What is the first step to adopting an american white infant?

Question

How long does it take and what is the cost?

Answer 1

Your first step should be looking up your state's adoption laws, as you may be required to use an agency, prohibited from using a facilitator, or prohibited from posting ads or soliciting in any way. Once you know the laws, you need to decide, based on them, whether you want to use an agency, or pursue an independent adoption with an attorney or look into facilitators.

Then, you need to get a homestudy. If you go with an agency this is usually part of the fee but you can also hire independent licensed social workers or some agencies have homestudy-only programs.

Answer 2

You can easily spend $15-20 thousand before it's said and done, but there are grants available through the government and loans for this specific purpose. Agencies often get frustrated and aren't helpful when people ask for a white baby so your best bet is to change your race preference or do without an agency and try connecting with a teenage mother and lawyer. You'll probably have to pay for the mother to live for the 9 months and all of her medical care. The problem with many white babies is they go up for adoption because they've been exposed to drugs, have physical, emotional and or mental disabilities, ect. An agency can walk you through the ENTIRE process for one fee and really help you, but they may not give you the time of day if you are only open to a white baby. Good luck!

Also, it's easier to foster to adopt than just adopt and it gives the the chance to make sure the child is the right fit! Once the baby is ready to be adopted if you've beent he foster home it really shortens the process and can nearly eliminate the cost. Your child will also be eligible for scollarships for college, health care, ect. And you're doing a good thing!

Answer 3

Your first step is to find an adoption agency with a

"domestic infant adoption" program.  They will do a homestudy on your family and house, and ask you to provide a personal profile.  Your profile will be presented to various birth mothers, for selection.  Yes, the birth mother (and sometimes birth father) gets to select the adoptive parents from among qualified applicants.  It's hard to predict how long it will take.  It's not a "first come, first served" process.  Sometimes, a birth mother will choose you very quickly, if she feels that you would be the ideal parents for her baby after seeing your profile.  Other times, you may wait for one year, two years, even five years.  If you are a fairly affluent couple, under 30 years old, with no children, you will probably be selected before many other candidates.  Most birth mothers seem to prefer this profile.  But that is not always the case - some birth mothers prefer to place their children with experienced parents, and want them to have siblings.

The cost of the process can vary, but the minimum is at least $20,000.

If you want this to happen faster, I would suggest that you re-think your "child profile."  It's easier to adopt an American biracial or African American infant, a caucasian American older child, or a Russian white infant.

Answer 4

I think you have recieved good advice here. White American infants up for adoption are rare.

An infant fell into my lap on Oct. 4th 2006.  10.5 weeks old. Child Protective Services had taken him from my adopted sister for neglect and abuse.

This infant is now 10 months old, and has never left. The state has helped, (foster care intervention), and my sister never shows up for visitation. I intend to have the judge terminate her parental rights when we return to court at the end of this month. So far, no costs, except for ALL the costs of raising a baby. The bio-mom has provided NOTHING. No money, no clothes, no diapers, nothing. The bio-mom callls, says she is coming, and never shows up.

I feel these are grounds (not to mention what she did that CPS got involved) that her rights are terminated. And since I've had the baby, I would be the first choice for the courts to let me adopt.

I don't think it will cost me any  legal fees.

Both myself and baby J were lucky. I wanted another baby, but had no way to get one. Then J just fell out of the sky.

Do you have any relatives that are not ready to be parents?

The cheapest way is to foster first. Then, that judge is going to want that child to stay in the home he or she knows.

Answer 5

The first step is to contact a reliable adoption agency.  You will be able to specify your choices for what child you are interested in adopting--if you only check the boxes for white and for infant, that's all you will be considered for.  And children of all ages and races are available--unplanned pregnancies happen to people of all colors--though of course the narrower your range of choices, the longer your wait will be.  Expect the application/homestudy period to take about a year, and be prepared for at least a year, most likely two, of waiting for a match.  The cost will likely be be based on your income--most non-profit agencies charge on a sliding scale.  If you claim the adoption tax credit after the adoption is finalized, you will get most of your money back as tax credit, but that's a few years down the line.  Check the internet or the phone book and start making calls.  Agencies often hold orientation meetings for adoptive parents where they'll answer all your questions.

Answer 6

Don't know the cost but an American white infant does not come along very often. They seem to be the most sought after.

Answer 7

These are very rare because they are the ones most sought after. Have you ever thought of adopting from Russia? They look just like American babies, if you're that interested in looks rather than in improving a childs life.

Answer 8

The first step is finding a reputable adoption agency. It's very hard to get a white baby because they are the most sought after, and there are more black and hispanic babies up for adoption. It costs thousands of dollars. There is a lot of paperwork to fill out, and their are interviews that you have. You have to give a lot of personal information about yourself. I know people who have adopted and said they would do it all again, but it can be very discouraging when you start the process.

Answer 9

The first step is to engage an adoption agency or an adoption attorney.  Governmental agencies also provide adoption services but, to be brutally honest, the chances of adopting a healthy caucasian infant through social services is nil.

Commonly the adoption process takes one to two years, be prepared for two years so you are not disappointed.  Costs will be $20,000 or more, depending on the state where you live.

Answer 10

This is very difficult.  You best bet would be to find a birth mother who is looking to place her child; this is referred to as an open adoption.