Guide to Adoption

The decision to adopt a child often comes at the end of emotionally and financially draining fertility treatments - and the end of a couple's dream vision of giving birth to a child of their own. But rather than dwelling on what's been lost, focus instead on what's most important: bringing a child into your life and home, loving and nurturing that child into a healthy and happy girl or boy. Adoption can be a roller coaster, with ups and downs along the way, but the end of that ride just might be the beginning of an even greater journey - parenthood.

Guide to Adoption - Planning Steps

It's essential that anyone contemplating adoption learn as much as possible before making a commitment to the process, which can take several months or several years. First of all, prospective adoptive parents should endeavor to resolve and let go of troubling issues such as infertility beforehand, in order to concentrate on the path ahead. Then, check out every available adoption option. Find a local adoptive parent support group and begin networking. Investigate public and private adoption agencies both local, national and international. Before choosing to work with a particular agency, research it thoroughly. How long has it been in operation? What are the qualifications of its adoption specialists? How many children have been placed? Ask to speak with clients who have already adopted.

Couples considering adoption should discuss the kind of child they want to adopt. Is adopting a foster child a possibility? Only interested in adopting an infant? Does it have to be of the same race or ethnicity? What about an older child or one with special needs?

Guide to Adoption - Types of Adoptions

One of the first decisions prospective adoptive parents have to make is whether they're going to use a public or private adoption agency or look for a potential birth mother on their own and make arrangements for the adoption through an attorney.

Whatever method is chosen, all prospective adoptive parents must undergo a home study, to ensure that their home environment is fit for a child. They'll have to present written references, tax returns, birth and marriage certificates and other documentation and will be evaluated by a social worker or adoption agency official.

A public agency, usually run by state or local governments, is the least expensive way to adopt. Many public agencies don't handle infant adoptions, focusing instead on older children, children in foster care and children with special needs.

Adoption through a private agency can be expensive; however, those fees often cover every aspect of the adoption process, including matching prospective parents with a child, home study, medical costs and legal costs. Private agencies generally do not make absolute promises about finding a child, so make sure to clarify any and all specific services and fees in writing, and have an independent attorney review the contracts before they're signed or any money has changed hands.

Some prospective adoptive parents prefer to handle as much as possible by themselves, generally referred to as a private or independent adoption. There are also paid "adoption facilitators" who act as intermediaries between birth mothers and prospective parents. Attorneys who specialize in adoption handle contracts and other legal matters. An important factor to keep in mind when considering an independent adoption is that even though a lawyer is involved in part of the process, much of the responsibility and risk is borne by the prospective parents.

Domestic adoption means adopting a child born in your home country. A domestic adoption can be done independently or through an agency, in the state where you live or elsewhere in the country. There are two kinds of domestic adoptions:

In a closed adoption, the birth mother and adoptive parents do not know one another's identities and there is often no direct contact. An agency or facilitator must be contracted, in order to maintain confidentiality. After the adoption has taken place, records are generally sealed, but it might be possible to gain access to some identifying information after the child has reached a certain age, usually 18 or 21.

In an open adoption, the birth mother meets the adoptive parents before the baby is born. An ongoing relationship often develops, and the adoptive parents assume pre-natal and delivery medical costs and are there for the birth. After the adoption has been finalized, the level of continued communication is determined by the individuals involved.

International Adoption involves adopting a child born in another country. This has become a popular choice for many American parents because the wait time for a child from places such as China, Russia, Ukraine, Central America or South Korea is generally shorter than with domestic adoptions of infants. Since international adoption policies and laws differ from one country to another, prospective parents need to find out the specific rules in the country they're considering.

Guide to Adoption - Can You Afford It?

A survey published by the national adoption magazine Adoptive Families estimates that adoption costs range from $20,000-30,000. The least expensive adoption options are adopting a child out of foster care (which has minimal costs) and public agency adoption.

Adoption costs vary from state to state, agency to agency and situation to situation. Every adoption will involve a home study, for example, but the cost for this service is sometimes included in an adoption agency's overall fee. Document and legal fees may also be included, but sometimes they aren't. If a child is adopted from another country, it may be necessary to pay for additional legal procedures in the country of origin and/or to make a donation to a government, organization or orphanage.

Some of the costs associated with adoption can potentially be reduced. Sliding scales and discounts may be available, based on the prospective parents' income and other factors. Grants or reimbursements may be possible for some expenses through employee benefit plans, tax credits and/or government programs. Loans or subsidies might be obtainable for adopting older children, children in foster care and children with special needs.