How To Adopt A Child? G U

I D E

Adoption.com

Welcome to the adoption world! Adopting a child and becoming part of the adoption community will change your life forever. Your heart will grow in ways you didn’t even know were possible.

The adoption process is a rollercoaster of emotions, paperwork, and love. Although it can seem overwhelming at first, knowledge is power. We hope to empower you with knowledge about the adoption process in this educational tour. With this knowledge you will be better equipped as you decide if adoption is right for you and hopefully get started on fulfilling your dream of adopting a child to love and providing a forever home for this child.

Although every family is unique in their adoption, there are nine basic steps to the process, and they often go something like this:

Welcome to the adoption world!

STEP ONE: DECIDE TO ADOPT

Adoption can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Without a doubt, it will change your family forever. Being entrusted with raising a child is a miracle.

Adoption may be the perfect choice for your family but we also know that it may not be the best option for every family. As you seek your own answers to the question, “Is adoption right for me?", it's equally important to explore the other side of the question: "Am I right for adoption?"

The next few slides highlight some questions you may want to consider on your journey to parenthood.

STEP ONE: DECIDE TO ADOPT - WHAT CAN I HANDLE?

Children require unconditional love, financial support, time, consistency, patience. Your lifestyle will change when you add a child to your family. Prepare yourself for the challenges you might encounter as a parent, realizing that love, while essential, is not always enough. Your commitment will be tested during the process and during the parenting years--but know that it is so very worth it.

Before you decide to adopt, think about your strengths. What are you especially equipped to handle? It is also important to ask yourself about your limitations. Do you have financial, age, health, or relationship concerns? Do you recognize any limits you would not like to exceed? What special needs are you uniquely qualified to deal with? Are there potential situations that would stretch your comfort zone beyond the boundaries? What is your heart telling you? Do some research. Talk to people. Ask questions. Become educated.

STEP ONE: DECIDE TO ADOPT - AM I READY?

This is a time for some serious soul-

searching. It’s a good time to explore

your reasons for wanting to adopt. Ask

yourself: Do you long to provide a

loving, stable family for a child to grow

up in? Do you have love that you want

to share with a child? Do you want to

help a child overcome some of the

challenges he or she has faced early in

life? Are you willing to be there as a support for the child through thick and thin?

Do you have a strong support system?

If you have come to adoption because of infertility, have you fully processed

your grief? Don’t go into adoption thinking that it will cure your infertility.

Openly and honestly examine your reasons and motivations for adopting.

Adoption is a permanent proposition that requires a lifelong commitment by

everyone involved. It is extremely important that you adopt for the right reasons.

STEP ONE: DECIDE TO ADOPT - FURTHER READING

How We Knew Adoption Was Right for Us (Video) (http://adoption.com/knew-adoption-right-us/)

When I Wrote My Life Plan, I Never Imagined Thishttp://adoption.com/wrote-life-plan-never-imagined/

My Parents and Their Decision to Adopthttp://adoption.com/parents-decision-adopt/

Adopting After Infertilityhttp://adoption.com/adopting-after-infertility/

Adoption Doesn’t Cure Infertilityhttp://adoption.com/adoption-doesn%27t-cure-infertility

STEP TWO: CHOOSE A TYPE OF ADOPTION

Infant? Toddler? Older child? Same race? Different race? Special needs? Domestic? International? Foster? Who belongs in that empty chair at your dinner table?

If you have other children, try to imagine how a prospective child will fit in with them. Look at your community. Ask yourself how your new child would develop a racial/cultural identity within your town or city. Are there resources available in your area to help a child with special needs? It is common for those new to adoption to start out with narrow expectations of the child they want to adopt, and then to expand their views as the education process proceeds. Experienced adoptive families have found it important for those starting the process to resist the temptation to quickly narrow the group of adoptable children that they would be willing to consider. You may find that by adopting a type of child you hadn’t initially planned to adopt your cup will run over with joy. And remember, don't overlook the possibility of adopting more than one child.

There are three primary ways you can build your family through adoption:

STEP TWO: CHOOSE A TYPE OF ADOPTION - DOMESTIC ADOPTION

Many prospective parents seek to adopt children from within the United States. Adoption fees and waiting times vary tremendously, depending on the type of adoption involved and the specific circumstances of the adoption. Learn more about domestic infant adoption here.

Domestic adoption may be managed with the assistance of an agency or may be done privately, generally with assistance from an attorney.

Domestic Adoption often provides children with opportunities to connect with their biological roots through open adoption. Learn more about open adoption here.

STEP TWO: CHOOSE A TYPE OF ADOPTION - FOSTER ADOPTION

There are currently more than 400,000 children in the foster care system in the United States. Over 100,000 of those children are eligible for adoption and looking for forever families.

Some of these children may have special needs--meaning they may be older (grade school through teens), may have a disability or medical condition, or may

be brothers and sisters who should be adopted together.

Public agencies (operated by State governments)--and some private agencies--complete foster adoptions.

In many cases, financial assistance (in the form of adoption subsidies) is available to help parents with the legal, medical, and living costs associated with caring for a child with special needs.

View our photolisting of children in the US who are hoping to be adopted.

STEP TWO: CHOOSE A TYPE OF ADOPTION - INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION

Children available for adoption in other countries are often living in orphanages. In some instances, they may be in foster care.

View our photolisting of children worldwide who are hoping to be adopted.

Many children in other countries are available for adoption. Countries in Eastern Europe, Asia, Central America, and South America are the “sending countries”for most foreign-born children adopted by Americans. More than 700 U.S. private agencies place children from foreign countries for adoption.

9. STEP THREE: GET PROFESSIONAL HELP

Now that you’ve made it this far, you’ll need to decide on what kind of professionals can assist you on your journey. Will a private adoption agency best serve your needs? Could you adopt through a public adoption agency? Would a private adoption be best? Should you use an adoption facilitator?

Since adoption laws in the state where you live will govern your options, it is essential that you know what types of placements are allowed or not allowed by your state's adoption laws, but here’s the skinny on each type of professional service:

STEP THREE: GET PROFESSIONAL HELP - ADOPTION NAVIGATORS

If you’ve decided to adopt domestically, you should consider hiring an Adoption Navigator. The Adoption Navigators program will help you expand your exposure to potential birth parents and likely decrease your adoption wait time.

When you sign up for Adoption Navigators, you’ll receive one-on-one coaching every step of the way, the ability to advertise your desire to adopt on Adoption.com and its affiliate websites, and so much more.

Click here to learn more.

STEP THREE: GET PROFESSIONAL HELP - ADOPTION AGENCIES

Adoption agencies often provide more support services than in a private adoption, such as pre-adoption education, counseling, home studies, and post-adoption services and/or referrals.

Agency adoptions can involve a wide range of adoptable children, depending on the focus of the agency. Some agencies specialize in the placement of international children, biracial children, special needs children, or children of a particular ethnic group. Other agencies may be involved entirely in adoptions involving infants.

STEP THREE: GET PROFESSIONAL HELP - WHAT IS A PUBLIC AGENCY?

Public agencies are usually supported by public funding, are run by counties or states, and generally assist in the adoption of children in the foster care system. Foster care adoptions generally cost little or no money.

Private agencies are usually licensed by the state but run privately and can assist in most types of adoption. Domestic newborn adoptions generally cost between $20,000 and $40,000. Most international adoptions cost more than $35,000.

STEP THREE: GET PROFESSIONAL HELP - PRIVATE (ATTORNEY-FACILITATED) ADOPTIONS

Private (or independent) adoptions are

done through adoption attorneys, and

may or may not involve an adoption

opportunity that is located and

arranged by the attorney. If so, the

"finding" function that the attorney

performs may increase the cost.

In some states, private attorneys

cannot be involved in the "finding" and

"matching" phases of an adoption, but

are limited to finalizing the legal part of

the adoption in court once the match

has taken place.

If you choose an attorney to help you

with this process, it is best to select

one who is experienced in adoption.

STEP THREE: GET PROFESSIONAL HELP - READ REVIEWS

Get started finding an adoption professional by checking out the Adoption.com Reviews, which features listings and reviews for adoption service providers across the country.

In the directory with reviews, you'll be able to search for resources such as agencies, attorneys, counseling, facilitators, organizations, publications, home study providers, and others in your region, and learn what people think of the service they've received from these providers.

STEP FOUR: RESEARCH YOUR FINANCIAL OPTIONS

This is a good time to begin thinking

about finances. Read more about

funding your adoption.

(And remember that it is very

inexpensive to adopt from the foster

care system.)

STEP FIVE: GET A HOME STUDY

A home study is a thorough investigation of your home, family, relationships and -- more importantly -- an opportunity to determine what “type” of child would be the best fit for your family. This process takes, on average, 2-6 months and requires quite a bit of paperwork.

This is a good time to begin collecting documents: birth certificates, marriage licenses, tax returns, and financial statements. Make appointments for physicals, as you’ll need a valid TB test and proof that you are in reasonably good health. You’ll also need to be fingerprinted for a criminal history background check. Learn more about the home study process.

STEP FIVE: GET A HOME STUDY - FINDING A HOME STUDY PROFESSIONAL

If you’re working with an agency, they will arrange your home study. Independent hopeful adoptive parents will need to find a licensed social worker to perform the home study, and your attorney may have recommendations.

Adoption.com can connect you with a home study professional in your area. Click here to make a request for contact, or browse reviews on home study providers in your area.

STEP SIX: DO SOME NETWORKING

With or without an agency working for you, active participation in your adoption may speed up the process and keep you busy and focused. Particularly if you're hoping to adopt domestically, putting the word out with friends and family that you are hoping to adopt can be the first step, and there are many things you can do to increase the likelihood of a match or being selected by an expectant parent considering adoption.

STEP SIX: DO SOME NETWORKING – PARENT PROFILES

Parent Profiles(SM) is a website designed specifically to allow hopeful adoptive parents to connect with parents who are considering placing a child for adoption.

A profile on Adoption.com Parent Profiles includes features like video upload, photo albums, profile statistics, video chat with expectant parents, and a Pinterest-like section that allows you to share your interests through photos. These features will help you better stand out and connect with expectant parents who are considering an adoption placement for their child.

Click here to learn more.

STEP SIX: DO SOME NETWORKING - FURTHER READING

Tips for Creating a Successful Adoption ProfileWriting a Dear Expectant Parent LetterMaking an Adoption BlogTips for Adding Quality Photos to Your Adoption Profile5 Ways to Make Your Adoption Video Make MagicUsing Social Media Effectively in Adoption

STEP SEVEN: PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITIES

Educate yourself and create a post-placement contact/openness plan that you and the birth parents feel comfortable with. Whatever your relationship is to be with the child’s birth parents, begin now to cultivate respect and unconditional love for these individuals who are your child’s first parents.

The time after a match has been made will be filled with anticipation, preparation, and lots of excitement. Consider that there are three sides to the adoption triad.

STEP EIGHT: WAIT

Hold onto hope and keep yourself busy and productive while you wait.

Read more about waiting:

5 Ways to Keep Your Sanity While WaitingAdoption: Bearing the Wait

If we look at the nine-month process that is involved when biological children come to their parents, it is easier for us to appreciate how it may be beneficial for hopeful adoptive parents to also "wait" for a period of time for the arrival of their child/children, so that while they are waiting, they will have time to better prepare themselves for the arrival.

This is by far the hardest of all the steps on the adoption journey.

STEP NINE: ADOPTION!

Adoption will change your life forever, adding depth and dimension that you may not even be able to imagine right now.

“Having kids - the responsibility of rearing good, kind, ethical, responsible human beings - is the biggest job anyone can embark on. As with any risk, you have to take a leap of faith and ask lots of wonderful people for their help and guidance. I thank God every day for giving me the opportunity to parent.”―Maria Shriver, Journalist and News Anchor

Congratulations!

Thank you

Adoption.comHow To Adopt A Child Guide?

http://adoption.com