CARE Program

What is the CARE program? 
Rhode to Adoption created the CARE program for our families to offer ongoing support after the home study is completed and before placement of your child takes place.

During this waiting time, different agencies charge various types of fees to cover services offered to the family. Below are some different examples of fees that other agencies charge:

 

Some agencies charge a one-time, flat fee after the home study is completed which is sometimes called "interagency fee," "coordination fee," or "services fee." 

 

This type of fee doesn't take into account how long a family waits for placement. The full fee is charged regardless of if a family waits two months or if they wait two years for a placement. Agencies charge anywhere from $1800 to $3000.

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Other agencies charge for every service they provide to the family during the waiting period. 

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For example:​​

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• Administrative Fees ($100 - $300)

• Additional copies of the original, notarized home study ($50 - $100)

• Home Study Addendums (These are needed for any significant change in the home/family life, such as a move or career change) ($100 - $200)​​

• Home Study Updates (required annually) ($800 - $1500)

• Document Authentication - Notarization of non-home study documents ($25 - $50 per document)

• Consultation with Placement Agency ($100 - $500 annually)

• Consultation regarding potential match ($100 - $300)

• Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) fee ($500 - $1500)

• Report for Court ($200 - $500)

• Assistance with Creating a Profile ($50 - $500)

• Re-application fee: If a family pauses and needs to re-apply, a fee may be charged. ($100 - $500)

• Trainings ($50 - $500)

• Postage ($10 - $200)

• The total costs per year may be $2,000 - $5,000+

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Rhode to Adoption has created the CARE program to provide comprehensive support to families during the waiting period at a fair, monthly rate that covers the services you are provided, while taking into account that every family has a different wait time. 

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C - Collaboration

A home study agency collaborates with various entities during and after the home study process to ensure a thorough and compliant evaluation of adoptive parents. 

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Rhode to Adoption will: 

• Collaborate, coordinate, and communicate with your placement agency

• Advocate for the family as necessary

• Share information and updates with the placement agency

• Communicate with other outside professionals as needed

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A - Administrative Requirements

After finalizing the home study, agencies must complete many administrative tasks during the waiting period. These tasks help ensure that the agency remains compliant with legal requirements, keeps adoptive families well-informed, and facilitates a smooth transition to the next steps in the adoptive journey. 

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Rhode to Adoption will:​

• Track paid fees by the family and provide a list of those fees to the placement agency, as per their requirements, or to the family for tax purposes

• Provide any requested documentation regarding the ICPC (interstate compact for placement of children)

• Complete mandated documentation

• Review of the family's adoption profile (optional)

• Maintain both the electronic and physical file per state guidelines

• Keep track of medical and clearance dates for the family that may need to be updated before the annual home study update

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R - Regulatory

After the home study is completed, agencies must carry out several regulatory activities to comply with state, federal, and international laws. These activities ensure the home study and any other required documentation is legally valid and ready for the next stages of the adoption process.  

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Rhode to Adoption will: 

• Complete interagency agreements

• Provide copies of interagency agreements to the family, placement agency, or other collaterals

• Provide unlimited home study changes or revisions requested by the placement agency

• Provide the family with unlimited notarized original home studies, as needed

• Provide unlimited home study addendums, as needed (required when the family has a significant life change, such as a move. Sometimes addendums requires an additional home visit)

• Provide unlimited home study updates (required every 12 months from the finalization of your home study)

• Provide verbal and written communication/documentation to outside collaterals (agency, facilitator, attorney, etc.) as requested or mandated

• Communicate with the state agency in interstate adoptions and, if needed, will submit the home study or other requested documentation to both the sending and receiving states' ICPC offices for approval before placement

• Submit home studies to the placement agency for approval before sending it to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as part of the application for international adoptions

• Ensure that Rhode Island state-mandated requirements are met

• Maintain the adoptive family's file, keeping it current and active in accordance with state regulations

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E - Education & Support

Providing education and support to our families is a critical step in ensuring the success of the adoption process. Education equips parents with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to meet the unique needs of their adopted child and navigate the challenges of adoption. 

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Rhode to Adoption will provide:

• Monthly check-ins, (typically by the adoption worker who completed your home study) to offer support and a compassionate ear

• Support for the family in navigating the next steps in the adoption process

• In-person trainings and workshops for our families

• Consultation with the family regarding potential matches

• Peer mentorship: If a family wishes to connect with other families in the waiting process or families that have completed the adoption process, we will help make that connection

• Monthly virtual support groups and discussions

• Invitation to special events and advanced trainings

• Access to our Licensed Clinical Social Worker for support and referrals

• Resources specific to your questions and needs​

• ​Optional placement on our Waiting Families List. (Please note, it is rare to receive a referral of an infant that is already born, either from the hospital or from another source. Your adoption worker will discuss this in more detail during the Home Study process.) 

• Lifelong support to families. "Once a Rhode to Adoption family, always a Rhode to Adoption family."

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By combining educational, emotional, practical, and community-focused services, Rhode to Adoption's CARE program provides comprehensive services and support to waiting families, keeping them engaged, informed, and prepared for their adoption journey. 

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