 Second Chance For Kids Program
The Second Chance for Kids program is an option WIA offers to families who have adopted children and for which the placement has been difficult for both the adopted child and the adoptive family. Our Second Chance for Kids program offers a respite home option for the adopted child in order for the child to work on refocusing emotions so the placement in their new family can be successful. In other cases Wasatch Adoptions can also provide assistance to the adoptive family in order to try to find a new home in which to place their child.
How a Second Chance Adoption helped our family.
To whom it may concern:
Nearly two years ago, I first contacted Cyndi Peck about helping our family find a new home for our son, “Jeff.” Jeff has behavioral issues that made him more than a challenge to raise, but after many years of trying, Jeff's problems combined with other family dynamics made use realize we weren't helping him, and we all were suffering.
Being ten and a half, Jeff faced a harder time finding a new family. Despite that, Cyndi was undaunted while at the same time letting us know the difficulties of such a placement. Cyndi conducted a thorough interview with us about Jeff and our family situation, then clearly spelled out what documents she needed to put together a profile for Jeff. She immediately got to work and in short order had Jeff's profile online and distributed to a number of contacts she has developed through years of working on adoptions.
Things did take a while to develop because of Jeff being an older boy, but Cyndi was never deterred. Whenever we called or wrote, Cyndi was either available or was quick to respond. If we didn't contact her for a while, she would contact us with status, even if just to say, “Still looking.”
Cyndi called us one day saying something like, “OK – I think this is it! I've found the perfect family for Jeff.” Things moved rapidly from there, and again Cyndi was on top of things, making sure both sides were informed and kept abreast of what step to take next, and giving us suggestions for lawyers in our area to help do the re-adoption. We used one of those lawyers, which went smoothly, and after about two months of red tape, Jeff was with his new family.
It has been nearly three months and we couldn't be more pleased with the family Jeff is now with.
Respite Care:
 The Ranch for Kids - This option is one that you as a family may choose if you would like a break from parenting your adopted child for a while. The Ranch for Kids provides continuing education for school aged children and can be a safe place for the child to work on emotional and adjustment problems they may have had in their new family. For some adoptive parents, the time your child is at the Ranch can be used as a break from the stress you may be feeling after the placement and a chance to locate resources for professional counseling for both you and your child. For others, it may be that you as the adoptive parents have already made the decision to dissolve the adoption and The Ranch for Kids is a safe environment for your child until a new family can be found. The Ranch for Kids can accommodate parents in either situation.
Other options –WIA has a list of programs available in communities throughout the state of Utah but all states throughout the U.S. have short term respite care programs available. For more information about Utah respite options, contact us at director@wiaa.org. For those families living outside the state of Utah we suggest contacting your state’s Human Services to obtain information about available programs. There may be other private residential programs available for parents who need help with respite care and we suggest families’ research information on these options before making a decision to place a child in respite care.
Dissolving your adoption:
 If you have already made the decision to dissolve the adoption of your child, WIA may be able to can you locate another family to adopt your child. If you would like more information about this option please contact us at secondchance@wiaa.org.
The Ranch For Kids
The Ranch for Kids is a respite care home for adopted children who are experiencing difficulties in their new families. Troubled children come to the Ranch for a predetermined period of time to receive behavioral adjustment through personal, one on one mentoring and group activities that contribute to the daily routines and lifestyle of the ranch. Wide open spaces, a natural environment, and ongoing care for animals give the children a chance to grow and refocus their emotions into practical everyday activities. A common sense, relaxed approach and a sound moral base contribute to building a successful lifestyle.
The Ranch for Kids has an educational program that is administered by the local school district that is provided to all school aged children. The Ranch leases a commercial school building just a few miles from the ranch and the facility is complete with a gymnasium and grounds outside when the weather allows. The classrooms are divided between Elementary, Middle School and High School. A wide variety of testing tools are available to determine any areas where a child may need special help and assistance. ESL and special education support systems are also available. High School credits are given for a number of vocational programs, language skills and language classes.
The Ranch for Kids assists to reintegrate the child for the return to their adopted parents or in some cases a referral for placement into a new adoptive home. You can find more information about the Ranch for Kids by going to http://www.ranchforkids.org/.
If you are interested in learning more about this program we would be happy to discuss options with you. Our Second Chance for Kids coordinator has assisted hundreds of families over the years with their adoptions. You can contact her at secondchance@wiaa.org with any questions you may have.
Costs for Respite Care at The Ranch for Kids
If you make the decision to use the respite care services of the Ranch for Kids, the cost is $3500 per month.
What WIA will do for you:
- WIA will help secure a place for your child at the Ranch for Kids in Montana.
- WIA will be available to help you with suggestions on how to obtain professional counseling for your child and your family and help you with ideas on how to find other respite care options in your state.
- WIA will provide assistance to adoptive families who decide they want to dissolve the adoption of their child. All state ICPC laws are followed for a re-adoption.
If You Decide To Dissolve Your Adoption
What WIA will do for you:
- Post a picture and a profile of your child on Rainbow Kids, other disruption blogs and websites, and also on our own website.
- Respond to all inquiries from families who are interested in your child and screen those who may be an appropriate match. Remember, it may not be possible to make a new match, but we will do all possible to find an appropriate adoptive family for your child.
- Provide profiles of all qualifying adoptive families to the disrupting family if desired. When profiles are provided the disrupting family will be able to choose or approve the new adoptive family when appropriate.
- If and when a new adoptive family is located WIA will help to coordinate the process for the re-adoption, following all ICPC laws.
Costs associated with placing your child for adoption:
- Profiling your child - $950 per year. WIA will post your child’s picture on various websites and the WIA website and will also send the picture to other agencies across the U.S. Information is provided to any families showing interest in adopting your child. In order for WIA to post your child’s picture you must provide a detailed profile with information about your child and also sign a release of confidentiality allowing WIA to share this information with any family who contacts us about your child. There are no guarantees that we will be able to find a family for your child but we will work hard on behalf of you as the placing family to screen potential families who can meet your child’s unique needs. The placing family will also be responsible for the costs of the following things:
- Fees charged by state licensed adoption agencies or private attorney to complete the relinquishment of parental rights and the ICPC paperwork to complete the adoption of the child.
- Medical, psychological and/or other reports on the child required by ICPC to complete the adoption process. Private insurance carriers may cover the costs of medical exams.
- Foster care or Ranch fees should the adoption not be completed or the placement isn’t finalized.
- If the placement fails the cost of transportation for the child to return to the Ranch for Kidd, the placing family’s home, or other appropriate care.
- Costs of any airline travel necessary.
Please note that some of these costs are not controlled by WIA but are a necessary part of the re-adoption process.
Adopting A Child From A Dissolved Adoption
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From time to time WIA is contacted by families who ask for assistance in placing their child with another family. If you are interested in adopting a child from a family who wishes to dissolve the adoption of their child we can help. We are currently accepting applications from families who are interested in this option. There is no cost associated with the submission of an application. When a family makes the decision to dissolve an adoption our staff will review all applications sent to us to find a good family match for the child. If you are one of the families matched with the available child we will contact you immediately to begin working with you. There is no charge to submit an application for our parent waiting list.
If you decide this is something you are interested in please contact us for an application. If a match is made between you and an available child we will immediately contact you and will provide a detailed profile of the child available. Once the match is made we will contact you and provided the following:
What WIA will do for you:
- Provide non-identifying information for a child you may be interested in adopting.
- Coordinate possible visits with the child before applying to adopt the child.
- Coordinate the adoption process if you decide to adopt a child.
- Assist and coordinate post adoption reports required after you as the adoptive family takes custody of the child.
Costs associated with adopting a child from a dissolved adoption:
- Application - $200. The preliminary application must be signed and submitted to WIA once the match is made with a child. The application fee is due with the signed contract. Once this fee is paid it is non-refundable.
- Agency Fee - $3,000. This fee is due with the acceptance of a child referral. Once this fee is paid it is non-refundable.
- Attorney fees, court finalization fees, ICPC fees. You as the adoptive family are responsible for their attorney fees, finalization and court costs, and ICPC services in your state of residence. These fees will vary from state to state.
- Post Adoption reports. WIA requires two post adoption reports but the state in which the child is adopted may require additional post adoption reports. The cost of post placement reports will vary from state to state and the cost will be the responsibility of you as the adoptive family.
- Counseling. The Adoptive family will be responsible for the cost of additional counseling required or requested by WIA or the placing family. The goal is to have a successful placement and counseling may be required to accomplish this goal. Fees for counseling will vary from state to state but may be covered by private insurance carriers.
- Escort Fee - $500. If the child is living at the Ranch for Kids and you as the adoptive parents will be responsible for the escort fee as well as the following expenses:
- Airfare for the escort and the child
- Meals and hotel costs for the escort and the child until the adoptive family takes custody of the child.
- Cost of airfare to fly to the child’s state of residence as well as hotels and meals while in the state
- Cost of airfare if the prospective adoptive family wants to visit the child at the Ranch for Kids prior to placement.
- Home Study. All families adopting a child must work with a licensed social worker in your state of residence to complete a home study. The cost of a home study will vary from state to state. For help in finding an agency that provides home study services contact our office.
When you as the adopting family arrive in the child’s state of residence you can take custody of the child. If you visit the child at the Ranch for Kids, you will be responsible for your own airfare, meals and accommodations for the duration of your visit.
A Family's Story
My husband and I had been trying to adopt for almost two years. The first agency we used stopped returning phone calls and emails after receiving half of their fees. We decided to try again using a different agency. The owners and staff were wonderful, caring people but the children we had chosen were from a country that had impossible demands and used heartbreaking threats constantly.
On July 15, 2010, my 38th birthday, I received an email from RainbowKids.com with a picture of the cutest little boy that had been disrupted by his original adoptive parents. I quickly contacted the listing agency, Wasatch International Adoptions, and requested more information on him.
I was immediately contacted by Cyndi Peck and after our first conversation I knew I had found an organization that truly cared about the children AND about us! Once we were considered a match, Wasatch and Cyndi went above and beyond their duties to put us in contact with the agencies needed to revise our home study and helped us find an attorney qualified to handle the ICPC paperwork.
Three months after seeing that sweet face in my inbox, our son was home! Cyndi and I have stayed in touch and she assures me that I may call her whenever I have a question or am not quite sure how to handle a situation involving Noah. She recommends books, websites and shares the experiences she’s had with her own adopted children.
Our family is now complete and I am experiencing the sweet joys of motherhood. Noah is thriving and we feel so very blessed to have the child we’ve dreamt of our entire life.
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