<adoptive family quote and photo, Carrie Pahlkotter photo included>
“From the moment we began working with Joining Hearts, we were met with incredible professionalism and a wonderful support network of people who were always available and approachable. We felt this program was truly ethical as their intentions were always to prepare a plan best for birth mother. Joining Hearts is a cohesive team of people who are for each and every client and it shows.”
-Carrie Pahlkotter
Infant Adoption in Arizona <H2>
Unlike adopting from foster care, private adoption in Arizona happens when a birth mother voluntarily chooses adoption for her unborn or recently born baby and enlists an adoption agency to facilitate that process.
As an adoption agency, Joining Hearts does more than just connecting adoptive parents with birth parents. They manage the complicated process and provide professional, legal and emotional support.
<Call out box>
Catholic Charities is the only Catholic adoption agency in Arizona; however, you do not need to be Catholic to obtain adoptive services with us. Married couples from every faith background are welcome.
Adoption Process in Arizona <H2>
Our adoption specialists provide education on the adoption process and work with you to complete your home-study assessment, handle legal services and work for the best possible match with a birth parent. Additionally, we believe in post-placement support. You will never feel alone. If an adoption related issue arises in the future, our team will help resolved it. Catholic Charities has been an adoption agency for over 85 years! Every year we help multiple families with information and support on past adoptions.
How are adoptive families matched to a baby? <H3>
Adoptive families complete an assessment that helps their adoption specialist match them to a baby and birth mom. This assessment is an opportunity for adoptive couples to consider all the factors that should be taken into consideration. While some things may be unknown or uncertain, other facts like medical history, drug use, mental health concerns, race, etc. are considered in the assessment.
Brian and Kristin carefully considered their assessment. “At first we were concerned about adopting a baby exposed to drug use or medical conditions like HIV, and then we prayed about it,” said Brian. “After prayer, we opened up to all the possibilities.” Soon after they were chosen to adopt a Safe Haven baby who had been surrendered at a local hospital. < link https://www.catholiccharitiesaz.org/blog-categories/private-adoption/safe-haven-baby-adopted >
Adoptive parents cannot choose the gender of the child.
When can adoptive families and birth parents meet? <H3>
While birth parents who make an adoption plan can begin working with Joining Hearts as soon as they know they are pregnant, we recognize a lot can happen during a pregnancy. Once the birth mom reaches the third trimester, our adoption specialists will present her with all the couples who match her situation based on the adoptive family’s assessment and the birth mom’s circumstances and history. The birth mom will then consider each family. If chosen, a meeting will be scheduled.
When Karen and John were matched as adoptive parent, Emily, the birth mom opted for an open adoption, Karen was able to attend doctors’ appointments and ultrasounds. When Emily went into labor, Karen and John were both in the delivery room. John was even able to cut the umbilical cord. <link https://www.catholiccharitiesaz.org/blog-categories/private-adoption/family-ever-after-meet-adoptive-parents-karen-and-john >
Sometimes, women don’t decide to make an adoption plan until after they have given birth. When this happens, the birth mother is still presented with the matches, but the meeting may take place in the hospital. In some situations, a birth mother may choose an adoptive family and choose not to meet them.
Adoption Fees <H3>
Our adoption services have a standard fee schedule of $25,000. Joining Hearts also provides services on a fee-for-service basis for families who only need assistance with some aspects of the adoption.
If you are interested in adopting, please call us at 602-230-4910 and allow us provide the education and guidance to help you make the best decision for you and your family.
<quote from team member and photo, Sharon Hopkins photo included>
“I am so fortunate to be able to work with an agency that truly cares about birth parents and adoptive parents. I carry with me always the privilege of meeting many women and couples who are making one of the most important decisions of their lives, and I do not take this for granted. Our goal at Joining Hearts is to always provide personalized services that demonstrate compassion and empathy while celebrating the gift of life.”
-Sharon Hopkins, Adoption Specialist

Familias Unidas
Immigration Legal Services

Catholic Charities Community Services helps reunite those in the United States legally with minor children and spouses who remain in their country of origin.

Many of those we assist are refugees — those granted refugee status by the United Nations and invited here by the U.S. Federal Government — to reunite with their spouses and minor children. We also help U.S. citizens and those with legal residency secure residency for their spouses and/or children.

Services include:

• Employment authorization
• Travel documents
• DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival)
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
• Petitions/U Visas/ T Visas
• Affidavit of Support
• Fiancée Visa
• DACA renewals
• Green Card renewals
• Family-based petitions
• Adjustment of status
• Cancellation of removal
• Consular processing.
• Deportation Defense and Asylum

To schedule a consultation, please contact Diana Silva, 602-749-4415, or toll-free at 855-316-2229.

Citizenship

Are you ready to become an American citizen?

Catholic Charities can help all eligible, legal, permanent residents to apply for naturalization. To get started with a case, make an appointment or call/text 602-749-4415.

Learn more about...

Eligibility for Naturalization

In general, individuals may be eligible for citizenship if they:

1. Are at least 18 years old;
2. Have had lawful permanent resident status (“Green Card”) for at least five years, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen;
3. Have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the last five years;
4. Have continuously resided in the U.S.;
5. Have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you're applying;
6. Are able to pass the English proficiency and American civics test

English and Civics Exceptions

You are exempt from the English language requirement if you are age 50 or older and have lived as a lawful permanent resident in the United States for 20 years (“50/20” exception), or if you are age 55 or older and have lived as a lawful permanent resident in the United States for 15 years (“55/15” exception). If you are age 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years, you may also be given special consideration regarding the civics test.

You may also qualify for an exception from the English language or civics requirements if you have a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment that prevents you from being able to learn English or demonstrate knowledge of civics.

If you are considering requesting an exception on this basis, we encourage you to receive a legal consultation before applying.

Citizenship Workshops

What do you need to apply?

Below is a list of documents and information that you will need for your naturalization appointment. To help, Catholic Charities has made a Citizenship worksheet that you can fill in and print.

1. Your Legal Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card")
2. Your Social Security Card (or a copy)
3. Your Driver's license or State-issued ID
4. List of all trips you took outside of the U.S. since you became a permanent resident
5. List of all your addresses for the last 5 years (with dates of move in and out)
6. List of all your employers or schools for the last 5 years (with addresses and dates of starting and ending)
7. List of all your children (including adopted, missing, deceased, and step-children) with current addresses, Alien numbers (if applicable), dates of birth, and countries of birth
8. List of all your marriages and your current spouse's prior marriages (if applicable), including names of spouses, dates of marriage, and dates of termination of marriage
9. Information about your parents, if they are U.S. citizens
10. If you've ever been arrested, been to court, had a conviction, had immigration problems, or traffic violations, bring a list of incidents and obtain your Certified Court Dispositions (or DMV records for traffic offenses)
11. Payment to USCIS: check, cashier's check, or money order for $725 ($1,170 starting Oct. 2, 2020) payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security." Credit card payment is also accepted.
12. For Fee Waiver or Reduced Fee requests, bring proof of low income (an IRS tax transcript, recent tax returns, and pay stubs for all working members of the household).

Fee Waiver & Reduced Fee Requests

The USCIS application fee for naturalization is currently $725. The fees increase as of Oct. 2, 2020 to $1,170. However, fee waivers and reduced fee options exist. To determine if you are eligible to apply for a Fee Waiver or Reduced Fee, register for a citizenship workshop or call at (602) 749-4415.

USCIS Forms

• Application for Naturalization (Form N-400)
• USCIS Fee Waiver Request Form (I-912)

Familias Unidas
Servicios Legales de Inmigración

Catholic Charities Community Services ayuda a reunir legalmente a las personas en los Estados Unidos con hijos menores y cónyuges que permanecen en su país de origen.

Muchos de los que asistimos son refugiados, aquellos a quienes las Naciones Unidas otorgaron el estatus de refugiados e invitados aquí por el Gobierno Federal de los Estados Unidos, para reunirse con sus cónyuges e hijos menores. También ayudamos a los ciudadanos estadounidenses y aquellos con residencia legal a obtener la residencia segura para sus cónyuges y / o hijos.

Los servicios incluyen:

• Naturalización / ciudadanía
• Autorización de empleo
• Documentos de viaje
• DACA (Acción Diferida para la Llegada a la Infancia)
• Ley de violencia contra la mujer (VAWA)
• Peticiones / Visas U / Visas T
• Declaración de apoyo
• Visa de prometida
• Renovaciones de DACA
• Renovaciones de tarjeta verde
• Peticiones familiares
• Ajuste de estado
• Cancelación de remoción
• Procesamiento consular
• Defensa contra la expulsión y asilo

Para programar una consulta, comuníquese con Diana Silva, 602-749-4415 o sin cargo al 855-316-2229.

Ciudadanía

Esta listo para conventirse en ciudadano americano?

Catholic Charities puede ayudar a todos los residents legales a aplicar para ciudadanía.

Para empezar con su caso, llame para agendar una cita al (602) 749-4415.

Aprende mas sobre...

Eligibilidad para Naturalización

En general, las personas elegibles para ciudadanía si:

1. Tener al menos 18 años de edad;
2. Haber tenido un estatus de residente permanente legal ("Green Card") durante al menos cinco años, o tres años si está Casado y viviendo con un ciudadano estadounidense;
3. Haber estado físicamente presente en los Estados Unidos durante al menos 30 meses en los últimos cinco años;
4. Haber residido continuamente en los Estados Unidos;
5. Haber vivido al menos 3 meses en el estado o distrito de USCIS donde está solicitando;Are able to pass the English proficiency and American civics test

Excepciones para el Test en Ingles

Usted está exento del requisito del idioma inglés si tiene 50 años o más y ha vivido como residente permanente legal en los Estados Unidos durante 20 años (excepción "50/20"), o si tiene 55 años o más y ha vivido como residente permanente legal en los Estados Unidos por 15 años (excepción "55/15"). Si tiene 65 años o más y ha sido residente permanente legal durante al menos 20 años, también se le puede dar una consideración especial con respecto al examen de educación cívica.

También puede calificar para una excepción del idioma inglés o los requisitos cívicos si tiene una discapacidad física o del desarrollo o una discapacidad mental que le impide aprender inglés o demostrar conocimiento de la educación cívica.

Si está considerando solicitar una excepción sobre esta base, le recomendamos que reciba una consulta legal antes de presentar la solicitud

Ferias de Ciudadanía

Que necesita para aplicar?

A continuación hay una lista de documentos e información que necesitará para su cita de naturalización. Para ayudar, Catholic Charities ha hecho un. Formato de Ciudadanía que usted puede imprimir y diligenciar.

Para ello usted necesitará:

1. Su tarjeta de residencia ("Green Card")
2. Tarjeta de Seguro Social (o una copia)
3. Su licencia de Conduccion o tarjeta de Estado ID (copia)
4. Lista de todos los viajes que usted ha hecho fuera de Estados Unidos por mas de de 24 horas en los ultimos 5 años
5. Lista de todas sus direcciones de los últimos 5 años (con fechas de entrada y salida)
6. Lista de todos sus empleadores o escuelas durante los últimos 5 años (con direcciones y fechas de inicio y finalización)
7. Lista de todos sus hijos (incluidos adoptados, desaparecidos, fallecidos e hijastros) con direcciones actuales, números de extranjeros (si corresponde), fechas de nacimiento y países de nacimiento.
8. Lista de todos sus matrimonios y los matrimonios anteriores de su cónyuge actual (si corresponde), incluidos los nombres de los cónyuges, las fechas de matrimonio y las fechas de terminación del matrimonio.
9. Informacion sobre sus padres, si ellos son ciudadanos
10. Si alguna vez fue arrestado, acudió a un tribunal, tuvo una condena, tuvo problemas de inmigración o infracciones de tránsito, traiga una lista de incidentes y obtenga sus Disposiciones certificadas de la corte (o registros del DMV por infracciones de tránsito)
11. Pago a USCIS: cheque, cheque de caja o giro postal por $ 725 pagaderos a “U.S. Department of Homeland Security." Tarjeta de credito Tambien es aceptada si esta hacienda la aplicación en linea.
12. Para solicitudes de exención de tarifa o tarifa reducida, traiga comprobante de bajos ingresos (una transcripción de impuestos del IRS, declaraciones de impuestos recientes y talones de pago para todos los miembros que trabajan del hogar).

Exención de tarifas y solicitudes de tarifas reducidas

La tarifa de solicitud de USCIS para la naturalización es actualmente de $ 725. Sin embargo, existen exenciones de tarifas y opciones de tarifas reducidas. Para determinar si es elegible para solicitar una exención de tarifa o tarifa reducida, regístrese para un taller de ciudadanía o llame al (602) 749-4415.

FORMAS USCIS

• Application for Naturalization (Form N-400)
• USCIS Fee Waiver Request Form (I-912)

Catholic Charities’ Veterans Services in Northern Arizona (Coconino, Mohave and Yavapai Counties) serves low income men, women and families who are facing a housing crisis to obtain stable housing. If you or anyone you know is a Veteran experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness, we can help.

Veteran assistance program service area: Coconino County (Flagstaff, Williams, Page, Fredonia, Forest Lake, Tusayan, Valley), Mohave County (Bullhead City, Fort Mohave, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Oatman) and Yavapai County (Prescott, Prescott Valley, Camp Verde, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, Clackdale, Dewey-Hambolt, Jerome, Skull Valley, Crown King, Kirkland, Tip Top).

Services Available

Our offices in Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Prescott and Bullhead City provide the following services for Northern Arizona, low-income veterans and their families:

• Rental assistance
• Case management
• Counseling and assistance with housing search
• Personal financial planning
• Assistance applying for VA and other state and federal benefits
• Childcare
• Transportation
• Emergency assistance (some eligibility requirements apply)
• Referrals for health care, legal, daily living and other services.

If we can’t help you, we will connect you with an agency that can! Please call us at 1- 855-256-9419 to connect with a case manager near you. Services provided are based on unique need and may not necessarily include financial assistance. Some of the funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in accordance with their eligibility requirements.