[vickih65]

I have crossed out the name of the agency from where I have copied this info. They are not my agency but had a the info on their website. They are located in Chicago and are a very well known and reputable adoption agency licensed in Illinois for international adoption, I am finished with the debate, in the end it is up to each individual to choose their homestudy agency. I have DCFS approval, no foster parent license and am picking up my daughter in China in two weeks
Licensing
Because XXXX is an Illinois licensed child welfare agency, we are authorized to provide licensing services to adoptive parents at no charge. Families residing in Illinois are required to obtain licenses in two instances.
These licenses, called Foster Family Home Licenses (FFH), are required in all domestic adoptions. Licenses also are required in international adoptions if only one parent in a two-parent family personally sees the child prior to adoption or the adoption is finalized in Illinois rather than the child's country of origin. Adoptive parents from other states that use XXXX placement services should consult the child welfare authorities in their states for licensing requirements.Licensing begins during the XXXX initial application process and is completed during the Home Study. The FFH process involves gathering information in several areas.

• Criminal and child abuse background checks are obtained.
• Results of physical examinations conducted by parents' personal physicians.
• Reviewing other family documents including marriage licenses, divorce decrees, tax returns and proof of medical insurance.
• Reviewing personal references.
• Including as part of the Home Study a physical inspection of the home focused on safety features and a thorough review of the FFH regulations related to adoption.

FFH licenses are issued for four years, may be renewed and may be dropped at any time after finalization of the adoption upon written notice. To maintain an FFH license, parents are required to engage in an annual compliance check at their home and each parent must participate in at least 16 hours of training and education over the four-year course of the license. Six hours of training and education are required prior to issuing a license. XXXX offers on-site and correspondence education and training courses that may be used to fulfill the FFH training requirements

Best of luck to you all
Vicki