Glossary of Frequently Used Adoption Terms
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Apostille
Apostilles are required for documents entering a country that is part of the Hague Convention. Dossier documents are “Apostilled” by the Authentication Secretary of State's office to confirm the notary. Haiti DOES NOT receive Apostilled Documents.
Authentication/Authentication Fee
Authentications are required for documents entering a country that is not part of the Hague Convention. Notarized documents within the dossier are required to be Authenticated by your state's Secretary of State office to confirm the notary is real.
Certified Copy
Generally, U.S. civil records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates must bear the seal of the issuing office. It is usually a photocopy with either a raised stamp or a colorful stamp with the originating issuing state's seal on it. This seal is what makes the document "Certified."
CIS
Stands for Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This was formerly known as “INS.”
Creche
Another (French/Kreyol) way of saying "Orphanage" or "O."
DHS
Department of Homeland Security
Dossier
The dossier is the package of papers you will collect to submit to your agency and/or orphanage for the adoption of your future child. Most of the se papers are required by the country you are adopting from. Some maybe be required for the purpose of the agency, some for the orphanage, and some for the US government.
Guardianship Affidavit
Some agencies require this in stateside adoptions and some international adoptions, as well. This is a notarized letter stating who will care for your adopted child(ren) should you be hospitalized or meet an untimely death. This document may be required by your homestudy agency or/and your adoption agency.
Homestudy
The adoption home study is a detailed written report of your family compiled and prepared by a social worker within your home state.
Through a series of forms, visits and interviews the social worker can get a complete picture of who you are and what life is like in your family.
A home study can run anywhere from $500 to $3000. Search for a Homestudy agency or certified social worker in your area.
IBESR
This is the equivalent of the Department of Social Services in the United States. It literally stands for: "Institut de bien-être social et de recherches"
In Country Expenses
Lodging, food, child's visa and exit tax. Possibly includes transportation and translators. Check with your agency to see what exactly is or is not included.
Independent Adoption
Independent adoption is an adoption that works directly with the orphanage and does not use an agency as a go between.
International Fee
The international fee goes to pay numerous items such as (but not limited to) staff, office costs (phone, utilities, internet, etc.), transportation costs (trips to the Provinces), donations to the orphanages, attorney fees, and foster care. Others may include such things as translations, and visa fees. Usually this fee can be broken up into payments. The international fee is usually not refundable.
Legalized/Legalization
Before documents within the dossier can be forwarded to the country you are adopting from, they must be "legalized" by a representative within the US. This is done by Haiti's consulate office(s) or emabssy within the US. Payment for legalization is usually dependent upon how many documents will require the legalization stamp.
Medical Form
See Medical Statement .
Medical Statement
A brief letter or form filled out by your doctor describing any ailments you may or may not have. Specific countries and specific agencies/orphanages require different things. Haiti, for example, requires it to be a short letter with a lab report attached indicating you ar HIV negative, Syphilis negative, and TB negative. Check to verify the requirements.
Paperchase
The collection of all required paperwork for your adoption dossier.
Passport Expedite fee
This expense ranges from $200-400 and is paid to have the passport for the child produced in approximately 2-14 days rather than 1-16 weeks.
Post-Placement
"Post-Placement" refers to any time after the child has resided in your home. Applies for both international and stateside adoptions.
Post-Placement Report/Visit
For re-adoption requirements to be met (if required), you will need 1-3 "Post Placement Visits" by a certified socal worker (Generally done by your homestudy agency). This is similar to a homestudy, however a lot quicker and cheaper, too.
Power of Attorney
This is a notarized letter written by you, authorizing a specific person or group authorization to sign important agreements or papers, or to agree or disagree to specific topics specifically relating to your adoption. Unless you plan on spending the entire adoption process with your papers, possibly in a different state or country, this is more than likely required. This can also come in handy if travel is required for your adoption, but only one parent can travel. The other parent can provide a power of attorney to the spouse to sign for him/her in his/her absents.
Psychiatric Evaluation
This is a requirement for your Haitian Adoption Dossier. The term “Psychiatric Evaluation” is very wrong for what is needed for your dossier. When calling around, try to describe what you need as a “psychological interview for the purposes of adoption.” Explain that it only needs to be a very short letter written by someone with at least a master's degree in psychology and notarized. You do NOT need a “forensic psychologist.”
Psychologist Report
See Psychiatric Evaluation.
Re-adoption
The term “readoption” generally refers to a process which your home state's court reviews the details of the adoption abroad along with additional information as it deems necessary, and issues a new adoption decree, stating that the child has been adopted in conformity with the adoption law of the applicable state. The amount of documentation and procedures involved in a readoption vary by state. Some states require readoption. Some do not. Also see Readoption Explained* by Peter Weirnicki JD (PDF) for further explanation.
Referral
A child referral is when an agency matches what they know about you and your family with what they have learned about a child from an orphanage and the caregivers. General the family will receive a picture of the proposed child and/or a written description of the child.
The "O"
Another way of saying "The Orphanage"
Special Needs
The Special or unique, out-of-the-ordinary concerns created by a person's medical, physical, mental, or developmental condition or disability. Additional services are usually needed to help a person in one or more of the following areas, among others, thinking, communication, movement, getting along with others, and taking care of self.
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