How To Adopt A Child Guide

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How To Adopt A Child?

• G U I D E

Adoption.com
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Welcome to the adoption world!

• 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 didnt 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

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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.
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STEP ONE DECIDE TO ADOPT - WHAT CAN I HANDLE?
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.
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.
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STEP ONE DECIDE TO ADOPT - AM I READY?
This is a time for some serious soul-searching.
Its 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? Dont 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.
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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-ima
gined/ My Parents and Their Decision to
Adopt http//adoption.com/parents-decision-adopt/
Adopting After Infertility http//adoption.com/ad
opting-after-infertility/ Adoption Doesnt Cure
Infertility http//adoption.com/adoption-doesn27t
-cure-infertility
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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 hadnt 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
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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.
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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.
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STEP TWO CHOOSE A TYPE OF ADOPTION -
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION
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.
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.
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9. STEP THREE GET PROFESSIONAL HELP
Now that youve made it this far, youll 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 heres the skinny on each type
of professional service
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STEP THREE GET PROFESSIONAL HELP - ADOPTION
NAVIGATORS
If youve 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, youll
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.)
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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 youll need a
valid TB test and proof that you are in
reasonably good health. Youll also need to be
fingerprinted for a criminal history background
check. Learn more about the home study process.
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STEP FIVE GET A HOME STUDY - FINDING A HOME
STUDY PROFESSIONAL
If youre 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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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STEP SEVEN PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITIES
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.
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 childs birth
parents, begin now to cultivate respect and
unconditional love for these individuals who are
your childs first parents.
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STEP EIGHT WAIT
This is by far the hardest of all the steps on
the adoption journey.
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.
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
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STEP NINE ADOPTION!
Congratulations!
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
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Thank you
Adoption.com
How To Adopt A Child Guide?

http//adoption.com