6 Facts to Know Before Adopting a Child

6 Facts to Know Before Adopting a Child

The process of adopting a child can be challenging, complex, lengthy, and emotional. It has numerous financial and legal hindrances that many are aware of. Despite these roadblocks, the adoption journey is inexplicably fulfilling. 

There are three avenues of adoption in the US—the foster care system, internationally, and through the help of a private attorney or a local adoption agency. Personal, financial, and legal reasons will determine the pathway you will ply. 

This guide gives an insight into the facts you must consider before adopting a child:

Define Your Reasons for Adopting and Know Your Limits

Your motivations for adoption must be clear before commencing the process. It is a lifelong decision, and you should not make it carelessly. 

“Be truthful about any certain needs you may have. Identifying your limits does not make you a failure. You should see it as an honest self-assessment and a stepping stone to the entire process,” advises family law attorney Matt Towson of Towson Law Firm, PLLC. 

Below are the typical questions experts suggest prospective adoptive parents explore to help know if and the kind of adoption that works best for them:

• Is parenting a newborn crucial, or will you do better with an older child? 
• Will you consider adopting a sibling group?
• Is your home a perfect fit for a kid with special needs or an infant exposed prenatally to toxic substances?
• Are you ready to train yourself on the nuances of inter-cultural or inter-racial bonds if the authorities match you with a child of another background or race? 
• How comfortable are you frequently contacting your adopted child and their birth family? 

You can explore several online resources to train yourself on these crucial issues. 

Determine the Adoption Route that Is Ideal for You

As observed earlier, there are three adoption methods in the US. Decide the one that is best for you. 

The foster adoption system is a “real option” for prospective adoptive parents because data from the United States Children’s Bureau reveals that there are more than 440,000 children in this system. More than one-quarter of them are legally ready for adoption. Although the government’s ultimate goal is to reunite these children with their biological families, when it becomes practically impossible, more will become available for adoption. 

If you want to adopt a child via this route, you must be ready for the likely challenges. Most of them are in the foster care system due to neglect, abuse, and trauma. You can get helpful resources from the Child Welfare Information Gateway to prepare for the realities of adopting such kids. 

More importantly, you must take the certification training, which lasts for 20 to 30 hours. Although time-consuming, it is highly educational and serves as a reality check. Before the end of the training, you will know if the foster-adopt is still your preferred pathway. 

You can also use a private adoption attorney or an adoption agency to achieve domestic infant adoption. It allows you to parent a newborn. If you choose an adoption agency, they will manage the entire process on your behalf; you do not need to be involved at any stage. 

If you use an attorney, you will play some crucial roles, such as finding a prospective birth parent by advertising and engaging an agency to do a home study. This method is ideal for those who want to be intentionally involved in the process. 

However, using a private attorney is unlawful in some states. There are many restrictions even in places where they allow it. A reputable adoption attorney can enlighten you on what is obtainable in your jurisdiction. 

The third option is adopting abroad, which has declined recently because many countries have closed their international adoption programs. Despite this decline, thousands still adopt kids from abroad annually. 

The process differs significantly across territories. Some countries restrict who can adopt based on age, marital status, or sexual orientation. 

Carefully Select Your Adoption Professionals

It can be challenging to find an ideal adoption attorney or agency. You can start by exploring your network and discussing it with trusted loved ones and relatives. Some of them can surprisingly have a good recommendation. 

Further, you can search online. The best place to start is the Child Welfare Information Gateway’s page where you can find a directory of every state-certified adoption and foster care agency. However, if you want to adopt independently, the best place to find a lawyer is the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys’ page. 

If you want the abroad option, check for licensed professionals in international adoption via the Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance Entity. 

Get Ready for Home Study

You must complete a home study, not minding your preferred adoption method. It gives you the final clearance for adoption. An ideal home study has evaluation and education parts. 

Your caseworker will evaluate your fitness to be an adoptive parent. They will also educate you and give you helpful resources to make the journey seamless. 

Home studies take three to six months to complete, though it differs across states. During the studies, a case worker will visit your home multiple times. The authorities will also conduct a criminal background check, health coverage, proof of income, and health examinations. You must also provide names of people close to you to serve as referees.

Determine How “Transparent” You Want the Adoption to Be

The US has a trend of maintaining a degree of contact between adoptive and birth families. Ongoing research shows that this is beneficial for all parties. However, the “transparency” of your arrangement will influence the outcome of your negotiations with the child’s birth family. 

Even if you did a “closed” adoption, the child can still access some identifying details about their birth parents when they become an adult. The concept of “closed adoption” has become highly obsolete due to the availability of several DNA testing services. People can find their birth relatives without hassle. 

Prepare for the Costs

The foster care adoption system is the most affordable, the other two pathways are substantially costly. For instance, information on the Child Welfare Information Gateway page shows that it costs between $20,000 and $45,000 to do agency adoption. Similarly, an attorney adoption ranges from $15,000 to $40,000. You must have between $20,000 and $50,000 to pull an international adoption through. 

However, many organizations offer loans and grants to prospective adoptive parents. Such institutions want to ensure cost does not deter you from adopting a child.