How do you start the adoption process?

cmc

(I"m assuming you're in the US)...If you want a newborn you have to do domestic private adoption in most cases. Foster care-adopt does have newborns but very few (same for very young kids).

If you want a infant/toddler you can do international adoption. For these you will need a private agency also.

If you want an older child (these are the kids needing homes the most) foster care is the best place. This is where the state agencies are involved.

We did research into all before adopting. We ended up doing domestic/newborn, but likely will adopt later from foster care. The wait for domestic is unpredictable, but in our case it was less than one year. This is because the natural mother chooses the family, and you can't predict when you will be chosen. Also in some cases the mother changes her mind, and decides to parent her child.

F&R Returns - you are wrong about Indian adoption. It is very bureaucratic. In rare cases it can take less than a year, but this is highly unusual.It frequently drags on for several years, especially anything going through the Delhi courts at the moment. Also healthy 5 year olds are not very common. Most healthy kids are adopted when younger - although some have developmental delays. I live in India and did some research on Indian adoption.

Looney Tunes

NOT ALL KIDS IN FOSTER CARE or KEPT BY THE STATE ARE "SPECIAL NEEDS" or "HANDICAPPED"

THAT PERSON IS 100% WRONG and MISINFORMED.

anastasia beaverhausen-the real1

you start with US foster care.

Jennifer L

Your first step is research, research, research.

You should research every adoption option carefully and make an informed decision as to which option is the best fit for your family.

You should research parenting adopted children (which is not the same as parenting biological children), including books and blogs from the perspective of the adoptee.

You need to understand the process and the challenges. Talk to people who have experience in adoption (first mothers, adoptees, other adoptive parents).

It doesn't hurt to get information from several sources, then compare and contrast. I remember lining up information packets for about fifty different agencies along my dining room table one night.

Best of luck.

FYRE & REIGN RETURNS

There's pro's and con's to either state or private adoption agencies.

Would you like a "special needs" child who may have a physical or mental handicap? The state agency should be able to help you find one and may even pay you a subsidy to take the child.

Want as healthy and normal a baby as possible? Or want to adopt soon? Some agencies bring children from other countries so, let's say, you might be able to get a healthy 5 year old from India much faster than a healthy newborn from an American biological mother.

Be prepared for a bit of a shock when you find out how much it costs if you go private adoption, though. It tends to be significantly more expensive.

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