How to enter into the adoption process

Are you interested in adoption? Do you know anyone who has adopted within your family or circle of friends? What goes into your initial decisions?

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• patience
• kindness
• love!!!
• patience...

1. Create a list of local, domestic, or international agencies, services, or organizations. Keep in mind that there are alot of differences in each of the items above in more than just costs.
2. Determine the PROS and CONS of each in terms of the following: Services offered, on-going communications, durations of offerings, renewal fees, personal contact, location, hidden fees, total costs.
3. If going with a Christian organization, you may need a letter of reference from your pastor.
4. Typically you will need several reference letters from friends, co-workers, land lords, etc.
5. Checkout the references of the organization too. Are they upstanding and reputable?
6. Pay the initial fees. Ensure that before you do this - you are aware of any hidden or additional costs and when each cost is due and to whom...if applicable.
7. Create a profile on-line - sometimes the organization will do this for you based on information and photos that you provide.
8. Get a toll free number for birth mothers to call - if applicable
9. Get a home study done - the timing of this step may be mandated by your organization. Typically this is done within the same year as the adoption occurs - prior to bringing a child into your home.
10. Read parenting books that are targeted to the age of the child you plan to adopt - read up on the care of that age level.
11. Talk to other families who have previously adopted for ideas, timings, etc.
12. Talk to one or multiple attorneys - this will be important if adopting domestically in the USA.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient!
• The RIGHT child is worth waiting for!
• Be careful of scams - do your research!