Adoption Paths - Family Building Consulting

Personalized Guidance to Address Your Needs
From Sara Lively, M.S.Ed.

Adoption seminars and adoption classes are helpful for people who want to explore their options in the company of others. Yet you (with your spouse or partner if you have one) may have specific or personal issues that you'd like to keep private for now.

I'll be your navigator, advisor, and cheerleader as you consider adopting, and (if you like) throughout your adoption process. As an independent adoption consultant with broad expertise, and no financial interest in your decisions, I'll help you meet your highest priorities for building your family, preventing headaches and heartaches in the most important journey of your life.

Services are available to same sex and opposite sex couples and singles, regardless of age, marital status, disability, religion, financial status, ethnicity or race.

Here's the range of services I'm available to provide:

Decision-making tools and guidance to help you with the decision and readiness to adopt.
Help identifying the path, country, and type of child best suited for you; and the best strategies for finding your child.
Training to prepare for the challenges and joys of adoptive parenting.
Referrals to and information about the child-placing professionals (agencies and attorneys), along with support during the selection process.
Guidance in preparing for and coping with the homestudy.
Support and encouragement in your preparation of the dossier for international adoption, the "Dear Birthmother" materials for private domestic adoption, or the licensing process for public domestic adoption.
Help coping with the difficult wait for your child and with developing support systems.
Independent "reality checks" as you work with your child-placing professional(s).
Expert advice and referrals to adoption resources.
Other needs as they come up.

Your Consulting Options
First-time clients may choose to schedule the initial, two-hour meeting with or without a written follow-up report. The hourly fee is reduced by almost half for those clients who schedule a follow-up meeting, with a more substantial discount available for pre-scheduling multiple consulting sessions.

INITIAL ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING MEETING
$300 for Two Hours

At this two-hour private meeting, you'll have the opportunity to delve deeply into your personal questions and concerns about adopting. Using specialized assessment tools I've developed over the years, I'll help you clarify your parenting priorities, answer your tough questions, and give you guidance on your next steps toward building your family. This is your meeting, and I'll do my best to honor what it is that you want to walk away with.

Due to the complexity of adoption and the careful attention that every child deserves, a minimum of two hours are required for the initial meeting. You need not be committed to adopting a child to take advantage of this session; often, I help singles and couples weigh the adoption option against remaining child-free or seeking fertility treatment.

Phone appointments are available. Northern California area clients are strongly encouraged to schedule the initial meeting in person at my office in the Santa Cruz area. Weekend and evening as well as weekday appointments are available.

WRITTEN REPORT AND ACTION PLAN
$100

Within one week of the initial assessment and planning meeting, I'll send you a written report on my observations of your strengths as prospective adoptive parents, my recommended action plan for building your family, and my suggestions about any issues or questions that still need to be addressed. Those clients who are serious about adopting, and who use the initial meeting for decision-making, may find this report very useful as their "road map."

CONTINUING CONSULTING AND COACHING
$80 Per Hour
$432 for 6 One-Hour Sessions Paid in Advance (10% discount)
$680 for 10 One-Hour Sessions Paid in Advance (15% discount)

Prospective parents who are dedicated to building their families sensitively, thoughtfully, and cost effectively rarely find two hours of my time to be enough to cover all the complex issues they face. For this reason, I've created flexible and affordable consulting packages for continuing clients who want more help with the "nuts and bolts" of adoption, the decision-making process, resources, and support throughout the entire search and wait for your child/ren.

While you might want a one-hour follow-up session for extra help or a reality check, you might instead choose the six- or ten-session package to enjoy ongoing support on a monthly or weekly basis throughout your process. Think of me as walking with you while you search for your child/ren, focusing on your needs for emotional, logistical or financial support, while your adoption agency or attorney works to balance your needs with the best interests of the child, birthfamily or country in compliance with the legal process.

Note that significant discounts on the hourly fee are made for multiple sessions paid in advance. Phone appointments are available, with weekday, evening and weekend hours open.

To discuss your needs and to schedule your appointment, please call me at 831-476-7252 or email sara@adoptionpaths.com.

Adoption Consulting & Coaching