Anyone know how I would go about starting a process for adoption?

Question

I would like to look into adoption of a child already in the US, particularly an infant or child under 3 years, any sex or race.

Answer 1

Grab a pen and pick up the phone............. Good luck in your quest.

Answer 2

I am a "waiting parent" with an agency right now for domestic adoption in the DC area. I would recommend attending seminars first. If you go to Adoptive Families website, and search for adoption events in your area, you should find several that you can attend. Do your research. Once you have decided on whether you want to go through with a private adoption, meaning, you hire an adoption attorney, go through the process of advertising, etc., or you can go throught an agency that will walk you through the process. Do your research, again! What you are considering is a very wonderful thing! Be advised, it is a long, tedious process, an emotional rollercoaster. You will be expected to do a homestudy that will drive you crazy, FBI fingerprinting, HHS visits, financial records given, physicals, social worker visits, meetings, and the WAIT.........It seems endless, and that is the worst part...Once your homestudy is completed, (could take up to 3 months), you then start the WAIT.... You have to trust in the process. You won't know "when" your baby will be coming, but you do know the right baby will eventually come to you. I have been waiting since April 2006. Keep yourself busy, write a journal to your baby, attend meetings and seminars/support groups. Purchase some books and read, read, read. You also have the option of Foster Parenting first, then if you decide to, you can apply to adopt if the child is available after that. Good luck to you. You have a road ahead of you with many detours, bumps, hills, valleys, etc., but the ultimate payoff will be well worth all of the effort. Remember to enjoy your life during this time as well! Don't put things on hold, live, live live and God Bless!

Answer 3

Yes!!! First off I would like to thank you for adopting in the US. I was adopted twice and I cant tell you all the children who need good homes.
Now, You can go to your local Family Services Office and ask for a caseworker to talk to. The caseworkers will know which children are available in your area. Most of the time its better to file for a temporary foster parent license. If you have a license already and find a child you wont have to wait for a home study and background check to be done. This means that the child can be immediatly placed in your home. This also will help you achieve a relationship with a caseworker. Which you will want to do, if you already know one then you can get the facts on the childs situation. Another helpful thing to do is to make a scrapbook of your family. Include things like family photos, pets, hobbies, church you attend, family reunions, holidays, etc. You will have to have one for the adoption people to review eventually.
Another way to go about it is to log onto your states adoption page. Whatever state your in just google children available for adoption. It will provide specific instructions on how to contact the caseworker.
I want to warn you against answering the want ads for adopting. Sometimes agency that specailize in adoption are guilty too. The mother can bleed you dry for money, transportation, insurance, etc. I know of tooooo many cases where this happens and then the adoptive parents go to the hospital and the mother backs out. There is always a possibility of this and it happens when you least expect it.
A caseworker will know if the parental rights have been terminated or not. This is the safest way to go because, the state has already finalized the parents as being unfit and they cannot come back in six months and say they changed their mind.
Lastly, you can inquire at your local Family Services Office and see when they will hold their adoption fair. This is kinds odd and reminds me of a animal pounds last chance fairs. Anyhow it a big picnic where all the available kids go with their foster parents. The caseworkers are their and will give you a small history on the child. Its kinda nice because you can interact with the child before you invite them in your home.
I hope you got the answers you needed. Please email me if you want to chat further on this subject.

Answer 4

My husband and I are in the process of becoming a foster parent in hopes it will lead to an adoption. In my state, no matter if you wanted to be a foster parent or adoptive parent, the process is the same. We have to apply and get pre service training. We are going through the state because we realize there are a lot of children who need good homes. I don't know if you want to go through the state or have a private adoption. Good luck.

Answer 5

I have 2 kids I am adopting. Try calling your local Child Welfare Service, they have a lot of kids that have been taken from their biological parents and need some love. If you are willing to take siblings it's even better. Going this route you have to start out as a foster parent, but it is totally worth it.

Answer 6

look up a lawyer that specializes in adoptions and start there.

Answer 7

Thank you for wanting to adopt a US child. Please visit this website and be wary of websites ending in .com as they are typically commercial sites. Best of luck to you, and thanks again.

http://www.adoptuskids.org/

Answer 8

http://www.adoption.com