Families United Network, Inc. FAQ

1. Tell us a little about the founding and development of your organization?
   Families United Network, Inc. is a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare as a voluntary child welfare agency. The agency provides a spectrum of foster care, kinship care, adoption, residential care, shelter care, and supervised independent living service. Since the inception of Families United Network, Inc. in 1996, the agency has grown to include five foster care offices and three residential centers. Adoption services are offered throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Families United Network, Inc. is Hague Accredited through the Council of Accreditation.
2. How are your adoption home study and your organization unique?
   Families United Network, Inc. charges one set fee for the adoption home study and post adoption services. We do not charge additional fees for training, clearances, mileage, or hourly rates. We attempt to make the process as easy as possible.
3. Why are you passionate about adoption and the home study process?
   Families United Network, Inc. has many years experience providing home study services for foster families wishing to adopt. This became a natural transition to be able to provide home studies to families who wish to adopt domestically or internationally.
4. How long is an adoption home study valid?
   In the state of Pennsylvania, the home study is valid for one year for a domestic adoption. Families United Network, Inc. is able to provide home study updates at a reduced cost of the initial home study. Home studies completed for international purposes expire 18 months from the point they receive USCIS approval. There can be many different expiration dates based on the individual country in which the adoption is taking place.
5. Approximately how much time is necessary to complete an adoption home study by your organization?
   The length of time it takes to complete home study greatly depends on the family's ability and speed to complete the training and the collection of documents. On an average we are able to complete a home study report in 9 weeks. Families United Network, Inc. also makes a commitment to help as many families as possible. If a family has individual time lines to meet, we will make every effort to assist the family. Please visit our website at www.families4kids.org