How To Adopt? Adopt A Child Guide 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....

1. How To Adopt A Child?
GUIDE
Adoption.com

2. 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!

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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 This
http://adoption.com/wrote-life-plan-never-imagined/
My Parents and Their Decision to Adopt
http://adoption.com/parents-decision-adopt/
Adopting After Infertility
http://adoption.com/adopting-after-infertility/
Adoption Doesn’t Cure Infertility
http://adoption.com/adoption-doesn%27t-cure-infertility

7. 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:

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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:

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.)

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. STEP SIX: DO SOME NETWORKING - FURTHER READING
Tips for Creating a Successful Adoption Profile
Writing a Dear Expectant Parent Letter
Making an Adoption Blog
Tips for Adding Quality Photos to Your Adoption Profile
5 Ways to Make Your Adoption Video Make Magic
Using Social Media Effectively in Adoption

23. 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.

24. 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 Waiting
Adoption: 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.

25. 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!

26. Thank you
Adoption.com
How To Adopt A Child Guide?
http://adoption.com