexual offense, etc.), illegal drug activity, or crimes against children are unacceptable when considering the safety of a child and preclude such individuals from consideration and participation in Adoption & Beyond's adoption processes. Convictions for non-violent crimes (e.g. fraud, theft, DUI, etc.) are cause for concern when considering the stability of the potential home. While such convictions do not automatically preclude Adoption & Beyond from working with an individual, that individual shall be subjected to a more thorough evaluation. Factors such as the number of convictions, date of last conviction, and "seriousness" of the crime will be taken under evaluation. Adoption & Beyond relies upon the discernment of the adoption coordinator in such cases and shall err on the side of safety and well being for the child. Please discuss any criminal situations or arrests with us prior to beginning the adoption process.

• In order for a family to be registered on Adoption & Beyond's Domestic Agency Waiting List, Adoption & Beyond has to have performed the family's home study and/or the updated home study. An exception to this policy will be considered for families who have an approved home study from another child placement agency and are waiting to adopt a child of African American heritage or a child with special needs.
• Adoption & Beyond may refer a family to an appropriate licensed professional such as a physician, psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, or professional substance abuse counselor for an evaluation and written report if Adoption & Beyond determines that there are areas beyond our expertise that need to be addressed in order to provide a favorable home study recommendation.
• It is our policy that only one version of the home study be written. We feel it is imperative for the international country to receive all of the information written about a family, and it is inappropriate and unethical to send a different version of the home study to the country with key information removed (e.g. arrests, medical, psychological, etc.). If you have a medical, criminal, or psychological situation that you feel may interfere with your adoption process, please discuss this issue with us prior to starting the home study or adoption process.
• Adoption & Beyond’s policy is that adoptive families will use age-appropriate discipline techniques with their children as they grow. In addition, during the temporary custody period prior to the finalization of the adoption, adoptive parents will not use corporal punishment as a form of discipline with their newly adoptive child.

The family can, at anytime, choose to withdraw from the adoption process. Adoption & Beyond also reserves the right to terminate services at any time when the family has acted in bad faith, conducted themselves in an unreasonable or verbally abusive manner, exhibited unreasonable expectations related to their adoption efforts, have supplied false or misleading information, or the working relationship between the two parties cannot continue due to unresolved issues. Adoption & Beyond, in its professional judgment, will consider all circumstances in determining the suitability of interrupting or terminating the adoption process and retains the right to terminate services at any time.

• Please consult Adoption & Beyond regarding unique family situations in relation to these polices and guidelines