FAQ - About Hope's Promise
GENERAL FAQ:
How long has Hope's Promise been around?
What kind of adoptions do you do?
Are you a non-profit agency?
How are you funded?
How long does it take to adopt a child?
How much does it cost?
Why does adoption cost so much?
Do you have a sliding fee scale?
Do you accept credit card payment?
When are fees or payments due?
Can I schedule a free informational meeting?
How many children did you place last year?
For Birth Parents:
Do you do open adoptions?
Do you do closed adoptions?
Can I choose an adoptive family for my child?
Can I meet or visit with other birth mothers you have worked with?
Does the father of my child have any legal rights?
Can I receive any financial assistance?
Can I meet with a counselor?
I don't know if I want to make an adoption plan...can I just talk to someone?
Domestic Adoption:
Who are the children you place?
How long does it take to adopt a child?
What criteria does Hope's Promise have for adoptive families?
Can non-Colorado families apply to adopt from your domestic program?
How do you organize your waiting list?
When is the child placed with us?
How long does a birth parent have to change their mind in Colorado?
Do you do open adoptions?
How does Hope's Promise define open adoption?
Do you provide any education or training classes?
Can you help us with a designated adoption?
International Adoption:
What countries do you currently work with?
I live in Colorado, but want to adopt a foreign born child from an out of state agency, can you help?
What is a dossier, and why is it necessary?
Will I have to travel?
Will there be people to help me in the foreign country?
Do you accept applications from singles?
GENERAL
How long has Hope's Promise been around?
Hope's Promise was founded in 1990 by its director, Paula Freeman. Our agency license has been in good standing since that time.
What kind of adoptions do you do?
We facilitate both domestic and international adoptions. Most of our domestic placements are infants. We place foreign born children of all ages, but prefer to place children under five years of age.
Are you a non-profit agency?
Yes | Back to Top |
How are you funded?
We are fully funded by fees for service from adoptive parents.
How long does it take to adopt a child?
The majority of families who apply to adopt a child through Hope's Promise are placed within a year of having their homestudy approved.
How much does it cost?
Our adoption fees vary based on the amount of services we provide, and the expenses that we have. Each program offers a payment plan, which is clearly spelled out on the Service Agreement every family signs. We strive to maintain reasonable and affordable fees.
| Back to Top |
Why does adoption cost so much?
Hope's Promise, like many non-profit adoption agencies, is privately funded by fees for service to adoptive families. We accept no government funding, and we provide free services to birth families residing in Colorado.
Do you have a sliding fee scale?
No
Do you accept credit card payment?
No
| Back to Top |
When are fees or payments due?
Adoption fees are due as services are provided. There are generally three payments for each of our adoption programs. All fees should be paid prior to a child being placed in your home.
Can I schedule a free informational meeting?
We have group informational meetings on the first Thursday of each month. Pleae call to sign up for one of these meetings. Yes. Informational meetings are held at our Castle Rock office. Non-Colorado residents can call or e-mail with their specific questions.
How many children did you place last year?
64
| Back to Top |
FOR BIRTH PARENTS:
Do you do open adoptions?
Yes. Nearly all of our adoptions are open because most of the birth families we help want open adoption. There are no agency requirements, and our desire is to help birth and adoptive families decide on a degree of openness that is right for them.
Do you do closed adoptions?
Yes, we can. This would be the choice of the birth family. If for any reason you want to preserve your privacy, we can help you make an adoption plan that is right for you.
| Back to Top |
Can I choose an adoptive family for my child?
Absolutely. We can help you in one of two ways. We have many wonderful families with approved homestudies that you can select from. Or, we can help you complete a designated adoption if you have chosen a family outside of the agency.
Can I meet or visit with other birth mothers you have worked with?
Yes. We recognize that you need support and accurate information at this time. We would be happy to have you meet and visit with other moms who have made a healthy, successful adoption plan for their child.
Does the father of my child have any legal rights?
Yes he does. He also has responsibilities. Our birth parent counselors would be happy to visit with you about your questions and unique situation. | Back to Top |
Can I receive any financial assistance?
In Colorado it is legal to help a birth mother with pregnancy related expenses. This generally means food, clothing, shelter or medical care. Many of our approved, waiting families are able to provide some financial assistance as well.
Can I meet with a counselor?
Yes! We want to help you choose life for your child, and to support you throughout your pregnancy, whether you choose to parent or make an adoption plan. Our services are free to birth families throughout Colorado. And we will come to you. You can call us on our toll free number (1-800-294-3930) to schedule an appointment.
I don't know if I want to make an adoption plan...can I just talk to someone?
Absolutely. That's why we're here. We want you to make an intentional choice for your baby and your future. We can help you look at the various options you have and make a decision that is right for you.
| Back to Top |
DOMESTIC ADOPTION:
Who are the children you place?
Most of the children are infants whose ethnicity is representative of the birth parent population we serve in Colorado.
How long does it take to adopt a child?
Most of our adoptive families are placed within a year of having their homestudy approved.
What criteria does Hope's Promise have for adoptive families?
We are a Christian agency. We believe that the best interest of any child is served by growing up in a healthy Christian family. Age, previous marriages and two working parent issues are evaluated on an individual basis. We have no religious criteria for adopting from any of our international programs.
| Back to Top |
Can non-Colorado families apply to adopt from your domestic program?
Yes, but this is closely monitored. Most of the birth families we work with prefer that their children are placed with Colorado families. We do accept applications from a limited number of non-Colorado residents. You can call to see if we are accepting out of state applications at this time.
How do you organize your waiting list?
We have a "pool" of approved, waiting families. Once your homestudy is approved, you prepare a profile book that our staff show to birth families who are considering adoption. Birth families select their adoptive families.
When is the child placed with us?
Most birth families want their babies to go home from the hospital with the adoptive family.
| Back to Top |
How long does a birth parent have to change their mind in Colorado?
Colorado law requires that all relinquishing birth families receive counseling from a licensed agency. There are two legal relinquishment processes in Colorado. The legal risk period depends on which legal option is utilized. The legal risk period can range from a few days to several weeks depending on the circumstances of the case. This is a voluntary process, and we proceed with each birthfamily when they feel ready.
Do you do open adoptions?
Yes, most of our domestic placements are open. The degree of openness, however, is mutually agreed upon between the birth and adoptive families.
| Back to Top |
How does Hope's Promise define open adoption?
An open adoption is an adoption where full identifying information has been shared between the birth and adoptive families. They have met and plan to keep in personal contact with one another after the child is placed with the adoptive family and the birth mother goes to court to legally relinquish her rights. Letters and pictures are usually exchanged several times per year.
Do you provide any education or training classes?
The state of Colorado requires that all adoptive parents attend 16 hours of core adoption training before their adoption can be finalized. Additional training is required for those parents adopting an older, special needs or foreign born child. Hope's Promise offers an outstanding training program which meets these requirements and utilizes the expertise of recognized outside speakers. This training is offered in March and October.
Can you help us with a designated adoption?
Absolutely. Call for details. We can help if both parties live in Colorado, or if only the birth or adoptive parent resides in this state. We have reasonable fees and excellent services.
| Back to Top |
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION:
What countries do you currently work with?
We are accepting applications for Nepal, Sierra Leone, and India (Colorado residents only). Our program with Vietnam is on hold. Please check back with us for updates.
I live in Colorado, but want to adopt a foreign born child from an out of state agency, can you help?
Yes. We can provide the state required homestudy, assistance with filing your INS petition, required training, post placement and legal services. We will provide you with itemized fees for the required service. Additionally, we are familiar with working cooperatively with a variety of agencies in numerous states.
| Back to Top |
What is a dossier, and why is it necessary?
The dossier is the paperwork the foreign government requires in order to approve a prospective family to adopt one of their children. Most countries have an established list of required documents, as well as an accepted form it must be presented in (i.e. notarized, certified, authenticated). It is essential to completing a foreign adoption.
Will I have to travel?
It depends on the country you adopt from. Most countries require that at least one adoptive parent travels. Some allow one parent to travel, and a few will allow the child to be escorted to the United States. Sierra Leone and India are two countries we are currently working in that do allow escorts.
| Back to Top |
Will there be people to help me in the foreign country?
Yes. You will be met at the airport, and escorted throughout your adoption process in any foreign country we work with.
Do you accept applications from singles?
Yes
| Back to Top |
