A Message From Hopscotch Adoptions Executive Director

Department of State’s Notice Regarding New Intercountry Adoption Fees

As of February 1, 2018, the U.S. Department of State notified adoption service providers about substantial mandated fee increases associated with obtaining and maintaining accreditation by the federal government, which is required to provide intercountry adoption services. In addition to the increased fee for adoption service providers, adoptive families will also see an extra cost, potentially deterring loving families from welcoming vulnerable children into their homes.

Hopscotch’s primary commitment is, and always will be, to the safety and well-being of children here in the United States and around the world. Thus we are committed to complying fully with the Hague Convention and ensuring that adoption practices protect the rights of children and both birth and adoptive families.

However, the non-refundable $500 fee increase (per child), due at the time of submission of service and fee agreement, amplifies our concern for the negative impact on vulnerable children in wait for a permanent family and the prospective adoptive families who will be unable to step forward to meet the needs of those children.

IAAME, the new accrediting entity, will begin collecting the Department of State’s mandated fees on new applicants for intercountry adoption as of February 15, 2018. We encourage those who have interest to contact your local representative to advocate for a better solution for waiting children around the world.

For more information about how you can help, click here.

With encouragement,

Robin E. Sizemore, Executive Director
Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc
Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Morocco, Serbia and Ukraine
Pre & Post-Adoption Services available to NY and NC residents
Ph: 336.899.0068
www.hopscotchadoptions.org

Happy New Year from Your Friends @ Hopscotch Adoptions!

Wishing You A Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Join Hopscotch Adoptions And Listen To The Power Of A Wish: Matching $1 per Listen

Ho! Ho! Ho! and Happy Holidays!

We have some exciting news to share with you! Hopscotch Adoptions’ proudly introduces you to the first Make A Wish family to have received the gift of an adoption from the Make A Wish foundation, thanks to the North Texas Chapter.  During this magical time of the year when we know the power of a wish, a gift and a miracle, you don’t want to miss this spellbinding podcast.

Audible is generously making a $1 donation for EVERY LISTEN of The Power Of A Wish podcast. One listen equals one dollar, up to $25,000 dollars! Road tripping for the holiday? Baking a million cookies? Listen and support the Make-A-Wish foundation and their important work. If you share on social media, don’t forget to tag your local Make-A-Wish chapter! The Power Of A Wish is family friendly so please share widely this simple way to support the organization.

You can listen online at Wish.org/podcast

or Apple Podcasts (aka iTunes) and give them a 5-star rating to help other listeners find the show.

“Abigail’s wish was a first-of-its-kind for Make-A-Wish. When Abigail was 13, she was adopted from a Bulgarian orphanage by her parents Dorcas and Tony. A bittersweet story for Abigail, because she left behind Caroline, her roommate and closest friend at the orphanage. When she was approached for a wish, Abigail asked her parents for their blessing to adopt Caroline. After two years and lots of support from the community, Abigail’s wish came true – the two friends were united – and a family is finally complete.”

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Land: An Adventure Play Documentary

It’s Not What You Think: A Middlebury Original Podcast

#eastnc.wish.org

Attention to All 2017 Summer Host Families for Ukraine – Big News!

Dear Summer 2017 Host Families:
Hopscotch Adoptions will be waiving our $250 application fee for any summer 2017 host families!!  If you would like to complete your adoption through Hopscotch, please indicate you are a Summer 2017 host family on the application and we’ll waive the application fee!

Want learn more about adopting from Ukraine?

Monday, Aug 7, 2017    7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT
 
Please join our meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/634854341 
 
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (224) 501-3412
Access Code: 634-854-341 

**Please be sure to keep your phones/computer speakers on “mute” during the call so that everyone can hear clearly.

We hope that you can join us!  If you are unable to attend the webinar and would like to contact me directly, or request an information packet, please reach out to me at (770) 309-4239 or ukraine@hopscotchadoptions.org.  

PS: Pease note Hopscotch conducts home study reports for families located in North Carolina and New York. If you reside in Georgia or Tennessee, we can refer you to our preferred agency partners!

Celebrating your Gotcha Day, Miss Katrina!

Click to watch video.

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day! Love, Your Hopscotch Team

Who Are The Children Hopscotch Adoptions Serve?

While Father Christmas visited all the children of the world, these children may be some of the most beautiful and hope-filled children he visited. We happen to think so. Only, he could not yet bring the gift most wanted by all children… a forever family of their very own.

While many are touched by adoption, it is often forgotten that adopting a child is but only one way to help an orphaned child.

Of equal importance is your willingness to advocate for them by sharing positive adoption information, financially supporting others that are called and prepared to parent a child through adoption or simply   by being the friend, neighbor or family member that cheers an adoptive family on in their journey.
Make no mistake about this journey. The journey is difficult and long. The child waiting at the end of the family’s journey is worth every sacrifice necessary to bring them home.

Some of the faces in this video are home already, or soon to be, but most are still waiting.
Thanks for taking a moment to watch this video and share in their joy. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers that they too find their forever families.



Click here to see video.

Hopscotch Adoptions ❤ Make-A-Wish North Texas chapter! Thank you for helping Abigail’s wish come true! Welcome Caroline!! We Love our Families!!

YOU wished for gifts this season. Abigail (adopted from an orphanage in Bulgaria) wished for a sister….her friend left behind in Bulgaria. Thanks to Make-A-Wish North Texas for bringing them together again! Story to come! WFAA-TV Demi Lovato you were the second wish!

Click here to see video.

Happy New Year to Your Family from Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc

Make-A-Wish Grants First Ever Adoption Wish to Our Hopscotch Family: Abigail’s Wish Came True!

WITH AN UNPRECENTED WISH, A FAMILY IS MADE COMPLETE

Just in time for the holidays, Make-A-Wish® North Texas makes Abigail’s one true wish come true.

IRVING, TEXAS –– Make-A-Wish® is known for moving mountains to help fulfill the most heartfelt wishes for Wish Kids around the world. For Abigail, this was particularly true. Her wish is the first of its kind for Make-A-Wish and has been nearly two years in the making. It required stars aligning in a profoundly moving and certainly life-altering way.

Abigail was adopted from a Bulgarian orphanage by her parents Dorcas and Tony in 2013. She was 13 at the time and while she was obviously elated to join her new family in the United States, it was also bittersweet as she had to leave Caroline, her roommate and closest friend in the world, behind.

But that was not to be the end of their story. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis Abigail was granted a wish by Make-A-Wish North Texas. She deliberated only briefly. Would it be a trip to Hollywood or something else…something she had in mind with deep personal meaning? With her parents’ blessing, Abigail wished for them to adopt Caroline, still dreaming of a family. Make-A-Wish North Texas agreed to help facilitate and manage the logistics surrounding this most unusual wish. People around the world got involved to help, including the teams at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth and Hopscotch Adoptions.

Now, just in time for the holidays, Abigail’s wish is coming true. The girls will be reunited, now as sisters. Abigail summed up her feelings when she wrote, “Thank you God for telling me that I needed a sister!”
“How truly wonderful to be able to grant Abigail’s wish and at the same time make dreams come true for Caroline,” said Scotty Landry, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish North Texas. “This unique wish has been life-altering for all involved. We are honored to be able to help bring this family together for the holidays.”

“We were honored when the Grubaugh family chose Hopscotch to help bring their first daughter home from Bulgaria and when we were asked to be their placing agency for their second daughter, we were elated!” said Robin Sizemore, Executive Director of Hopscotch Adoptions,Inc. “We learned later on that their adoption was going to be realized through the support of Make-A-Wish North Texas chapter and that this was the first adoption, much less intercountry adoption, wish ever granted. The Make-A-Wish North Texas chapter is incredibly generous and truly listened to Abigail’s one true wish… to be the sister to her best friend left behind in Bulgaria. We cannot think of a more beautiful wish to be granted. We are ever grateful to everyone that generously supports Make-A-Wish, this is truly one of the most rewarding experiences for everyone involved.”

Update:
On December 21^st, the family arrived in Dallas after a very long and exhausting day of travel. As Caroline stepped off the plane, she became a United States citizen and began her new life.

# # #

Facebook:
After two years in the making, Abigail’s wish is now a reality! Click here for photos.

Live from DFW Airport for a heartwarming homecoming! We celebrate Abigail’s wish for her family to adopt her best friend from the same Bulgarian orphanage she was adopted from 3 years ago. Join us in welcoming this new family of 4 home!

Welcome home Abigail and Caroline! We wish everyone a very happy holiday season. We know this will be one to remember for this family!

About Make-A-Wish® North Texas
Make-A-Wish North Texas grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Since our inception in 1982, more than 9,500 wishes have been granted throughout the 161 counties we serve. Our goal is to be a unique part of the treatment process. With doctors providing the medicine, and Make-A-Wish supplying the magic, we strive to create miracles in the lives of some very extraordinary children. For more information on Make-A-Wish North Texas, please visit www.ntx.wish.org.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays From Your Hopscotch Family!

Podcast Regarding Sibling Adoption

Creating A Family Podcast: Our guests to talk about sibling adoption are Kimberly Offutt, a social worker at Bethany Christian Services and Erin Q. Nasmyth, a licensed clinical social worker with Hopscotch Adoptions, who has spent spent the last ten years working with families and children in the foster care system, in child mental health, and supporting families in adoption.

Somewhere a Child is Waiting for You…

Megan Has Left The Building! It’s Been A Great 6 Years.

On behalf Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc., we would like to express our immense appreciation to Megan Gardinier, for her service, leadership and contributions in furthering our mission in serving vulnerable children, from around the world.  Megan’s dedication and commitment to the staff, Board of Directors, families and children has been remarkable and remains invaluable.

Not only have we enjoyed six wonderful years with Megan, ‘holding down the fort’, we know our families have appreciated her and will miss her too.  Thank you to the many that have taken time to express kind words to her this week – this meant the world to her and us too! 

Many of you already know Sherry McGregor.  So, fear not, Sherry has taken over Megan’s big shoes and we know you’ll love working with her too. 

Good luck Megan!!! Team Hopscotch.

P.S. If you are wondering where Megan ran away too….. she is pursuing her dream as a hair stylist.  If you’re in town and need a trim or blow-out, you can visit her at Ego Hour. A fabulous salon and they are lucky to have her!

SAVE ADOPTIONS: Take Action Today!!! – please share this with every family member and friend possible.

Take Action Today!

Adoption advocacy is critical in helping uplift children and bring families together.

Recently, the Department of State issued a series of proposed changes to regulations for intercountry adoptions which will have profound negative impact on your ability to bring a child home and far worse, a child’s right to a permanent and loving family.

The public comment period ends on November 7. The proposal states that implementation would begin immediately.

Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc. and members of the National Council for Adoption have carefully reviewed the proposed regulations and conducted an independent cost analysis to determine the real impact on adoptive parents. The proposed changes will further negatively impact waiting children-often medically fragile children-who need to be brought home sooner, not later. 

If you have already adopted a child, would your child have benefited from coming home sooner? Absolutely!

If you have not yet brought your child home, do you feel an additional extended wait is in the child’s best interest? Absolutely not!

The authors of the proposed regulations failed to consider the tremendous financial burden which will be passed on to families like yours.  Adoption is financially beyond the reach of many families today.  Additional costs will tragically result in fewer families being able to adopt children, leaving more waiting children without hope. The regulations will require a significant increase in expense for agencies to remain operational and compliant.

Hopscotch and other concerned agencies are formulating a reply to these changes during the public comment period, but your voice and support matter now too.

You can read the proposed rules in their entirety on the Federal Register.

More importantly, we thank you for taking action by Signing the Petition or Adding a Comment. Your voice matters. Collectively, we can stand up for every child’s right to grow up in a loving family. We can be each waiting child’s voice.

Please contact us with any questions.

Sign the Petition

(This link directs to www.saveadoptions.org, a collaborative website supported by adoption advocates which has been established to share a petition against the proposed rules. The goal is to obtain 100,000 signatures during the public comment period)

Add a Comment

(This link directs to the proposed rules on www.federalregister.govwhere there is a large Green button to Submit a Comment. These are the formal comments which will be reviewed by the Department of State)

Highlights of the Proposed Rules
The Department of State (DOS) proposes…

To require a second level of accreditation, called Country-Specific Authorization (CSA).
The DOS intends to determine which countries would be subjected to CSA and block agencies access to country programs.

To set the compensation for in-country representatives.
The service providers and partners we work with are attorneys, social workers, and other professionals who have their own businesses, nonprofits, etc. and have the right to fair compensation for their country, region, and amount of work contributed to adoption cases.

To require families adopting internationally to go through state foster care training.
While the MAPP system is preferred for foster care training, it does not address the many specific educational requirements for parents adopting a child internationally. Feedback from local government agencies suggests that adding an influx of adoptive parents into the already limited MAPPs training sessions would create backups and leave both domestic and international children in care for longer than necessary.

Costs of the Proposed Rules
Country-Specific Authorization (CSA) application, per country program = $1,500

Hopscotch operates 9 country programs as primary provider. Total cost, if each country were subjected to CSA = $13,500

Materials and training so home study preparers could offer assistance with MAPPs training for those families not able to take county-offered sessions = $4199

The adoption community believes these proposed changes will limit adoptions, leaving more children without a forever family.

Thank you for taking action today!

Have you been considering adoption? Now is the time to take that first step!

Have you been considering adoption? Now is the time to take that first step! Give us a call at (336) 899-0068 where you’ll be connected with a Family Coordinator to answer all of your questions.

Happy Father’s Day from Hopscotch Adoptions

 

Thinking of you now and always. 

Happy Father’s Day from your friends at

Hopscotch Adoptions.

From Your Friends at Hopscotch: Happy Mother's Day!

Thinking of you this Mother’s Day and always. 

 

Your friends at Hopscotch Adoptions