What is the very first thing to do when you want to adopt?

!!!!!!!!JUST FINE!!!!!!!!!!!

find a good adoption agency
when you find a child you like make that child feel at home

Ashley R

Do research. www.adoptivefamilies.com is a great place to start. Decide on Domestic vs. Intercountry. Then choose an agency.

Please also research "Positive Adoption Language."

Wise Advice

Go to the library. Read a book such as:

The Adoption Resource Book by Lois Gilman
Launching a Baby's Adoption by Patricia Irwin Johnston
Adopting After Infertility by Patricia Irwin Johnston
The Complete Adoption & Fertility Legal Guide by Brette McWhorter Sember
Beating the Adoption Odds : Using Your Head and Your Heart to Adopt by Cynthia Martin

Go to the phone book or the internet. Call adoption agencies and facilitators and lawyers in your area. Ask them about their services, the types of adoption they do, first steps, second steps, costs, waiting periods. Arrange to go to a meeting or orientation session.

Best of luck. There's a lot to learn.

punxy_girl

Discuss it with your significant other if you have one. There will be a LOT of things to consider and you should know your parameters before even beginning. Some agencies-particulary public ones-will encourage you to stretch those parameters to consider a child that you really don't want to or aren't capable of parenting. Do you want an infant? Under 3? 5? 10? 16? Would you accept a sibling group? Do you want to adopt domestically or internationally? Would you consider any special needs-this is a HUGE range so you need to think about what types and degrees of mental illness, physical problems, emotional issues. Transracial adoption is a possibility but it entails extra effort to make sure the child has exposure to his or her birth culture. How much do you have to spend if you want to adopt privately or independently? How long are you willing to wait (much longer for the "perfect", White baby). Would you like an open (continued contact with birth parents) semi-open (some contact) or closed (no contact) adoption?
Once you have your parameters, most states require a home study. Contact your county childrens services for this or sometimes adoption agencies do them if they are close enough to you.Social workers (usually) come in to do this and you will probably need a physical and proof that you are not a child abuser or criminal. Seek out an adoption agency that fits your needs. Save your $$$$ and good luck

greensock

The first step is to decide what type of adoption you would like to pursue. Research foster-adopt, state adoption, domestic, and international adoption. One you have decided on the type, research agencies and/or adoption attornies to find the one that is right for you. Good luck!

baby doll

here are the steps to adoption

1. pick the age,nationality, and gender of the child
2. then contact an agency
3. then foster the kid
4. you go to ALL the court days
5. you fill out all the paperwork
6. finally you adopt

Matt

find an agency, and when u do get that make sure you request an open adoption so you know if either parent was on drugs ect.. so you know what to expect out of a baby.. good luck with adopting =]

Barton's Hula Girl

There is a great book, "The Complete Idiots Guide to Adoption". When you read it, you won't put it down. It answers all the questions you have and questions you didn't even know you had. Research everything, from open and closed and semi-open adoptions. Decide what age you want to adopt, because that can make a difference. Also, not sure what state you live in, but, in California you have the option to use an agency, or go through the Department of Children and Family Services and/or a foster family agency......these latter two usually have older children and it cost a lot less than to go through an agency. That's all if you decide to go through a domestic adoption....its a whole different thing with International. I am also planning to adopt domestically and I am going through an agency in California. The experience is very surreal and I haven't even been picked by the birth parent(s), yet. But, to make this a very good experience for yourself, talk with everyone you know that has gone through an adoption and research everything, read everything you can get your hands on. You really need to be prepared. Good Luck you and your family.

Angela R

When we decided to adopt, we first researched the different types of adoption (international, private domestic, foster-adopt, ect) and decided which would be best for our family.
We then found several adoption agencies, and either requested info packets or spoke with one of the agencies social workers. Many agencies have group information meetings or can meet with you privatly just to explain the process.

Good luck to you!

BPD Wife

Contact a local adoption agency for more information. A reputable adoption agency will be able to explain all of your options with you and determine what is the best route to take - whether it is an international adoption or a domestic adoption, private or open. I would definitely suggest talking with an adoption agency to start off with.

Jennifer S

Adoption agency, then an attorney.

HeatherM

Follow the advice of "Wise Advice." She is right on with her answer, as is many others that have posted.

Secondly and most importantly..AFTER the adoption, TELL the child at some point that they are adopted. My parents waited 51 years to tell me that I was adopted and it almost destroyed me. Terrible thing to do to a child.

If you are looking to adopt, you can literally give the world to a child in need. Good Luck to you....

cinnamon

PRAY

???

well go to take classes so that the state will let u keep him and then once u have passed that then u start getting kids LOL well i mean u pick the ones u want i think anyway

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