In episode 2 of the Spark a Movement podcast, Chloe was able to speak with Brunswick resident Phil Graves about his families experiences adopting two amazing girls, Elliana in 2017 and Brizzy in 2022, who are from Armenia and Ukraine, respectively.  Each experience brought unique challenges, from fundraising to logistics, from changing plans to entering a country in  the midst of war. Through grace, grit, and determination, the Graves successfully grew their family through all the twists and turns that can happen when adopting, especially internationally. The story continues as Phil, his wife Kristie, and the rest of the Graves family settle into their new normal as a family of 7.

Resources Mentioned in Spark A Movement Episode 2:

International Adoption Featuring The Graves Family

• Learn More about the Graves Family: https://philandkristie.com/
• Sunflower of Peace: https://www.sunflowerofpeace.com/
• Reece's Rainbow: https://reecesrainbow.org/
• Frederick News Post Article Home Safe: Ukrainian Adoptee Settles Into Life With Brunswick family:
• International Adoption (Maryland Information): American Adoptions 

Logistics of International Adoption

*Sourced from www.AmericanAdoption.com Please visit the website for more detailed information

1: Choose a country to adopt from & and Agency to work with

2: Apply For Adoption

Apply for adoption with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. If you adopt from a Hague country, you’ll file Form I-800A. If not, you’ll file I-600A.

3: Family-Child Match

After you’ve been cleared for adoption, you’ll enter a waiting period for an adoption opportunity.

4: Adoption Process

According to www.Americanadoptions.com, "After you’ve traveled to bring your child home, you’ll need to apply for their immigration eligibility back to the United Sates. For Hague countries, you’ll file Form I-800. For non-Hague countries, you’ll file Form I-600. Once you receive the go-ahead for your child to immigrate, you’ll file form DS-260 to get your child’s visa. If both parents were present for the adoption in the foreign country, you’ll receive either an IH-3 visa (Hague) or an IR-3 visa (non-Hague). If only one parent was present in the foreign country or the adoption wasn’t finalized in the child’s native country, you’ll receive either an IH-4 (Hague) or an IR-4 (non-Hague) visa."

5: Finalize the adoption in the United States.

Finalize an international adoption in the United States, even when the adoption process was legally completed in another country to ensure that your child is an official U.S. citizen

Maryland International Adoption Agencies

• Bethany Christian Services
• Creative Adoptions
• Global Adoption Services
• The Barker Adoption Foundation