Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
I want to take an Adoption Learning Partners (ALP) course. What
do I do?
How do I find out if I qualify for free enrollment and certificate fees?
I am adopting a foster child in a state other than Illinois. Am
I eligible for a free certificate?
What is the difference between an individual and joint registration?
I forgot my username and password.
Do I need to be affiliated with an agency to take an ALP course?
Do I need the Participating Agency Code (also known as Agency Partner Code) in order to register?
I need to change my registration information.
I registered as an individual but I want to change to a joint
registration with my spouse/partner.
We registered as a couple but we need to change to individual
registrations.
COURSES AND CERTIFICATES
What does it cost?
How do I pay?
How do I know what courses I have taken?
How long do I have to take a course?
How do you know that I've completed a course?
I know I took a course (s), but you say I didn't complete it.
I know I took a course (s), but myALP doesn't show it.
How do I obtain a Certificate of Completion?
Do I have to send you all of the homework for With Eyes Wide Open?
Do I have to apply for a Certificate of Completion immediately if I take a free enrollment course?
I completed a course when it was free, but now I need a Certificate of Completion.
I completed a course when it was free but did not finish it. Now I want to do so. Do I need to pay?
When will I receive my Certificate of Completion?
I need the certificate quickly.
What if I lose my certificate?
My adoption agency needs a copy of my certificate.
How many credits do I get for taking a course?
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS
I have been trying to create a registration but I keep getting the message that my username is already in use. I keep trying with different usernames and get the same message.
After I've been on the course a while, it times out and
then I can't get back in.
I don't have audio.
I don't have a high speed Internet connection.
I never got an evaluation or survey at the end of the course.
How do you save the homework in With Eyes Wide Open?
What if I don't have an email address?
What do I need on my computer to take your courses?
I want to take an Adoption Learning Partners
(ALP) course. What do I do?
First, you will need to register to create an account with Adoption Learning Partners (ALP). Click on the ‘register’ button and follow the prompts.
Once you have registered you may enroll in each of the courses you want to take.
How do I find out if I qualify for free enrollment and certificate fees?
Enrollment and certificate processing fees for many courses are waived if you meet one of the following criteria:
You are an Illinois resident and you are adopting or fostering
a child who is currently in foster care in Illinois. Note: This does NOT include
voluntary, infant adoption, either domestic or international.
OR
You are a client of The Cradle Adoption Agency located in Evanston, Illinois.
OR
You are on the staff of an ALP Participating Agency(also known as Agency Partner)Partner Agency and have a Staff Participating Agency Code (also known as Staff Agency Partner Code).
I am adopting a foster child in a state other
than Illinois. Am I eligible for a free certificate?
Not at this time. However, we offer free enrollment for some courses.
What is the difference between an individual
and joint registration?
If you are required to complete courses independent of your spouse/partner,
you should register on the website as an individual. Certificates will be issued
in one name only.
If your adoption agency allows you and your spouse/partner to complete courses
together then you can register jointly. One certificate will be issued containing
both names.
I forgot my username and password.
If you forgot your username and password, click on the forgot your password? link
on the home page. There are two methods to retrieve this information:
- If your email address has not changed since your initial
registration, type it in the space provided. Your username and password will
be automatically emailed to the email address you enter.
- If your email address has changed since your initial registration,
contact info@AdoptionLearningPartners.org and we will assist you in retrieving
this information.
- NOTE: DO NOT CREATE A NEW REGISTRATION if you cannot remember
your user name and password. If you create multiple accounts, your myALP
page will not be accurate.
Do I need to be affiliated with an agency to take an ALP course?
No, all you need to do is register. However, if your agency is an ALP Participating Agency, they will provide you with a Participating Agency Code (also known as an Agency Partner Code) to be entered at registration. If you do not know the code, you can register anyway and provide us with that code later.
Do I need the Participating Agency code (also known as Agency Partner Code) in order to register?
No, but if you find out later that your agency is a Participating Agency (also known as an Agency Partner), email info@AdoptionLearningPartners.org to tell us your Participating Agency Code (also known as an Agency Partner Code)and we will update your record.
I need to change my registration information.
Login to your myALP page and select View/Change Your Profile. You may edit your address, telephone number, and email address on your own. If you need to change or correct any other information, you may contact us directly through your myALP page by selecting Contact Adoption Learning Partners or email us directly at info@AdoptionLearningPartners.org and we will make the necessary corrections.
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I registered as an individual but I want to change
to a joint registration with my spouse/partner.
Contact us directly through your myALP page or email info@AdoptionLearningPartners.org and request this change.
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We registered as a couple but we need to change
to individual registrations.
Contact us directly through your myALP page or email info@AdoptionLearningPartners.org and request this change.
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COURSES AND CERTIFICATES
What does it cost?
If you sign up for an individual fee-based enrollment course, the fees range from $30 to $45 each. Enrolling in three or more courses, with the option to add With Eyes Wide Open, will save you money. Some courses have free enrollment with a processing fee if you want the optional Certificate of Completion. See Fees and Credit Hours
How do I pay?
You have two payment options. You can pay online with a Visa or Mastercard. Our online payment processing is done on a secure website. If paying for a course enrollment, you will have access to the course once the transaction has been successfully completed.
OR
You can pay by check. Make the check payable to Adoption Learning Partners. Mail it to
2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, Il 60201. If paying for a course enrollment, you will have access to the course once the has been received at our offices.
How do I know what courses I have taken?
After you create a registration on Adoption Learning Partners, whenever you login you will start on your myALP page. This page displays your course enrollments and status, payments, certificates, messages and allows you to communicate with us directly.
How long do I have to take a course?
There is no time limit. You may return to finish and/or review courses whenever
you wish, even after completion.
How do you know that I've completed a course?
You must submit the end-of-course survey or evaluation that appears at the conclusion of
each course. Our database keeps track of your progress through the course,
but the course is not considered "complete" until the survey
is successfully submitted. When it is, your myALP page will indicate your status for that course is "completed." If
your status is "in progress" and you have gone through the entire course, it means that you have not yet completed and successfully submitted
the survey.
I know I took a course (s), but you say I didn't
complete it.
In order to have a course marked complete, an end-of-course survey must
be successfully submitted. If you did not submit the survey, return to the course and launch
the survey found at the conclusion of the course. If you have a pop-up blocker
installed on your computer, make sure that you set it to allow pop-ups from
Adoption Learning Partners. If you have technical difficulties, we can email you the evaluation in the form of an attachment.
I know I took a course (s), but myALP doesn't
show it.
If you have more than one registration on the ALP website, you have more than
one myALP page and your coursework may be spread among different registration records. Contact Adoption Learning Partners info@AdoptionLearningPartners.org to
find out how to track down your information.
How do I get a Certificate of Completion?
Fee based enrollment courses: When you finish a fee-based enrollment course, your status will show Completed and certificate status will show Pending ALP approval.
Free enrollment courses: When you finish a free enrollment course your status will show Completed and certificate status will show Apply for Certificate. You may proceed by clicking on the link that will take you through the payment process. Once you have paid the certificate processing fee, the status will say Pending ALP Approval.
Once it says Pending ALP Approval, ALP Administration will review your evaluation or survey and may then issue the Certificate. Certificates, if issued, are usually available within two business days. Once issued, it will be immediately available to you on your myALP page. You will receive an email informing you that it has been issued.
The exception to this rule is the Foster Family to Forever Family course. Its Certificate is part of the course and is available as soon as you complete it.
Do I have to send you all of the homework for With Eyes Wide Open?
We do not require that you submit the homework to qualify for a Certificate of Completion. We have created an end-of-course evaluation that you must submit for review. We will begin the Certificate of Completion process after we receive this evaluation. However, check with your adoption agency because some agencies require that you submit the homework to your social worker.
Do I have to apply for a Certificate of Completion immediately if I take a free enrollment course?
No. Once you complete a course, you can apply for a certificate at any time.
I completed a course when it was free, but now I need a Certificate of Completion.
On your myALP page click on Apply for Certificate and it will take you through the process. The certificate processing fee is $30 for courses in which you were previously enrolled.
I completed a course when it was free but did not finish it. Now I want to do so. Do I need to pay?
You do not have to pay to finish a course that you started before our new fee structure. However, if you wish to obtain a Certificate of Completion, the certificate processing fee is $30 for courses in which you were previously enrolled.
When will I receive my Certificate of Completion?
Your Certificate should be available from your myALP page within two business days. You will receive an email when it has been issued. Then login to your myALP page and you will be able to print, download, and/or email your Certificate.
The exception to this rule is the Foster Family to Forever Family course. Its Certificate is part of the course and is available as soon as you complete it and you must print it from the course itself.
I need the certificate quickly.
Certificates are usually available within two business days after application. We are unable to expedite certificate processing.
What if I lose my certificate?
Once your certificate has been issued, the file remains on your myALP page.
My adoption agency needs a copy of my certificate.
Once your certificate has been issued, you may email it anywhere directly from
your myALP page.
The exception to this rule is the Foster Family to Forever Family course. Its Certificate is part of the course and is available as soon as you complete it. You can print it and photocopy it if needed.
How many credits do I get for taking a course?
Conspicuous Families: 1.5 hours
Let's Talk Adoption: 2.0 hours
Journey of Attachment: 2.0 hours
Finding the Missing Pieces: 2.0 hours
Becoming Your Child's Best Advocate: 2.0 hours
Adoption Tax Credit: 1.0 hours
Lifebooks: 1.5 hours
Adoption The Older Child: 2.0 hours
Medical Issues in International Adoption: 2.5 hours
Foster Family to Forever Family: 2.0 hours
With Eyes Wide Open: varies – check with your adoption agency
How do I know what courses I've taken?
Your myALP page will list the courses you have enrolled in and the status for
each.
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TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS
I have been trying to create a registration but I keep getting the message that my username is already in use. I keep trying with different usernames and get the same message.
This is an occasional problem with a setting on Internet browsers. Make sure that the Internet Options menu on your Internet browser is set to the following:
Privacy/Advanced: Make sure the following are all checked:
- Override Automatic Cookie Handling
- Accept for first and third party cookies
- Always allow session cookies
You can also override automatic cookie handling for our website by typing in the URL address under Websites in the Privacy menu.
If you continue to have problems after changing these settings, check to see if security software such as McAfee or Norton Anti-Virus is blocking the cookie settings.
After I've been on the course a while,
it times out and then I can't get back in.
If your session times out, shut down your Internet browser, then re-launch it, return to the Adoption Learning Partners website, log in again and re-launch the course.
I don't have audio.
Courses that have audio also have an option to read a transcript. For most courses, you can look at the Preferences
section within each course to select the option that you prefer. Exception: With
Eyes Wide Open – Most of this course is script, but there
are some audio portions that are not contained in the script. If you do not
have audio and wish to obtain a script of the audio sections, contact Adoption
Learning Partners at info@AdoptionLearningPartners.org.
I don't have a high speed Internet connection.
All courses are designed to work on a dial-up modem as well as on high-speed
connections. It may take longer to download pages, but you should be able
to access the entire course.
I never got an evaluation or survey at the end of the course.
The survey opens in a new window in the course, and if you have a pop-up blocker
installed on your computer, it may prevent the survey from appearing. Set
your pop-up blocker to allow pop-ups from the Adoption Learning Partners
website. Check your McAfee or Norton Anti-Virus software as well. Sometimes you have more than one program blocking pop-ups. A link to launch the survey appears at the top of the Acknowledgements
Page in every course except With Eyes Wide Open. If you are still unable to launch the survey, contact info@AdoptionLearningPartners.org
How do you save the homework in With Eyes Wide Open?
The homework in With Eyes Wide Open opens as Microsoft Word documents and can be saved on your computer. They are NOT automatically saved, and are NOT saved within the course. After you have opened a document click SAVE AS and select a location that you can remember on your computer. If you are not able to save the document once it is open, try “right-clicking” on the link to the homework without actually opening it. It should bring up a menu where you can select “save target as” and then save it to your computer. If you are unable to open or save the homework, contact info@AdoptionLearningPartners.org and we will mail out a printed set of the homework assignments.
What if I don't have an email address?
Because we use your email address as the user name, and because we send various information (including the password) to that address,
each registrant must have their own valid email address.
You can get a free email address at Hotmail (Microsoft), Gmail (Google), Yahoo,
or AOL.
What do I need on my computer to take your courses?
Most computers today are equipped with the necessary software to run ALP courses.
However if you have problems launching or running a course, please check
the following:
- Flash: Version 5 or higher (Click
here to obtain a Flash player)
- JavaScript: Should be enabled. To change your JavaScript
settings, edit the preferences in the Internet Options menu of your Internet
browser.
- Pop-Up Blocker: Set your pop-up blocker to allow pop-ups
from the Adoption Learning Partners website. Also check if you have McAfee or Norton Anti-Virus software protecting your computer. Sometimes you have more than one program blocking pop-ups.
- Cookies: Cookies should be enabled. For Internet Explorer
browser "per session cookies" must be enabled. For all other browsers
regular cookies must be enabled. To change your Cookie settings, edit the
preferences in the Internet Options menu of your Internet browser.
- Privacy Level: Privacy level should be set to Medium.
To change your Privacy Level, edit the preferences in the Internet Options
menu of your Internet Browser.
- Internet Browser: Netscape 4.6 or above or Internet Explorer
5.0 or above, Opera 6.0 or above
- Adobe Acrobat: The Acrobat Reader plugin is available
here
- Screen size: 800 x 600 pixels (or larger) is recommended.
- Connection Speed: We suggest 56K or higher, but a 28.8K
connection will work.
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