I want to adopt a child, but I hear it is quite a process to adopt from the state. Where you have to become a foster parent first.
I guess, I want to know what types of options are available in the US before I start looking at out of the country.
I don't want to get attached to a child and then, not be able to adopt him/her, due to paper work. I mean I understand, it is a long process from what I hear.
2007-04-03 06:42:27 · 10 answers · asked by Chris 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I don't know about orphanages per se, but there are group homes. Those are for older kids though, the younger ones they place in foster care. It is a lengthy process to terminate a parent's rights, and the state's first priority is to reunite families whenever possible.
Private adoption, or surrogacy would be other options.
2007-04-03 06:48:59 · answer #1 · answered by Heather Y 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are no longer called Orphanges. There are guardian homes, group home, residential homes and foster care.
I keep hearing people say you have to become a foster parent first. Well I am one in Indiana..and that is untrue.
Yes you have to go through the parernting classes and the background checks and everything just like a foster parent does in order to see if you qualify for the child. But to become a foster parent is not true. Same steps, just different.
If the child you choose is already adoptable, meaning the parents rights have already been terminated..then you are required to care for the child for 6 months before you file petition to adopt. Once you file..you can normally have a court date within 90 days for the final hearing.
If the bio parents rights have not been terminated, it could take years for that to happen...and even after years of caring for the child you will still be at risk for the child being removed to go back to parents or other family that comes forward.
So my suggestion is if you want to adopt, find a child that is already preadoptable. You can find those by state. Most states have their own child picture book online to view. Childrens Bureau also has a place to start which is at:
http://www.adoptuskids.org/Child/ChildSearch.aspx
You can also get the answer to many questions there on the process, etc.
Hope that helped you some...
2007-04-05 11:45:21 · answer #2 · answered by YEAH YEAH!! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was in college, 20 yrs ago, I really wanted to work in an orphanage in the US. That is all I ever wanted to do. I started looking around and found that there are none anymore. There might be group homes for kids that can't make it in foster care, and there might be emergency shelters for kids that are awaiting a foster home, but there are no orphanages in the way you think of them - babies and lil children available and waiting for a home.
There are other agencies in the US where you don't have to be a foster parent first. Or, you could just foster-to-adopt, which means you do NOT foster any kids that are not already available for adoption. If you do this, the child will be several years old [at least] and, chances are, will be offered first to the foster home they are in when they become available for adoption.
Either locally or abroad, there will be a LOT of paperwork and home studies and it will not be fast. Going overseas is really expensive. There are still private adoptions here in the US.
2007-04-03 06:51:04 · answer #3 · answered by Cris O 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends! There are no more orphanages anymore, they are called foster homes / child centers...etc! Where children live who are wards of the state! In the US you must become a foster parent to adopt a child who is already a ward of the state. Private adoptions are somewhat easier...more expensive...but your more than lucky to get a baby than going through your state! Once you become a foster parent...that is it. If parental rights are not terminated and reunification is the goal (the type we do) then yes you can get attached and it is hard to see them go....but this is what we chose to do. If you go after a child who is a ward and all parental rights have been terminated then it's pretty much a piece of cake...a six month waiting period (basically to see if the child is a good fit and there becomes a bond) and then you just wait for a court hearing to make it final!! It's not hard to become a foster parent...just some classes / background check and a homestudy...all paid for by the state!
2007-04-03 09:40:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you really want to adopt a child in order to give them a safe, loving, permanent home, you would not be concerned about paperwork and wait times.
No matter the type of adoption, the process is not easy or short. But, it is so worth the time and effort.
2007-04-03 07:09:05 · answer #5 · answered by onerockinmamato2 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The closest thing to an orphanage that I can think of in the USA are group homes. I think those are run thru the state tho.
Good luck.
2007-04-03 06:49:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are no orphanages in the USA anymore. There's just foster homes.
2007-04-03 07:43:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i dont know much about adoption at all besides that it takes foreva in america to do it. i watch adoption stories on discovery health often and always see how ppl struggle to get kids adopted here. thats why alot of ppl end up goin out of the country because over there its alot easier.... good luck and be careful!!!
2007-04-03 06:51:03 · answer #8 · answered by Jessie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes why wouldnt there be
2007-04-03 07:04:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.adoptuskids.org/
http://www.achildswaiting.com
http://photolisting.adoption.com/
2007-04-03 09:12:29 · answer #10 · answered by Rosie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋