- What
is Stars of David?
Stars
of David International, Inc., is a not-for-profit, llinois corporation.
We are a member-run organization providing a compassionate network
of support, adoption information, and education to prospective
parents, adoptive families, adult adoptees, birth families,
and the Jewish community. Most members live in the United States,
but members also live in Canada and other countries.
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Is Stars of David a licensed adoption or
child welfare agency?
No;
we not an adoption agency. Nor are we a licensed child welfare
agency. We do not provide direct placement services. We do,
however, provide information, education and support that can
and often does lead to adoption placements.
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Does Stars of David provide financial
assistance to prospective adoptive families?
No.
We do not have the resources to be able to provide financial
assistance, but we do provide information on alternatives.
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- If
Stars of David does not provide direct placement services, and
does not offer financial assistance to prospective adoptive families,
then how does Stars of David assist prospective adoptive families?
Stars
of David provides information, education, support, networking
opportunities and other related resources to families before,
during and after the completion of an adoption.
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- Why
are the resources that Stars of David provides important to prospective
adoptive parents?
There
is a great deal of risk involved in all facets of the adoption
process. The best ways to minimize these risks are to: (a) remember
that the rule of caveat emptor ("let the buyer beware")
applies across the board in all adoption-related matters; and,
(b) obtain as much accurate information as is possible about
the service providers (agencies, attorneys, etc.) in your area
before embarking on any course of action.
Stars of David understands that choosing to adopt and going
through the process can make prospective parents anxious (well,
okay, a little crazy.) Our resources help members anticipate
and address the risks, the stresses, and the joys of participating
in the adoption process.
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Does Stars of David assist only prospective
adoptive parents?
No,
we also:
A. Provide information to adult adoptees who wish to search
for their birth families. While we do not do the actual search,
we do provide information and other resources that will assist
those interested in searching find appropriate services.
B. Assist birth families in finding services appropriate to
their needs.
C. Serve as a non-political advocate and educational agent for
adoption-related issues, especially those that affect the Jewish
community.
D. Work with governmental agencies and the larger adoption community
to improve all aspects of the adoptive process.
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- Does
Stars of David charge membership dues?
Yes.
Dues are $50.00 per year for individuals and families and $125.00
per year for agencies and professionals.
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Will Stars of David waive or reduce
membership dues for those who are legitimately unable to pay?
Yes.
However, we reserve the right to review all requests for reduction
or waiver on a case-by-case basis so as to ensure that there
is a genuine inability to pay.
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- Does
Stars of David provide any resources free of charge?
Yes:
A. Our website, http://www.starsofdavid.org/, is currently free
of charge.
B. We also operate a hot line, 1-800-STAR-349, which can be
accessed without cost.
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How will joining Stars of David, or getting
active in a local chapter, improve my adoption experience?
The
networking opportunities that our local chapters provide will
enable you (and your children, if any, both birth and adoptive)
to receive invaluable emotional support and information from
others like you. Members will have the opportunity to network
with other members at social events and educational programs.
You can also network with other members via our private listserv.
Our membership also includes adoption service providers who
provide direct service to our members.
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- What
is the current cost of an adoption?
There
are no fixed rules with respect to costs; each adoption situation
is unique and each service provider establishes its own fee
schedule. However, a conservative estimate in 2006 would be
in the range of $15,000.00 to $30,000.00 (in US Dollars).
International
adoptions tend to be more expensive than domestic adoptions
due to the additional fees for using both a local and international
agency and the costs of travel.
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Are there any adoption situations that
are not quite so costly?
Some
governmental agencies will subsidize, or even pay most of the
costs for some of the adoptions completed under their direct
supervision. For details, contact the agency in your state or
province that is responsible for enforcing child welfare laws.
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What are some things all prospective adoptive
parents should know before beginning the adoption process?
A.
More often than not, adoption boils down to being really persistent,
taking risks, making leaps of faith and being creative in finding
available resources. Like child rearing, adoptions aren't done
in one day, and they require an extensive amount of patience.
B. Information, support and networking are the MOST valuable
assets in the adoption world.
C.
If an adoption agency or other service provider requests full
payment of all fees up front, find another service provider
immediately. This is a tipoff to a huge ripoff!!
D.
The rule of caveat emptor ("let the buyer beware")
applies across the board in all adoption-related matters. So,
investigate all available options and adoption situations thoroughly.
Make sure to get at least three references for any service providers
you wish to use. Also, check with the appropriate authorities
in your area to see if the provider you wish to use has been
the subject of any consumer fraud, license revocation or other
similar type complaints. If they have, find out the exact nature
of the complaint(s) and the disposition of any resulting legal
proceedings.
E.
Make sure that the service provider you select furnishes you
with a written fee schedule that specifically details the nature
of all fees charged and the times at which they are payable.
You should also enter into a separate, written contract with
your service provider that sets forth the rights and responsibilities
of all parties.
F.
Ask the agency or service provider how many successful placements
they have had in the past year. Ask them to provide you with
references, and check them!
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- Can
I adopt a Jewish child?
The
vast majority of "Jewish adoptions" are by Jewish
adoptive parents adopting a non-Jewish child (that is, a child
born to a non-Jewish birth mother). It is possible, but extremely
unlikely that you will be able to adopt a Jewish child.
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- Can
I adopt a child from Israel?
No.
Israel does not allow people from other countries to adopt children
born in Israel. The only way you can adopt a child from Israel
is if you are a citizen of Israel and are living in Israel.
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