All about adoption

What is adoption?

Adoption is a legal process which permanently gives parental rights to adoptive parents. Adoption means taking a child into your home as a permanent family member. It means caring for and guiding children through their growing years and giving them the love and understanding they need to develop their full potential.

Can single parents adopt?

Yes, single men and women can also adopt. In fact, approximately one-fourth of the children adopted from the public foster care system are adopted by single individuals.

How long will it take to adopt a child?

The time it takes to complete the homestudy will vary between six to nine months but families who are interested in children with special needs are usually given prompt attention and will be placed with adoptive children in a matter of months.

Can we adopt more than one child?

Yes, indeed! Ussually there are many brothers and sisters waiting to be adopted.

What is the profile of Adoptive parents?

There is not a list of specific requirements; most of the time a person who is interested in adopting one of the waiting children and who can give a child loving care is eligible to adopt. Adoptive parents:

• Can be single, married, or divorced.
• May or may not have birth children.
• Must have room for another child, but you do not have to own a home.
• Must have no criminal history that would prevent licensure to adopt.

What Will it Cost to Adopt?

It is not costly to adopt a child with special needs. Often the agency has a sliding fee scale, and frequently there is little or no cost. Following the adoption, the children may receive subsidies to cover the medical and other necessary expenses, although the family is still likely to incur other costs, over the years, as they raise their child.

Is There Financial Assistance in order to Help Me Adopt? (U.S.A.)

Under both state and federal assistance programs, adoptive parents of children with special needs are eligible for a one-time payment of non-recurring adoption expenses. Such expenses include reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, and other expenses.

What is a homestudy or family assessment?

A homestudy includes an assessment of the prospective adoptive parent/s through visits to the home, and an educational component to prepare the prospective adoptive parent/s to meet the needs of the adopted child. A social worker completes a homestudy over several months.

What's the best way to handle my child's questions about her adoption?

Many parents want to know when is the best time to tell a child she is adopted. The answer is that it is never too early to talk to your child about adoption. Before age 3, include age-appropriate children's books on adoption as part of your child's reading routine. Give your child information little by little, as much as she can understand. It may take years for your child to fully understand what adoption means. These early talks will give you practice in talking about adoption. They will also show your child that it is OK to bring up the topic.

Does the birth father have to be involved in the adoption? (U.S.A.)

Adoption professionals always encourage birth father participation in the adoption process. If the birth father is not supportive, or chooses not to participate in the adoption, that is OK. In most states, the birth father will be notified of the adoption, however the adoption can still proceed if he chooses not to sign a consent to adoption or be involved in any way.

Do birth parents regret their decision?

There are many emotions that correspond with adoption. Regret is one of those emotions that is unpredictable. However, birth parents who know that they can choose a family that they are comfortable with and creating an adoption plan that meets their needs will help them feel confident about their adoption. Adoption is a very difficult decision and it is normal for birth parents to question their thoughts and feeling throughout the process. A qualified adoption professional or adoption counselor can help birth parents process their emotions throughout the adoption process by helping birth parents focus on all the reasons they chose adoption and what opportunities adoption has to offer their child.

Can I Ask for More Information about the Child I Want to Adopt?

Most children's agencies can provide more information about a child than they are able to include on a flyer, newspaper article, or website description. However, some of the child's information is considered confidential, and workers may want to share it only with those families they are seriously considering as adoptive parents.

Can the Biological Parents Come Back to Take a Child?

In order for a child to be adopted, the birth parents have to relinquish legal parental rights. With most agency adoptions, a child is already legally free for adoption before a placement occurs. While cases where a parent changes his/her mind (usually before an adoption is finalized) are highly publicized, they occur infrequently. Once the adoption has been finalized, the biological parents have no legal tie to the child.