Q for Adoptive parents: How did you start?

[teacups]

We are just thinking about this, like totally square one.
Where did you start? I'm doing searches and cant tell how you telll the reputable places from the scam places. We are thinking about looking for two siblings (not looking for a newborn) who need a family... but, wow, its sort of confusing.
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[disneyfan123]

Congrats...that is very exciting!
My husband and I adopted a 4 year old little girl and a 2 year old little boy just over a month ago and it has been SOOOO amazing. They are our answered prayers.

There are so many factors to consider! We are in Canada, so I am more familiar with options here, but there are typically 3 options: domestic, private and international. Private and International adoptions would mean going through a local agency to do your homestudy and other requirements and paying for all of those things. Domestic would be going through a local agency that work with children in foster care, most likely all of those fees are covered by the state. A good website to check out is http://www.adoption.com/

There are so many factors to consider when deciding which path to take with include cost and open/closed adoptions. The reality is is that there are thousands of children waiting for forever families, both here and internationally. We chose to adopt domestically and it took us less than a year to go through the process and be matched with our children.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[kilee]

Adopting through foster care in the USA will also vary greatly state by state. If you're looking for a sibling set then you most likely will end up going international or via foster care.

My husband and I went through the entire process to be certified to be foster parents and then eligible to adopt. Though for us, it was because we had 1 month old "relative" in foster care and we wanted him placed w/ us. Also to be eligible to adopt him if he was not to be returned home. We had to go through both of the processes because we were not a "legal-blood" relative. It was my MIL's long term boyfriends son's baby. She's been w/ this man for about 15 yrs and she's raised his son in her home since he was 7-- so they seemed like family-- but the "law" doesn't see it that way. So we were given some special considerations like an expedited application and such, but we still had to go through the process.

Anyhow, when my nephew was returned home at the last second (and my heart was breaking missing him) we thought about fostering to adopt. We spoke w/ the case workers about it. In our area it is really difficult as most kids do not become eligible to adopt in our area. To adopt out of the county seemed even harder. So we didn't pursue it any further.

However, in many other states it's a lot easier from what I've read.

 

[Emmaline Lola]

just want to drop in and say Good Luck to you!

we are waiting for our baby girl through international adoption through China.....it's been a long 4 year wait for us, but I have no doubt that my baby is waiting in China.........

follow your heart, listen to advice here, and best of luck to you!

 

[canadianjovigirl]

We also adopted an older child thru foster care. He has changed our lives and we couldnt imagine our family without him. We also have 2 biological daughters. I would love to adopt another child

Good luck to you and may in the process of you changing the life of a child, may your life also be changed......