Adoption Options

by Linda Bellini

 Every child deserves a permanent, loving family. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption reports that there are more than a half million children throughout North America residing in foster care, and of those, more than 150,000 are available for adoption. In Cuyahoga County alone there are 1,600 children in the county's permanent custody, hoping to be adopted. Today, many families are created through adoption and the face and process of adoption has changed dramatically. Adoption agencies have become more flexible and less restrictive in certain areas, such as age requirements. There are many routes for families to pursue in becoming adoptive parents, and it can be both a rewarding and an affordable experience.

Getting Started
The first big step is getting started. Learn as much as you can about adoption. Join an adoptive parent support group or an adoption triad support group. Become affiliated with one or more national adoption organizations, which provide information and often have newsletters, magazines and conferences. Read all you can in books about adoption and in adoption periodicals.

Once you begin to understand the challenges and joys of adoption, it is important to do a self-assessment to determine if you want to make this lifetime commitment. Examine your beliefs surrounding adoption, parenting, children, and unconditional love. If you have a partner, discuss how you work together as a team and assess if both of you are truly committed to adoption.

Once you decide that adoption is right for you, consider the different types of adoption, such as open adoption, foster-to-adopt, special needs adoption, transcultural and transracial adoption, age ranges, and sibling groups. Connect with adoption support organizations and resources available in the community to help you decide what type of adoption to pursue.

Consider Expenses
Expenses are often a huge concern as people begin to explore adoption. Adoption costs can range anywhere from $0 to as high as $35,000. Fees will vary, depending on whether you use a public or private agency, or an attorney or other intermediary. Be sure to ask for a detailed, written explanation of the fees, including what, if any, might be added later. Fortunately, there are adoption subsidies, tax credits, employer benefits, loans and grants, and military reimbursements that may be available to help cover expenses. If you adopt through the domestic child welfare system, expenses are reimbursed and there is often an ongoing post-adoption subsidy to help you meet your child's needs.

Choose the Right Agency
Adopting can be confusing and complicated, so choosing an appropriate adoption agency to help you meet your desired goal is a critical step. Not all agencies are alike. Consider whether you want to work with a private or public agency. Some agencies specialize in domestic, international, infant, older child, or special needs adoptions. It can be helpful to move into this step once you know what type of child you think you would like to adopt.

It is also helpful to consider what degree of openness appeals to you. Some agencies have more experience with open adoption than others. If you choose to adopt internationally and work with an agency out-of-state, you will still need a local agency to complete your homestudy. The best way to start selecting an agency is to call those that peak your interest, or that others have recommended, and ask for an information packet. Look through the information, jot down your questions and call for any clarifications. Adoption support organizations can be helpful during this step by providing you with a list of questions to use in making this important decision.

Homestudy Process
Once you have selected an agency, completed their application and have been accepted into their program, your homestudy process will begin. This is very important and not only allows the agency to get to know you, but also helps you to continue to learn more about adoption and adoptive parenting. In Ohio, the homestudy must be done by a certified adoption assessor, who is affiliated with a licensed adoption agency. The length of time to complete this process varies from three to nine months. Most agencies incorporate group classes or training as part of the homestudy.

Paperwork and documentation also must be completed as required by law. You can expect to be asked about your family background, relationships, parenting potential and motivation to adopt. Safety of your home is assessed, and financial information and references are obtained, as well as personal references. Medical evaluations and fingerprinting for criminal background checks are required. Try to stay focused on the main objective of this process, which is to help the agency locate the best home for each child, and to make good matches between prospective adoptive parents and children.

The Journey Begins
Once your child joins your family and you begin to enjoy your new life together, remember that this is only the beginning. To make the journey successful, use the post-adoption resources and supports available in your community and nationally.
People who adopt want to know the joy of helping children grow up to be happy and fulfilled adults. They want to help them when they struggle and to share in their accomplishments. They may be first-time parents or they may already have children and feel they "have room for more" in their homes and hearts. Adoptive parents don't have to be the same race or have the same ethnic background as the child they adopt. They don't have to own their own home or have a certain income level, and they can be single or married. They share a strong desire to love and care for children, and they share two other important ingredients - maturity and acceptance. If you feel you have something to give and want to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for a child, you are probably the "kind of person" who adopts.

Portions of this article are adapted from A Child is Waiting: A Beginner's Guide to Adoption, a publication of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Additional information can be found at www.davethomasfoundationforadoption.org.