My Husband and I are wanting to adopt, any help or suggestions?

Question

My Husband and I are wanting to adopt, any help or suggestions?

Answer 1

More and more people are going through foster care. It's faster, easier, and these are children that really need and want a family.

Answer 2

go through your local childrens aid society

Answer 3

My best advice is to look at all the avenues to adoption (domestic, foster adoption and international adoption)  All have their benefits and drawbacks.  Research everything carefully, talk to people who have adopted, adoptees and agency social workers.  Get as much information as you can and make the best decision for your family.

It's also a great idea to read books on adoption from the perspective of adoptees.  If you're considering transracial adoption, Inside Transracial Adoption and In Their Own Voices are good books.  

Good luck!

Answer 4

Well,

You should as well and if it is best for you. Since if you have been talking about it with your husband, then get one and they can be scared at first but later on they would love you!

I am sure you guys would be a great parent :D

Answer 5

This is the time where you can start deciding what method of adoption you are interested in each have different "steos" so to speak... Much of your decision will rest on how you want to build your family--If you would like to add an infant, older child, sibling group or become a multi-cultrual family.

This is also a good time to start getting your paper work ready, such as financials, your legal paperwork; marriage, divorce and other documents.

If you have not been in the habit of an annual physical it's a good time to find a doctor and develop a relationship, have all the health screening you should have at "your age" and talk with the doctor about your interest in becoming an adoptive parent....

Think about your personal biography, and WHY you want to adopt...about your marriage and your relationship even some of the more personal things...your childhood and family relationship and how they are today....

All of this will be part of the Home Study--and it is pretty invasive sometimes....  But, these things will be part of building a strong home study--and developing a strong picture of the kind of people you are--and the kind of family you want to be after you adopt.

Talking with a few people about your plans and finding those people who are supportive, and understand who you are well enough to have confidence in filling out a Reference for you....

It can take time, but there are so many things you can put together and be ready for, and often the Adoptive Parents can pace the process if they think ahead and are ready for the next step...

Becoming an adoptive parent can by a case of Hurry-Up and Wait.... so, looking in your area for adoptive parent support groups or other resources.... Being involved with people in your area is a great way to be around people who have taken the steps....  

There are often Parenting--and Adoptive Parenting classes offered at colleges or other local resources for training parents not only to be ready for the actual role--but, how to deal with adoption specfic issues...

Gather Information and Keep it all! If nothing else put it in a box as sometimes along the journey you realize that something you saw might help at that moment....

Good Luck

Answer 6

I suggest contacting a local reputable adoption agency to learn more about the process and what types of adoption you are comfortable with.  There is much research to be done prior to starting the process.  

You may also want to contact your local county's Dept of Children & Youth to learn more about the foster/adopt program.  These are children who are truly in need of loving permanent homes and families.  Many times the state offers assistance with the finances for these adoptions or the fees are significantly reduced.  

Good luck to you and your husband.

Answer 7

Ok I just was on vacation and me and my mom met these ppl who adopted two kids and were saying that the process was long. They also said they didn't get to see the kids until 2 months later. So I guess it takes a long time but its worth it in the end.

Answer 8

There are several routes to adoption, and any adoption literature, pamphlets, or web sites will be able to tell you about them in detail.

Private adoption (both domestic and from overseas) - This is where you contract with an agency who will help match you up with a child or expectant mother.  This is a common route for people wanting to adopt an infant or who have specific desires with regards to race, s*x, etc. of the child.  The problem with agency adoptions is that they are money making organizations.  This means they can be expensive (upwards of $10K) and that, in some cases, engage in unethical practices (high pressure tactics on biological mothers, hiding births from biological fathers, unreasonable promises to adoptive parents, etc).  There are some good organizations out there, but any time money is involved, it opens the door for bad things.

Another route is adoption through fostercare.  These are children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse/neglect, were abandoned, or orphaned.  Foster-to-adopt is far less expensive, sometimes even free, depending on the state and the conditions of the adoption.  However, most of the children in the system are older (3 years or more), specifics of race, s*x, etc. are much less certain, and, in some cases, the experiences of the child will result in long term developmental and behavior problems.  Another downside of foster-to-adopt is there is a lot more bureaucracy to deal with.

There are other routes as well, but these are the two most common.