NEPAL international adoption program

The NEPAL program is an exciting international adoption option for those who wish to adopt a toddler or older child. For more information visit the link below:

http://www.adoptionstar.com/childplacement_nepal.php

Adoption S.T.A.R. is one of only a few agencies in the United States to be approved by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and the Recommendation and Supervision Board of Nepal. It is estimated that the process can take less than one year from application to completion.

For information on Nepal’s geography, history, language, climate, cuisine, children available, adoptive parent eligibility and travel requirements.

How long does it take to adopt?

Depending upon the current efficiency of USCIS (U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services), anticipate that your dossier will be ready to send to Nepal 2-5 months following your initial application. After your dossier is submitted to Nepal, a specific child's referral should be sent to the agency matching your particular requests and fitting your family's situation according to Nepalese restrictions. Referral time varies and may be 1-6 months based on the age and sex of child requested.

How is a child assigned to me?

Referrals will be made by the Nepal Family Selection Board and approved by the Ministry. Once the agency receives the child's referral, picture and medical report, we notify you immediately. If you decide to pursue adoption of that particular child, we will send a letter to Nepal specifically allocating that child to your family. That simply means that the child is formally pulled out of the adoption pool for your family and will not have another family pursuing adoption of that particular child.

What are the advantages of adopting from Nepal?

Nepal adoption programs have been popular because the time frame to adopt is usually under 1 year. In addition with the decreasing adoptions in other Asian countries, Nepal is a wonderful adoption option for many families.

What is the process?

• Complete home study and CIS form I-600A
• Gather documents for your dossier and submit them to Adoption S.T.A.R. for certification. (This step can be completed simultaneously with the home study.)
• Dossier is sent to Nepal, translated, and submitted to the Ministry.
• Referrals will be made by the Family Selection Board and approved by the Ministry. Adoption S.T.A.R. will be sent the child's referral, picture and medical report. You will be given an opportunity to decide if the referral is acceptable to you.
• Upon acceptance of the referred child, the Adoption Guarantee Letter from the U.S. Embassy will be procured. Once the letter is issued, it is submitted to the Ministry for processing. Following approval, you are invited to Nepal to finalize the adoption.
• Travel 6 to 7 months after accepting the referral. The stay in Nepal is usually about twelve business days. During which time you will finalize the adoption in person at the Ministry. The Ministry will issue the final adoption decree and all travel documentation for the child will be gathered to complete for the U.S. Immigrant Visa appointment. In Nepal, an adoption is finalized before entrance into the United States.
• Bring your child home.
• In addition to the required post placement, Nepal requires annual letters until the child is 16 years of age.

Adoption STAR founder to receive award

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2009/07/27/daily25.html

Women of Influence award winners were announced by Business First on July 29. Business First will present awards to area women who have made contributions to the community in 10 categories. Michele Fried (Adoption STAR’s founder and CEO) is one of four community professionals who will receive the Entrepreneur Award which honors women who are the chief executive, president or founder of a company or business venture that they helped start, build or significantly grow.
To read the announcement go to: http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2009/07/27/daily25.html?surround=etf
The Women of Influence Awards will be presented to 24 women on September 24 at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens. The awards recognize the business acumen and community spirit of these women, Business First Publisher Jack Connors said. “The panel chose these women based on their ability to rise above a very talented pool of competitors,” Connors said. “We’re honored to recognize their accomplishments.”

Adoption STAR is proud to be involved in creating a Chrèce in Haiti

Adoption STAR is proud to be involved in creating a Chrèce in Haiti . Chrèce (pronounced Cresh) is a French word for day care or nursery or orphanage. This Chrèce will be a one of a kind place. It will provide one-on-one care for children in need of adoption planning, in a small, family-like setting. All the children available for adoption will be placed with Adoption STAR clients. Undertaking an endeavor like this requires YOUR help. The cost of establishing such a safe haven requires financial support. An initial $2,000 is needed to be raised to help defray the costs of set up. Truly it is a very small amount. Imagine setting up such a program in the United States ? An example is that approximately $150 ( U.S. ) per month cares for one child in a Chrèce. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to Adoption STAR and earmark your donation to the Haiti Chrèce or Haiti Orphanage. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization so your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please mail your donation in to Adoption STAR, 47 Plaza Drive , Williamsville , NY 14221 . THANK YOU! Another way you can help is bring this new Chrèce to your church. It would be amazing if we could identify a local church or churches that would help support this orphanage. Upon request to Michele@adoptionstar.com photos of this project will be shared with you.


To learn more about our international and domestic programs, please attend the Orientation Session on Sunday, September 7, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm at 47 Plaza Drive , Williamsville , NY . Please email info@adoptionstar.com or call Amanda at 716-639-3900 to let us know you will be joining us!

Adoption STAR provides four inter-country programs

The Informational Session on International Adoption held on August 14 was a success with a packed room. Vera Valdivia, the agency’s International Program Coordinator was introduced and she presented two of the four country programs discussed during the evening. To learn more about Vera, visit her profile online: http://www.adoptionstar.com/agency_staff_profile.php?id=28

The agency is thrilled to provide four inter-country programs: Bulgaria , Hungary , Haiti and Jamaica and will be announcing others in the near future. Applicants nationwide will be considered. These are truly one-of-a-kind programs! For more information on international adoption through Adoption STAR, please visit this updated link on our website: http://www.adoptionstar.com/childplacement_international.php


To learn more about our international and domestic programs, please attend the Orientation Session on Sunday, September 7, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm at 47 Plaza Drive , Williamsville , NY . Please email info@adoptionstar.com or call Amanda at 716-639-3900 to let us know you will be joining us!

Adoption STAR offers International Adoption Programs!

Adoption S.T.A.R. is HAGUE ACCREDITED. We are extremely pleased to notify you that the Council on Accreditation (COA) has granted Adoption S.T.A.R.'s application for Hague Accreditation pursuant to the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA). Prospective adoptive parents considering an international adoption should know that, in order to be accredited, Adoption S.T.A.R. has been evaluated based on comprehensive standards contained in the accreditation regulations. All adoptions from Convention countries MUST involve an adoption service provider that is accredited.

We welcome you to join Adoption S.T.A.R. in your journey toward international adoption. We offer programs in Hague and Non-Hague countries.
European Countries
Bulgaria
Hungary

Caribbean Countries
Haiti
Jamaica

STAY TUNED FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING NEW COUNTRY PROGRAMS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND AFRICA.

From the moment you begin the paperwork to the time you return home with your child, the Adoption S.T.A.R. Family Advocates are there to guide you through the international adoption process. These social workers can assist you by providing translators during your trip abroad, facilitate foreign court proceedings and guide you through the necessary immigration steps before you return to the United States.

We are proud to share that Adoption S.T.A.R. is an agency with one of the highest educational standards. Adoption S.T.A.R. will be available to you during your educational process. While your education begins pre-adoption, it is important for you to know that it continues post adoption as well. Educated adoptive parents will tell you that adoption is a life long process. Whether you adopt from a Hague country or not, the Adoption S.T.A.R. educational program has been instituted to enable you to succeed and compliments and assists in completing your educational requirements.

After you return with your child, you can participate in our post adoption counseling, mentoring and social networks services. Through numerous events and get-togethers with other adoptive families, you’ll be able to benefit from the continued support we offer to families after the adoption process is successfully completed.

One of the unique features about Adoption S.T.A.R. has always been committed to adoptees and their families long after the adoption has been finalized. Adoption S.T.A.R. believes that having an understanding of his/her birth heritage beginning with childhood helps an adoptee to succeed in life by giving him/her a positive appreciation for his/her dual heritage. Adoption S.T.A.R. has built a solid reputation in the adoption community on providing top-quality post-adoption services for adoptees and their families.

We encourage each adoptive family to take advantage of the many opportunities for learning, growth, and enrichment in order to enhance their family's overall international adoption experience. We hope you will consider Adoption S.T.A.R. as your international adoption agency.

For more information on the international options through Adoption STAR email us at info@adoptionstar.com or give us a call at 716-639-3900.

Adoption STAR is Hague Accredited!

Adoption STAR is Hague Accredited!

Receiving a substantial accreditation rating by the Council on Accreditation on February 29, 2008, Adoption STAR was one of only 150 out of 300 applications to receive accreditation.
The standards for Accredited Agencies are high due to the Convention’s very important mission to strengthen protections for children, birth parents and prospective adoptive parents. Adoption STAR, also a member of the Joint Council on International Adoption, has long since felt that it’s mission to provide children with permanent loving families and to always work in the best interest of children is in line with the Hague Convention. The Convention truly provides a framework for countries to work together to ensure that adoptions take place in the best interests of a child and to prevent the abduction and trafficking of children.

International Adoption Informational Session

You are invited to learn more about the exciting new international placement programs the agency has to offer.

Some of the countries presented will be Hungary, Bulgaria, Haiti, Jamaica, etc.
RSVP to info@adoptionstar.com or call the agency at 716-639-3900!

This FREE informational seesion will be held on August 14, 2008 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm.