When adopting a child in an orphanage, how long does it take until you can actually bring the child home?

Question

After choosing a child, how long does it take to go through all the procedures? A couple weeks? A couple months?

Answer 1

It totally depends on the local laws of your state and if you do an interstate adoption. Again, depending on the state, you may have to take approximately 26 foster parenting classes which are actually VERY helpful for when the child is placed in your home! If it's not "required" to take the course, I would still suggest it if it's offered in your state...each child comes with their own set of problems and you learn numerous ways of dealing with lots of different personalities and ages...even for infants and toddlers! Anyway, I've been working on my adoption for over 2 years now. I can promise you it won't be a matter of weeks or a few months. It's a more drawn out process than that with completely background checks (local, FBI, etc), credit checks, they check your bank accounts, car insurance...you name it, they check it!! I know that in Nevada, they offer a FREE foster parenting course...check with your local adoption agency for a list of resources and information! That's the BEST place to start!! I wish you the best of luck!! It will be an incredible experience!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

~Kendra~

Answer 2

It completely depends on where the child is coming from. There isn't an actual time line.

Answer 3

This depends a great deal on what country you are adopting from. There are not real orphanages in the U.S., as there are in other countries.  There are group homes, which are essentially orphanages, but they are mostly for older children.

Orphanages with really young children (babies and toddlers) do not exist in the U.S. People who adopt from other countries do often adopt children from orphanges, but every country has it's own timeline for adoption, and even that can change.

We adopted in China twice, and it took about 18 months from start to finish. This includes the time we spent gathering paperwork, and then waiting for a "referral", and finally waiting to travel. Each time, it was about 2 months from the time we got an assignment of a child (called a "referral") till we were allowed to travel to China. However, the time frame to wait for a "referral" is much longer now. People are waiting well over a year (in many cases, far longer than a year) just to get a referral!

In other countries the wait could be longer or shorter, and the timeline is just different. In some countries there is an assignment of a child before you even gather your paperwork. Then the waiting starts. In China it is the other way around.

I suggest that you contact a reputable agency, and ask lots of questions. You will find that programs differ greatly between countries.

Answer 4

That depends on where you live and where you are adopting the child from.  If you are adopting a child from a local foster home, the process usually does not take very long unless there is a custody dispute of some sort.  On the other hand, if you want to adopt a child from an international country, the process can sometimes take 1-2 years or longer.

Answer 5

My relative had already done a home study and been approved.  The little girl was in a foster home. She came home with them about a week after they picked her and stayed for 2 weeks.  It was a definite match and she came to live permanently with them 2 or 3 weeks after that.  I am not certain, but I think the delay was to make sure that they could deal with her medical problems. Her adoption was final in September.

BTW, they never fostered.