Highlands believes that an adoption placement plan can be a very loving and mature choice for someone who is experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.

At Highlands, ladies choosing an adoption placement plan are active in the selection process of the adoptive couple for their child. Highlands has wonderful, Christian couples who are trusting God to build their family through adoption.

Highlands will support and assist you through the entire adoption process. While at Highlands, you will receive adoption education to prepare you for all aspects of adoption.

• Adoption Policy Guidelines
• Basic Requirements and Preferences
• Process
• Adoption Fee And Expenses
• Adoption Fee Payment Options
• Application and Follow-Up
• Adoptive Couple Profiles
  

Highlands Child Placement Services is a professional adoption agency, licensed and operated under the laws of the State of Missouri and Arkansas. We are sponsored by the General Council of the Assemblies of God and governed by a Board of Directors composed of Assemblies of God executives, ministers, district officials, and lay-people.

These guidelines are designed to acquaint all prospective applicants with the specific requirements and the general procedures followed by Highlands Child Placement Services. It is for general information purposes only, as each case is evaluated on an individual basis. A $25.00 non-refundable application fee, along with a recent photograph, is due with your Preliminary Application form.

The entire adoption process is currently taking from two to five years. Highlands is not able to guarantee a placement of a child into every home. Highlands reserves the right at any time to discontinue working with a prospective adoptive couple.

Basic Requirements and Preferences

Couples must meet the following requirements for an application to be mailed:

1. Each applicant must be a "Born Again" Christian and attend an Assemblies of God church. This is because Highlands is a ministry of the Benevolences Department of the Assemblies of God. Assemblies of God general standards of conduct and Christian living are a priority in selecting prospective adoptive couples.
2. Each applicant must be between the ages of 21-40, married for a minimum of 3 years and financially able to care for a child. Each applicant must be in good mental and physical health. There must be no use of tobacco, alcohol, or any controlled substance by either applicant.
3. Highlands accepts applications from couples who either do not have a child due to medical reasons or have one child, but are medically unable to have another child. Highlands is unable to accept applications from couples who have two or more children in their care.
4. Highlands prefers that there be no divorce in the background of either applicant. If a divorce exists in an applicant’s background, a letter of explanation concerning the reasons for the divorce is required.
5. Each applicant must attend Highlands’ Adoptive Couple Seminar in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Process

1. Preliminary Information - Each couple will be expected to complete a Preliminary Application for initial evaluation. Please send the completed Preliminary Application form along with a recent photograph and the non-refundable $25.00 application fee.

2. Adoption Application - If the Preliminary Application is positive, the couple will be expected to complete a more thorough adoption application. A $75.00 adoption application fee must accompany the return of this information. If, for any reason, Highlands is unable to continue processing your application, the $75 fee will be refunded. The Adoption Application includes the following:

   Application Autobiographies on each applicant Financial Statement, Monthly Expense Form, Tithing Record, W-2 Forms Medical Forms on each applicant Marriage Certificate and Birth Certificate Police Criminal Checks and Child Abuse Checks Pictures of Inside and Outside of Home References (including pastor, employers, relatives and personal references)

   A prospective adoptive applicant is not added to the Highlands’ adoptive couple list until the Application Packet is received, reviewed, and accepted as a suitable prospective adoptive couple.

3. Adoptive Couple Preparation Packet - Once Highlands accepts the adoption application and all references have been received and are favorable on behalf of the prospective adoptive couple, an Adoption Preparation Packet is sent to prospective adoptive couples.
         The Adoption Preparation Packet consists of suggestions and information for the adoptive couple to focus on during the time of waiting for a child. Highlands requests that an adoptive couple strive to educate themselves on adoption and be active in their endeavors to adopt a child.

4. Home Study Packet - The law requires each couple have a home study process completed. The "home study" refers to the process of several interviews, both together and individually, with a licensed adoption agency worker. The social worker visits the home in order to formulate a written report to approve the couple being prospective adoptive parents. Couples residing in states other than Missouri must have their home study conducted by a licensed agency in the state in which they live. The home study fee is an additional expense and is the responsibility of the adoptive couple.

5. Adoptive Couple Portfolio Packet - Once your home study has been completed and approved, each couple will complete an Adoptive Couple Portfolio Packet. The portfolio is viewed by an expectant mother who is choosing an adoption placement plan for her child. The portfolio serves as a tool to present your life story as a couple to the expectant mother selecting a family.

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Highlands Adoption Fee And Expenses

In keeping with the purpose and spirit for Highlands as a ministry, the Board of Directors has established an equitable adoption fee of $8,000.00.

This fee may increase if Highlands has incurred extra expenses in the birth of the child or care of the birth mother.

In addition to the adoption fee, you are also responsible for the following fees at the time of temporary custody:

1. ATTORNEY FEE: The attorney fee is currently about $1,000.00 and is payable directly to the attorney at the time of placement.

2. COURT COST: Court cost is approximately $170.00 and is payable to the attorney.

3. PUBLICATION FEE: This is a publication made for any unknown birth fathers. The cost is $110.00 and is payable to the attorney.

4. WAIVER OF CONSENT FEE: This fee is for the birth mother's and/or birth father’s court hearing to make the child legally available for adoption. Presently, the cost is approximately $500.00 to $600.00 and is payable to the attorney.

5. HOME STUDY FEE: This will depend on charges by the local agency completing your home study.

Highlands encourages couples to plan on an average of $2,000.00 in legal fees.

Highlands' fee helps to recover only a part of the housing, medical, travel, and foster care expenses for mother and baby along with the operational costs of the agency. You will be expected to pay your total adoption fee at the time of placement.

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Highlands Adoption Fee Payment Options

The adoption fee must be paid in full before you come to Kansas City, Missouri for the Temporary Custody Placement. Because a normal waiting period for adoption is two to five years, each prospective adoptive couple has ample time to accumulate the adoption fee. In order to help you save this money, Highlands has established a trust fund into which payments may be made. Several methods of acceptable payments are detailed below. You may choose any one of these methods or you may choose to save for the adoption fee on your own. If you choose to save or have the funds available to cover all the adoption fees, it is imperative that you contact Highlands and let us know you are financially ready for the adoption.

If you choose to send payments into the trust fund, simply let us know which method of payment you have chosen. All payments should be sent directly to Highlands. If at anytime you drop out of the adoption process for any reason (adoption from another source, change of mind, divorce, etc.), any money you have deposited into the trust fund will be refunded minus a 5% handling fee.*

The following are acceptable methods of paying the adoption fee:

1. In Full at the time of Temporary Custody - This includes the adoption fee, attorney’s fee, court costs, publication fee, and waiver of consent fee. If this method of payment is made, the adoptive couple must alert Highlands when they have the finances available to complete the adoption.
2. Monthly - You may make $225.00 monthly payments until the $8,000.00 adoption fee has been submitted, or until the Temporary Custody hearing, at which time all fees must be paid in full.
3. Percentage - You may choose to pay 30% of the adoption fee at the beginning of Phase III, 30% at the beginning of Phase IV, 30% at the beginning of Phase V and the final 10% at the time of Temporary Custody placement.

It is your responsibility to make payments according to the plan you choose. Statements will not be coming to remind you that your payment is due. If in the event your profile is chosen by a birth mother before all fees are paid, we will help you obtain financing in any we can if it is necessary. Normally, after we let you know that we have a child for your family, you will have about two weeks to complete payment. Highlands does not show partiality to couples who have their adoption fees in total. The decisions are based upon the desire and prayers of the expectant mothers, length of time the couple has waited, and God’s will.

*Any interest money accrued in the Trust Fund account shall become the possession of Highlands and used by Highlands to help defray costs in the area of care and support for the expectant mothers in the maternity home.

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Application and Follow-Up

• Each couple is unique and different. Therefore, the above information with the exception of the basic requirements are general and adaptable to specific couples and circumstances.
• Each couple is evaluated on an individual basis.
• Each applicant is encouraged to stay in touch with Highlands to express continued interest. Please be assured of a response to your inquiry.
• At any point in the adoption process if you adopt a child from another source, please notify us immediately. (Highlands will evaluate your file at that time and determine the status of your application with the agency.)
• Please realize that Highlands might not be able to place a child with each couple we are working with. Highlands encourages each couple to be active in their endeavors to adopt a child. This might include having an active file with other adoption agencies.
• Please be patient. Remember us in your prayers. We shall be praying that God will grant you the desire of your heart.

Should you have any questions relating to your application, please feel free to contact us:

AG Family Services Agency
Robert J. Michels, Administrator
Highlands Maternity Home
2325 Malvern Rd. | Hot Springs, AR 71901
Email: Highlands@agfsa.org | Phone: 501-262-1660

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