Mission
Statement: Special Delivery International exists to provide the
highest quality services to children needing homes.
We strive to provide child placement services and adoption facilitation
to families desiring to adopt internationally. Our goal is uniting
children with families and families with children.
Philosophy: It is our philosophy at Special Delivery International that
every child that comes into our care or that we are aware
of that needs placement is a special child with unique needs.
We believe
it is imperative to the child’s well being to have a clear
understanding of the child’s unique needs. It is this understanding
that allows us to place the child with a family that we feel will
provide a loving, nurturing home, and one that is most conducive
to meeting the unique needs of the child.
 Our Purpose
Guides Us
Special Delivery International is a Christian organization
which exists to provide services to international children
who need homes.
We strive to place children, age birth to 14 years of age, in
homes which will provide a loving, nurturing, supportive environment
where
they will have ample opportunity to thrive and grow. We carefully
screen families to ensure that the placement of the child(ren)
in the prospective home is indeed the best placement for that/those
child(ren).
The Needs of
Children: Our First Priority
Special Delivery International’s first priority is meeting
the needs of the children in our direct care, as well as those
children who we are aware of that need placement. The majority
of placements
to families desiring to adopt from Special Delivery International
come from Guatemala, and reside in one of three homes owned
and operated by Larry and Claire Boggs. Larry and Claire Boggs
are
missionaries
to Guatemala and a number of the families that are interested
in adopting from Special Delivery International have come to Special
Delivery based on their association with Larry and Claire and
knowledge
of their work in Guatemala. Larry and Claire have been in Guatemala
for 27 years. Their lives are dedicated to serving the Lord
through their work with the children of Guatemala and spreading
the Gospel
through the construction of Churches and a Seminary.
Finding
the Perfect Home
Special Delivery International seeks to place children with
married couples desiring to add to their family by adopting
a child internationally.
Ideally, the married
couple will be between the ages of 20 and 50, live in the United States,
and be involved in a Christian Church of their choice. Those
individuals who represent
a non-traditional family structure will be considered on a case-by-case
basis.
How to Get
Started
A completed application and application fee is the first
step in presenting to Special Delivery for adoption. The
application will be reviewed and
approved by qualified staff prior to the rendering of any facilitation
or placement
services.
A home study, completed and approved by a licensed social worker, is
also required. Ask your social worker to send a copy directly
to our office.
If you live in
Kansas and need to have a home study completed, just ask. We are happy
to help. For your reference, the following elements are required in
all home
studies:
- ADOPTIVE
COUPLE
- ADDRESS
- TELEPHONE
- MARRIAGE
DATE
- CHILDREN
- ETHNIC
BACKGROUND
- DATE
- CONTACTS
WITH THE FAMILY
- MOTIVATION
TO ADOPT
- BACKGROUND
INFORMATION ON COUPLE (upbringing of each parent)
- COURTSHIP
AND MARRIAGE
- PERSONALITIES
- CHILDREN
IN THE HOME
- LIFESTYLE
- ATTITUDE
TOWARDS ADOPTION AND CROSS CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
- PARENTING
- EMPLOYMENT,
FINANCES AND BUDGET
- HEALTH
- HOME
AND COMMUNITY
- RELIGION
- EMOTIONAL
STABILITY AND COMPATIBILITY OF ADOPTIVE PARENTS
- ABILITY
TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS, STRESS, FRUSTRATIONS, CRISIS AND LOSS
- POSITIVE
FEELINGS ABOUT PARENTING AN ADOPTIVE CHILD
- CAPACITY
TO GIVE AND RECEIVE AFFECTION
- TYPES OF
CHILDREN WHO WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR PLACEMENT WITH THIS
FAMILY
- TYPE OF
CHILD DESIRED
- REFERENCES
- CHILD
ABUSE AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
- AUTHORITY
TO DO HOME STUDIES
- POST-PLACEMENT
SERVICES
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTARY
In
the event that Special Delivery International makes the
decision that placement is
not appropriate with your family, Special Delivery will make every
effort to refer you to another agency for application
and possible placement.
There
Every Step of the Way
Our staff is dedicated to
uniting children and
families. When
you adopt through
Special Delivery
International,
you can expect knowledgeable,
compassionate and professional
guidance, every
step of the way. Generally,
services provided include
facilitation of all adoption
paperwork as
required by US authorities,
as well
as international authorities.
We
also
have a
highly
qualified social services
staff to help navigate the
confusing
and sometimes
unpredictable
nature
of the adoption process.
The
social services staff
will orient you to
become familiar with
the policies and practices of
Special Delivery International
and
to set appropriate
expectations of the
adoption process. Special
Delivery International looks forward
to
you being active
participants
in the
adoptive study and evaluation
process and we will
assist you in making
informed decisions as to the ability
of your family to meet the
needs
of the children
awaiting
adoption.
Special
Delivery
will
discuss potential
children
with you,
emphasizing
the needs of
the child and whether
placement seems appropriate
given the family dynamic.
Any adjustments
or potential problems
during and following placement are
explored. Special
Delivery International
will continue to offer
services following placement of the
child(ren) in
the
adoptive home. Three
post-placement visits will
be scheduled, the
first
one
within 30 days of
the placement and
the last taking place
prior
to one year following
placement. The following
are elements that Special
Delivery
International documents
during post-placement visits.
If your
home
study agency already has an outline
in place, feel free to
use that
one.
- FAMILY NAME
- CHILD’S
ADOPTIVE NAME, DATE OF BIRTH AND CURRENT AGE
- DATE OF
REPORT
- FAMILY MEMBERS
- DATE
OF PLACEMENT
- HEIGHT AND
WEIGHT
- COLOR OF
EYES AND HAIR
- DATE OF
LAST PHYSICIAN VISIT
- NAME OF
PHYSICIAN
- PHYSICIAN’S
FINDINGS
- DEVELOPMENTAL
PROGRESS
- EATING AND
SLEEPING HABITS
- PERSONALITY
- ADJUSTMENT
TO FAMILY: ATTACHMENT AND BONDING
- SCHOOL OR
DAYCARE ADJUSTMENT
- CHANGES
AND AFFECT ON THE FAMILY
- RESPONSE
OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY
- CHILD CARE
ARRANGEMENTS
- PROBLEMS
AND CONCERNS
- OVERALL
OPINION
- ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS/INFORMATION
The Joy
of Coming Home
Special Delivery exists so that children can come home. We
love every child
we serve and we exhaust every effort to ensure that the services we provide
to the
children
in our care
and the families that adopt through us are of the highest
quality. There
are great blessings
in opening your
hearts to the
possibility of loving
an
adopted child. We invite
you
to experience those blessings
and
we thank you for wanting
to make a difference in a child’s life.
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