Understanding Adoption Basics - Where to Begin

In some cases, the adoption process may seem complicated, time consuming, and frustrating. However, by first educating yourself, you will be better prepared to deal with the unique requirements of the adoption process. Begin by considering these issues that influence all adoptions.

• Nature of Agency Oversight: different adoption options involve different legal issues and different agencies which have legal authority.
• The Termination of Parental Rights: children must be “legally free” in order to be adopted, a legal status that defined by the entity which has jurisdiction over the adoption.
• The Child’s Characteristics: children available for adoption may include infants, school-aged children, sibling groups, and those with special needs due to parental substance abuse, poverty, or institutionalization.
• Cost of Adoption: costs may range from 0 to $40,000 or more.
• Potential Wait Time: waits vary depending on the type of adoption.
• Post-Placement Support: Post-placement support varies as well depending on the type of adoption.
• Potential Birth Parent Involvement/Access to Family History

You may also find it meaningful to answer these three questions.

1. Where will our family's child come from -- a domestic or inter-country adoption?

One of the first decisions many prospective adoptive parents make is whether to adopt a child from the United States or from another country. Some considerations in deciding between domestic and intercountry adoption may be how you feel about parenting a child whose background differs from your own and how you feel about potential involvement of the child's birth parents.

2. If we adopt domestically, what type of adoption is best for our family - an infant or foster care adoption?

If you choose to adopt domestically, you will need to decide whether you wish to adopt an infant or adopt a child (or children) from the foster care system. In making this decision, you may want to consider your support system, what resources you have available for adoption expenses and how flexible you can be about the characteristics of the child you wish to adopt.

3. If we choose domestic infant adoption, who will assist our family - a licensed private agency, independent adoption, or a facilitated/unlicensed agency?

While public agencies handle the adoption of children in the State child welfare or foster care system, if you wish to adopt an infant from the United States, you may choose to work with a licensed agency, an attorney (sometimes called "independent adoption"), or an unlicensed adoption facilitator (if allowed by laws in your State). Licensed private agencies need to meet State standards for licensure and have more oversight to ensure quality services. Unlicensed agencies and facilitators often do not have the same State oversight and consequently there may be more financial and emotional risk for adoptive and birth families using these services.

Answering these questions will require a good deal of thought. In addition to our Self-Help Legal Guides and Resource Center, you may wish to explore other educational resources.

Local community colleges, adoption exchanges, adoption agencies, hospitals, religious groups, and other organizations may offer adoption preparation programs.

Adoptive parent support groups often are willing to assist people considering adoption. In addition, regional adoption exchanges, local agencies, and State adoption specialists can send you information to help get you started.