If you are considering enriching your family by adopting
a child, you probably realize that this is going to be an exciting and
rewarding experience that will change your life in ways you 
cannot even predict. And if you are like most people contemplating adoption,
you might wish there was someone who could guide you smoothly through the
process of making your dream a reality.
That's why the Adoption Place at Jewish Family Service is here. We offer four adoption programs: Domestic, International, Private, and Special Needs. We provide a comprehensive set of adoption services to individuals and couples of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. They include:
The JFS Adoption Program mission is to maintain standards and policies that are consistent with applicable child welfare policy and law, including without limitation, the Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, a multilateral treaty executed at the Hague Convention on May 29, 1993, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (the "IAA" or Hague Law). and the implementing of regulations set forth in 22 CFR Part 96-98 dated February 15, 2006 (the "Hague Regulations"). Specifically, Jewish Family Service shall abide by the principles of (i) ensuring that intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of children; and (ii) preventing the abduction, sale or trafficking of children in connection with intercountry adoption.
JFS is Hague Accredited and has status as a fully accredited international adoption service provider.
The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is a multilateral treaty signed by the US and a number of other countries. It establishes safeguards ensuring that inter-country adoptions take place in the best interests of the child. The United States requires international adoption service providers serving Hague countries to be accredited, supported and monitored. Hague regulations establish uniform requirements and ensure sound ethical practices designed to protect children, birthparents and adoptive parents.
JFS is proud to have this acknowledgment of the agency's ethical principles
and rigorous commitment to the children and families we serve.
For domestic adoptions, JFS will match applicants with a child-placing agency, complete the home study and provide post-placement supervision. We will also complete all documentation necessary for formalizing the adoption.
JFS helps clients adopt children from around the globe. We work with many international placement agencies to accomplish this. JFS has a special networking partnership with Cradle of Hope Adoption Center in Silver Spring, MD. Cradle of Hope specializes in adoptions from Eastern Europe, Latin America and China. JFS provides the home study, dossier preparation, placement and post-placement services needed to facilitate these adoptions.
Often, adoptive parents wish to work directly with birth parents and their representatives. JFS can provide all of the necessary information and services to our clients pursuing private adoptions.
For those adoptive parents who choose to bring a child with special needs into their lives. JFS will help with home study services and identification of children, as well as the post-placement services needed to finalize the adoption. We also offer ongoing support services for these families.
All families experience challenges and stress, and adoptive families are no exception. JFS is sensitive to the particular issues that adoptive families may confront over the years, and we provide ongoing, individual and group counseling services and referrals to other providers, in order to help maintain healthy relationships and development.
A JFS home study offers sensitive and careful exploration of the issues
and choices involved in becoming an adoptive parent. We are licensed to
determine if applicants meet state requirements, and to prepare all necessary
adoption documentation. We will also help you decide which type of adoption
is best for your family.
Most JFS home studies are completed in 8-12 weeks. A minimum of three contacts
is required, one of which must be a home visit. We fully involve the prospective
parents in all facets of the home study process. At the Adoption Place,
we strive to be nonjudgmental in our assessments, and to serve as advocates
for our clients.
Of course, the adoption process does not end once the child arrives, and neither do the services that JFS provides. We offer a variety of useful support services, and we make sure that all paperwork and legal documents are completed for the finalization of the adoption and the requirements of the state of the country where the child was born.
We work hard to maintain good working relationships with domestic and international placement agencies, and are able to refer clients to these as appropriate. Most of these agencies are not in New York State, but they have all accepted the home studies we have completed on behalf of our clients.
| Shula Meyerowitz, MSW | Director of Adoption Services | (585)461-0115 Ext.120 |  Email |