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Adoption: Where Do I Start?
Step 1: Educate Yourself
What You Should Know
At times, the adoption process can seem complicated,
time consuming, and frustrating. However, many resources exist
to help prospective adoptive parents educate themselves about
adoption.
• Local community colleges,
adoption exchanges, adoption agencies, hospitals, religious
groups, and other organizations may offer adoption preparation
programs.
• Adoptive parent support
groups often are willing to assist people considering adoption.
In addition, regional adoption exchanges, local agencies,
and State adoption specialists can send you information to
help get you started.
There are also many books, magazines, and Web
sites on this topic.
Step 2: Understand the Law
What You Should Know
State laws and regulations govern U.S. adoptions.
Learning about the adoption laws in your State, or any States
involved with your adoption, can help avoid frustrating situations.
Step 3: Explore Your Options/Select
an Agency
What You Should Know
Families wishing to adopt have many options. The
following is one way to think about how choices in adoption
may flow from one another:
• Where will our family's
child come from? (Domestic or intercountry adoption?)
• If we adopt domestically,
what type of adoption is best for our family? (Domestic infant
or foster care adoption?)
• If we choose domestic
infant adoption, who will assist our family with the adoption?
(Licensed private agency, independent, facilitated, or unlicensed
agency adoption?)
The way you choose to adopt will depend on the
characteristics of the child you wish to adopt, how long you
are willing to wait for your child, and other concerns.
Step 4: Complete a Home Study
What You Should Know
No matter what type of adoption you choose to pursue,
all prospective adoptive parents must have a home study or
"family study." A home study involves education,
preparation, and information gathering about the prospective
adoptive parents. This process can take from 2 to 10 months
to complete, depending on agency waiting lists and training
requirements. States vary regarding home study requirements,
so you should check with your State adoption specialist to
learn about the specific regulations in your State.
Step 5: Engage in the Placement Process
What You Should Know
Once your home study is completed, you are ready
to begin the placement process—the time when a specific
child is identified for your family. Depending on the type
of adoption you are pursuing, this process and the potential
time involved in waiting for your child vary greatly.
• If you are pursuing
an independent adoption, an attorney or facilitator may help
you identify expectant parents or you may locate them on your
own if allowed by State law.
• If you are using a
licensed private agency to pursue a domestic infant adoption,
the expectant parents may select your family from among several
prospective adoptive families.
• In the case of foster
care adoption or intercountry adoption of older children,
you may review information about a number of children who
are waiting for families. You will often have the opportunity
for pre-placement visits, to get to know a child before he
or she moves into your home in foster care adoption. Also,
many foster parents in the United States adopt the foster
children in their homes if the children become available for
adoption.
• If you are adopting
an infant internationally you may receive a referral during
this time.
Step 6: File Necessary Legal Documents
What You Should Know
All adoptions need to be finalized in court, though
the process varies from State to State. Usually a child lives
with the adoptive family for at least 6 months before the
adoption is finalized legally. During this time, a social
worker may visit several times to ensure the child is well
cared for and to write up the required court reports. After
this period, the agency or attorney (in the case of independent
adoption) will submit a written recommendation of approval
of the adoption to the court, and you or your attorney can
then file with the court to complete the adoption. For intercountry
adoptions, finalization depends on the type of visa the child
has and the laws in your State. The actual adoption procedure
is just one of a series of legal processes required for intercountry
adoption. In addition to your State laws, you must also follow
the laws of the child's country of origin, and U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services' (formerly INS) requirements.
Step 7: Parent Your Child
What You Should Know
The final, and most important step, in the adoption
process is to parent your adopted child. Adoption is a lifelong
process. Your family, like many families, may need support
adjusting to life with your new child. Your family and your
child may have additional questions at different developmental
stages.
To read the rest
of this excellent article, please click here http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_start.cfm
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