Connecting Hearts Adoption Services
Connecting Hearts. Building Families.
Connecting Hearts. Building Families.
Connecting Hearts Adoption Services is a licensed child-placing agency in the State of Florida. Our main focus is your international or domestic adoption home study. The home study is the foundation and first step of all adoptions. It is the process by which you become eligible to adopt and is a legal requirement. Regardless of where you live or where you plan to adopt, you’ll need to complete a home study!
Why use an adoption home study service? Because the adoption home study is our specialty and all we do, unlike a “full service” agency. Completing your home study is our ONLY focus and our fees are often more reasonable. Our home study is valid with any Florida agency or attorney as well as any agency or attorney across the United States!
We are here to help you both before and after your adoption as well as support you throughout your journey. The adoption home study can be an overwhelming experience for an adoptive family, but it doesn’t have to be!
Our services include:
• Free initial consultations •
• International, Domestic & Embryo Adoption Home Studies •
• Referrals to agencies/attorneys/consultants upon request •
• Post Placement Visits & Reports •
To get started you can download our application which can be found with all our forms online. Should you have any questions, please call us at 407.733.8642 or email us: info@heartadopt.com
Connecting Hearts is here to make this process easy. Our goal is to make the home study visit informative, educational and comfortable! We also know you may have many questions about the adoption process. We are here to answer your questions and listen to your concerns.
Our fees are as follows:
Fees for DOMESTIC Services
$100 application fee (due prior to home visit with initial application)
$1,000 domestic home study (fee due at home visit)
$400 in addition to the home study fee (home study completed in 5-10 days & fee due at home visit)
$500 home study update (fee due at home visit)
$175 post placement visits for domestic adoption (per visit/due at each visit to your home)
Fees for INTERNATIONAL Services
$100 application fee (due prior to home visit with initial application)
$1,800 international home study (fee due at home visit)
$700 home study update (fee due at home visit)
$275 post placement visits for international adoption (per visit/due at each visit to your home)
Connecting Hearts Adoption Services is accredited by the Central Florida Better Business Bureau and a proud member of the Florida Adoption Council. Should you have any questions, please call us at 407.733.8642 or email us: info@heartadopt.com
Post placement visits/reports are required after your child has been placed in your home. The number and frequency of visits will be determined by your agency/attorney. If completing a traditional domestic adoption these reports become a part of the courts file, prior to the finalization of your adoption.
Connecting Hearts Adoption Services visits you and your child in your home to observe how well you and your new addition have adjusted. Becoming a parent is the most rewarding experience and also the most challenging. We are here to support you!
Should you have any questions, please call us at 407.733.8642 or email us: info@heartadopt.com
Welcome/Checklist -Print this first and read carefully!
1. Application
2. Home Study Agreement
3. Self Study
4. Employment Verification
5. Financial Form/ Family Budget
6. Medical Report
7. Pediatrician Report (if applicable)
8. Health Insurance & Guardianship
9. Reference Letters (5)
10. Required Background Checks
11. Affidavit of Good Moral Character
12. Copies of the following documents:
drivers license(s) divorce decree(s)
birth certificate(s) previous years’ tax form 1040
marriage certificate pet vaccination records
*Post Placement Report Contact Information
*Home Study Update Checklist/ Instructions
*Florida Interstate Compact Application - required only if your PLACING agency is not in Florida
How long does it take to complete an adoption home study? Provided that you are able to provide us with all your paperwork completed in a timely fashion, we are able to complete our studies in 30 days! If you need your home study completed sooner, let us know.
How long is a home study valid for? A home study is valid for one year from the date it is signed.
Is a home study completed by Connecting Hearts valid with any agency or attorney? YES! A home study completed by Connecting Hearts is valid with any agency or attorney throughout the state of Florida as well as with any agency or attorney across the United States!
Does Connecting Hearts work with single parents as well as married couples? Yes, absolutely.
What is the adoption tax credit for 2010? For the year 2010, the maximum adoption tax credit is $12,170. Please click on this IRS link to read more about the adoption tax credit. It is recommended you speak to your tax adviser about the adoption tax credit to determine if you are eligible for this benefit.
Is there an income requirement in order to be eligible to adopt? You do not have to be rich to become an adoptive parent. You need to be financially stable.
What can we expect when you come to our home? When we arrive, we will ask you for a tour of your home. Once that is done, we will sit down and talk!Easy as that. The home study visit is meant to be informative, educational and comfortable. Our goal is that when we leave you feel excited, inspired, hopeful and prepared to forge ahead on your adoption journey.
Amy Imber has worked in the adoption field for over 12 years. She has been honored to be a small part of countless adoption journeys and has time and time again seen how powerful and amazing adoption can be. To Amy, it is an honor to be a small part of such an intimate time in the life of a family and seeing dreams come true. Amy is married and the mother of two boys who keep her on the go!
Nicole Fox is our Social Worker located in south Florida. Originally from Atlanta, Nicole has made Fort Lauderdale her home. Nicole brings compassion and enthusiasm to her work…which is evident to our clients who have the privilege of working with her!
We welcome your email anytime at info@heartadopt.com
and can be contacted directly at 407.733.8642
“Amy made the daunting thoughts of the home study disappear with her continued communication via phone or email. When she steps in your house you automatically feel a sense of relief. It was as if we had invited a friend over to chat.”
~Jenn & Gary, Haines City, Florida
“When my husband and I needed to have the home study done quickly, Amy was ready for the task in no-time. John and I felt an instant connection with Amy; a feeling cannot be explained with words alone. Amy is direct and to the point, focused on her task and yet sensitive and passionate about adoption. We couldn’t have prayed for a better person to do the job. She is such a dedicated person that it is thanks to her that today we are proud parents of a beautiful baby girl.”
~Annette & John, Maitland, Florida
“Amy is wonderful. She made us feel so comfortable at our home study visit. She is very articulate, responsive and is extremely knowledgeable of the adoption process. We would recommend her to anyone needing an adoption home study!” ~Vanessa & Joe, Miami, Florida
“Adoption can feel like an overwhelming process. Amy has an infectious optimism that helped to replace our anxiety with complete excitement to move forward in the process. She has been there whenever we have questions or concerns and has helped us get to where we are today – parents to our beautiful baby girl!”
~Amy & Devin, Winter Park, Florida
“Amy was obviously on our side from the moment we met her. Not once did we feel like we were being judged. Instead we were informed and encouraged and because of that were able to make wise decisions that led to the speedy adoption of our son. Amy was professional at every point but went beyond professional obligation and let us know that we were valued as clients, parents and as a result, friend.” ~Wanda and Jerry, Cape Coral, Florida
