PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Korean program through Social Welfare Society is AIAA's oldest placement program. More than 3,000 families have adopted a Korean child dating back to 1975.

CHILDREN BEING REFERRED:

Infants generally relinquished at birth by single birth mothers. Children with special needs may be toddlers. Individual foster care is provided. Infant is defined as a child up to the age of one (1) year at time of referral.

Couples living outside our direct service area, Michigan, must be open to a child with at least a minor medical condition. This is minimally defined as prematurity (at least four weeks), low birth weight (at least 5 pounds) and minimal maternal alcohol consumption and smoking.

PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

1. Couples married a minimum of three (3) years, of good moral character, stable, nurturing marriage with a commitment to instill knowledge and pride in country/culture of Korea;
    

2. Twenty-five (25) to forty-four (44) years of age with no more than eight (8) years age difference between applicants;
    

3. Without children or no more than four (4) children including previously adopted children. Korean child coming into family should be youngest by at least two (2) years. Exceptions will be considered children with special needs;
    

4. Minimum of a high school education;
    

5. In good physical and mental health with no disease or medical condition that would interfere with one’s life expectancy or ability to parent. Weight health issue for Korean agency. Applicants must be 30% or under for BMI.  See KOREAN BMI WEIGHT CHART on web site. Applicants cannot be on medication for anxiety or depression. Other medical conditions reviewed on case-by-case basis;

6. At least one parent travels to escort the baby to their new family.
    

7. Three (3) post placement supervision reports completed by social worker, post placement medical, and pictures in six (6) months;
    

8. Adoptive parents required to provide AIAA with copy of final adoption degree to be forwarded to Korean agency to close Korean
   adoption file.
    

SEE ADDITIONAL  AIAA GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

PROCESS:

To begin process, see “GETTING STARTED WITH AIAA” on web site. If you live out-of-state, you need local social service agency that can sign Supervised Service Provider Agreement with AIAA to provide these services. See “CHOOSING KOREAN LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER” on web site.

Child referral information from Korean agency will be shared with you by your caseworker. It will include social/medical history of birth parents, if available, birth and present medical condition, developmental information, and pictures.

Korean agency is appointed guardian of child following relinquishment from birth parent(s). Guardianship is transferred to AIAA until the finalization of adoption adoptive family’s county court.

Children travel 3-4 months following acceptance of referral. Due to the fact that the babies are now older infants, the Korean agency expects that at least one parent travel to Korea to escort their child home.

Children receive automatic citizenship following finalization of adoption in US. However, parents should apply for Certificate of Citizenship.

FEE SCHEDULE (As of January 16, 2009):
 

Reduction in overseas fees considered by Korean agency on case-by-case basis for children with special needs.

ADDITIONAL FEE:   There is a fee of $300 for the Korean Social Worker's services when the family travels to escort their child home.

PLEASE NOTE: These amounts do not include home study or post placement supervision fees.

For further information regarding Korean Program or to inquire about children with special needs, please contact office and ask for Korean Program Administrator, Tammy Lydick, or email her at tammy@aiaaadopt.org.

We look forward to working with you for a child from Korea.