OUR PAPERWORK IS IN!

What does that mean exactly? Well, if you haven’t heard of the term “paper pregnancy” with regards to adopting, here is your chance! With a paper pregnancy, you have a huge check list of appointments to make, papers to gather, sign and have notarized, certified and then authenticated and major choices to make. It’s a huge checklist that we have worked on, steadily crossing out each individual element these past four months.

This is what our checklist has looked like:

- Submit adoption application

- Fill out personal questionnaires for home study

- Gather following documents for home study:
- AFE Questionnaire I - one each for applicant and spouse. Give to your social worker.
- Verification of Medical Insurance Coverage for Child - please make a photocopy of your medical insurance card and the page in your policy book that authorizes coverage of your adopted child. Give to your social worker.
- Medical Report/Letter (see forms) - one for each member of household. If you use this form for the adults, keep the original -it most likely can be used for your dossier. Give photocopy to your social worker.
- Background Investigation Unit form (child abuse registry form) - one form per couple, $10 per form. Anyone age 18 and over living in the home must complete this form. Mail directly to CDHS.
- Fingerprint cards - one per person age 18 and older living in the household. Mail to CBI with payment.
- CBI Fingerprint Card Credit Card Payment Form (optional)
- Financial Statement (see form) - complete and give to your social worker.
- A current photograph of all members of the household - give to your social worker.
- Birth certificates or naturalization papers (photocopies) - give to your social worker.
- Marriage certificate (photocopy) - give to your social worker.
- Divorce decree of former marriages or the death certificate of all former spouse(s) (photocopy) - give to your social worker.
- IRS 1040 signed tax forms -first two pages of most recent 3 years. Give to your social worker.
- Employment Statement (see form) - one for each applicant who is employed. Can be a photocopy - keep the original for your dossier. Give to your social worker.
- Home study visit #1
- Home study visit #2
- Home study visit #3
- Home study visit #4
- Pass home study (this is the point when our social worker officially approves us for adoption)
- Parenting class #1
- Parenting class #2
- Parenting class #3
- Parenting class #4
- Parenting class #5 (total: 24 hours)

- Submit I-600A petition to adopt (This is the form sent to the US Government for approval)

- Gather following documents for dossier:
- Adoption Approval/Affidavit - Agency will provide one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED original signed by Agency Director.
- Adoption Petition - one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED Adoption Petition/Family Letter to the Ethiopian government.
- Birth Certificates - one Certified Birth Certificate for each parent.
- Marriage Certificate - one Certified Marriage Certificate, if applicable.
- Divorce Decree -one Certified Divorce Decree, if applicable.
- Home study - NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED Home study with social worker's and Agency's license.
- International Placement Agency License -one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED license
- Criminal Clearance Report - one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED report from local, state or federal police authority for each parent.
- Employment Verification - one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED letter for each parent. Statement must be on letterhead that states that you are employed, your position and your salary.
- Medical Letter - one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED Physical Exam Letter for each parent.
- Bank/Financial Letter - one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED statement from your bank. Statement must be on bank letterhead.
- 1040 Tax Returns - one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED photocopy of the top page of EACH of your last three (3) years of your 1040 Tax Form.
- Proof of Medical Insurance - one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED copy of proof of medical insurance for each parent and for the child/children being adopted.
- Proof of Medical Coverage for Adopted Child - one NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED copy of proof of medical insurance coverage for the child/children being adopted
- Reference Letters - three (3) NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED reference letters from three (3) different people (non-relatives) using your legal name.
- Power of Attorney - three (3) NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED copies.
- Post Adoption Agreement - Print two forms. Sign one and keep. Sign and return the other one to IAN. Both need to be NOTARIZED and CERTIFIED.
- Passport Photos - Eight (8) passport size photos of each adopting parent
- Submit dossier to IAN! (This dossier will be sent to our government for authentication)

This is what will happen next!!
__ We wait and wait and wait for the next 6-12 months to be matched with our child
__ Accept our match
__ Make travel arrangements
__ Fly to Ethiopia to receive our child and process our paperwork ‘In Country’

We have requested to adopt a toddler girl, but we are open to adopting a toddler boy. We are #9 on the waiting list for toddler girls and #4 for toddler boys. We will be sure to keep you posted as we move up the line!


Just as a pregnant mommy's belly grows, our hearts grow with more love and anticipation of our little one.






Please send good thoughts and prayers to our little one as we make our way closer and closer to her/him. Thanks guys, we love you all! -Denise & Steve