Caseworker & New Client Packet
As soon as MAA receives and approves your online application submission and payment, we will assign you to one of our wonderfully competent case workers. Your case worker will be your primary contact throughout your adoption to answer questions and provide additional information and support throughout each step of the process. At this time, we will also be granted access to the online MAA New Client Packet Checklist which includes all of the step-by-step instructions for the first stages of the adoption process, including the home study, the pre-adoptive training, the US immigration application, and the dossier.
The New Client Packet Checklist will also contain the MAA Adoption Contract and other documents that need to be signed and returned to MAA in order for your adoption process to begin.
It is important to begin your home study as soon as possible because it can take several months to complete, and you cannot hold or request to match with any child until you have a current, valid home study. Upon identification of your Hague accredited home study agency, your case worker will send the agency/social worker vital information that must be completed as part of your home study process and returned to MAA.
- Using MAA as your home study provider (residents of Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania).
- Using another agency as your home study provider (residents of other states).
Requesting to be matched with a specific Waiting Child
Matching with a Waiting Child (Matched)
“We just accepted the referral of a child to adopt through Madison Adoption Associates! Now what do we do?”
The prospective adoptive family should do the following research and preparation before requesting to be matched with a specific waiting child:
- Have a current, valid home study.
- Research the child’s special needs condition(s), including appropriate support groups for parenting a child with those special needs. Please refer to these medical resources as needed:
- Obtain detailed information from doctors, specialists, friends or families who have children with the same conditions.
- Identify medical specialists who can treat or consult about the condition of the child. If needed, please refer to this list of well-known International Adoption Medical Clinics.
- Be prepared to show proof of parental training, experience, education and/or understanding regarding the specific medical condition. MAA will then assign Child Specific Training and will also conduct a Child Specific Counseling call to ensure your preparedness.
Pre-Approval: Within a few days after locking your family with the child on CCCWA’s system, MAA will received a Pre-Approval (PA) notice that you are approved to submit your Dossier for the child’s adoption. Your Caseworker will notify you when the PA has been issued for your case. Note: the Pre-Approval is NOT the formal match. CCCWA will issue the formal match following review and approval of the Dossier.
Preparing and Submitting your Dossier prior to child identification
“We just submitted our application to MAA and plan to submit our dossier before considering the referral of a child to adopt through Madison Adoption Associates!”
- Research special needs conditions listed on MAA’s Special Needs Questionnaire, including appropriate support groups for parenting a child with the special needs you selected. Please refer to these medical resources as needed:
- Line up the doctors and/or medical specialists who agree to provide their opinions and feedback about the child after receiving the child’s information. There are doctors who specialize in evaluating the files for international children available for adoption. This can be challenging without advance planning! If needed, please refer to this list of well-known International Adoption Medical Clinics.
