Building a family through adoption is a rewarding path to parenthood, but getting started can be overwhelming. Each adoption journey is as unique as each adopted child. The decision to adopt a baby still is just the beginning You must decide which path you will take--foster care, newborn or international adoption. The legal and agency fees of adoption all vary depending on the path you take and the state you in which you reside.
Deciding on your Agency
After deciding to adopt, the next step is to select an agency. Private domestic adoptions---where adoptive parents are matched with a pregnant birth mother and the child is adopted at birth--are often facilitated by adoption lawyers. Foster care adoptions are done through local county department of human services or agencies contracted through them, and international adoptions are done through private agencies. Research your choices well. Visit message boards, search for any concerns or complaints about agencies you might be considering and attend any informational meetings that are offered. Don't be afraid to ask for references and check with the Better Business Bureau. These are the people you are going to be entrusting with tens of thousands of dollars, so you need to be confident in their ability before committing.
Fees and Financing
You selected your agency and decided on a particular country and program. Foster care adoption could cost you just a few thousand or less, while the other options could cost as much as $30,000. The good news is that your fees are spread over the period of time needed to do your homestudy and facilitate the adoption. Grants and aid might be available as well. Ask your facilitator or check out the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption or the organization Show Hope for ideas.
Homestudy
A homestudy is a comprehensive look at your home, relationship with your spouse and others in your support network. A caseworker is assigned to get to know everything about your life, your goals and your values through a series of interviews, questionnaires and references. Perspective adoptive parents will also have to go through a fire and home inspection. The homestudy process is a crucial component in not only determining your ability to parent, but also for the caseworker to match your life to the right placement situation. Depending on your agency, your homestudy could be free or cost up to several hundred dollars.
Matching
The wait time for a placement depends on your desired match, with international adoptions likely taking the longest amount of time. The child could be a year old or so before the adoption is finalized. You should expect the process to last at least six months to a year.
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